Liverpool make the short trip to Everton on Wednesday for what will be the final league derby at Goodison Park before their neighbours make the move to a new ground on the city's waterfront. It is set to be an emotional occassion.

But for Arne Slot and his players, it strictly has to be all about the business. Victory over the Blues would move the Reds nine points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.

It would also go a long way to banishing the memory of Sunday's shock 1-0 FA Cup exit at Championship basement boys Plymouth Argyle.

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There was context behind the embarrassing loss. Liverpool head coach Slot made 10 changes to the team that swept aside Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at Anfield last Thursday to seal the holders' progression to another Carabao Cup final.

And who knows what might have happened had Joe Gomez, who was captaining the Reds, not come off early with an injury.

The England international's withdrawal meant that Wataru Endo had to drop into the centre of defence, leaving the midfield inexperienced and ultimately incapable of matching their more wily opponents.

After the match, Slot gave an update on Gomez, who was making his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury at West Ham United in late December, and also revealed the reason why midfielder Curtis Jones did not come off the bench.

The Dutchman said: "I am not too sure if it was the same leg (as West Ham). I haven't had time to ask him (Gomez) but it was clear that we all know which moment he felt a bit insecure about because he didn't sprint back fully.

"And then he said he was not 100% sure and he was afraid that if he made one extra sprint that things would go wrong.

"So I don't know exactly where he is (at). He didn't tear it, it's not torn I assume, but it didn't feel good for him and that is a bit of a blow because Curtis Jones was on the bench but he came to me this morning and said he didn't think he was fully recovered either after the training session yesterday.

"So that all of a sudden led to the fact that we were with a few more youngsters on the pitch than what the idea was before the game. But still there was enough quality on the pitch to get a better result than this."

Slot is expected to give an update on Jones and Gomez when he holds a press conference at the AXA Training Centre at 9am today (Tuesday, February 11) to preview the Merseyside derby.

He is also likely to be quizzed on the fitness of right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has missed the last two matches after injuring his thigh in the vital 2-0 Premier League victory at Bournemouth.

Slot last spoke about his vice-captain on Friday, admitting it was "difficult to say" whether he would be fit to face Everton: "It's not going to take months or even weeks but that (derby game) will be only three days after the Plymouth Argyle game, so let's wait and see if he is available.

"We also have to look at the long term, of course, we don't want to take any risks with so many games coming up afterwards, but if he is fit then of course we will use him."

In the same press conference, Slot confirmed that young midfielder Tyler Morton, who likely would have played against Plymouth, is going to be sidelined for at least a month with a shoulder injury.