The source of Liverpool's 'fear and nervousness'published at 11:28 18 February
11:28 18 February
Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock believes certain players in Arne Slot's squad will be "expecting a hiccup" after pulling seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table with 13 games left.
Warnock sympathised with the players on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, stating: "The players probably feel like they don't want to throw it away because everyone will say, 'it wasn't Manchester City chasing you down, it was Arsenal and they lost their forward three'.
"I do think there is an element of the players expecting a hiccup because it has almost gone so well so far, but they shouldn't do because they are such a good team."
A new era begins - what do you think?published at 11:00 18 February
11:00 18 February
Tom Mallows BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Everton's magnificent new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock opened its doors for the first time to 10,000 lucky Toffees fans successful in a ballot for an under-18s friendly against Wigan.
Four years in the making and at an estimated cost of more than £750m, the club will move in fully over the summer in time for the start of the 2025-26 season.
The 52,888-capacity ground will be the seventh-biggest in the Premier League and has been selected to host matches at Euro 2028. It is hoped the project will contribute an estimated £1.3bn to the local economy.
There are nods to the past everywhere. The old railroad tracks and Grade II-listed Victorian hydraulic tower have been painstakingly restored. The latticework design by renowned Scottish architect Archibald Leitch, still present on two of the four stands at Goodison Park, is incorporated into the brickwork.
Just one stand was open for Monday's game - the steep-tiered South Stand that will eventually house 14,000 people. Inside there is row upon row of food and drinks stands. You can find your standard football fare - the three flavours of pies are selling well. But also on the menu is Korean sticky chicken and salt and pepper chicken subs.
What is your verdict on the stadium, Toffees fans? Were you one of the lucky ones there on Monday, or do you know someone who was there?
Slot on Gomez injury, 'leaning' on experience and 'tough' Villa testpublished at 09:42 18 February
09:42 18 February
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Aston Villa (19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Slot confirmed Joe Gomez and Cody Gakpo will both be unavailable for Wednesday's game: "Cody is the closest to coming back but Joe will take quite some time. He is going to be out for a number of weeks because of a hamstring injury."
More on Gomez's absence: "It's a big blow for Joe and for us. He works really hard to come back and then the first game when he came back, after two or three minutes we saw him making a sprint - and now he is out for weeks again. He will miss a large part of the season but we expect him to be back for the end of the season. He might need surgery but that's something we still have to assess."
When asked if the experience of winning the league as Feyenoord boss will help in the title run-in, Slot said: "It helps if you've already experienced it. Not just me, but the players. But, it's difficult to take it from there - different players, teams and leagues. Yesterday, [La Liga leaders] Barcelona were close to conceding the 1-1 [in a 1-0 win over Raya Vallecano]. It's the end phase of season when results like this are quite common. It tells you that you have a team that fights to the end. These games you need to win."
He is happy to have Diogo Jota back regularly: "He has a role like many others. He did so well before his injury and we have missed him for three or four months. We have missed the number nine who played the first seven or eight games in every game. We don't expect him to play 90, 90, 90."
On the challenge posed by Villa: "They beat Celtic at home in an evening game. When you get the fixture list, you always know Villa away is one of the tougher ones we can face. They have brought in some very good players in the January window and qualified top eight in Champions League. We know we will be facing a tough team."
On the importance of experience in his squad: "We lean a lot on the players. It helps they are used to playing big games in their career with a lot of pressure. The more experience you have playing big games, the better it is. Some young players maybe don't have experience of big games but make the right decisions because of their quality. We must not overvalue experience but it does help."
Cheeky celebration as Reds fan scores first goal in Everton's new stadiumpublished at 09:41 18 February
09:41 18 February
While 10,000 Everton supporters enjoyed the first test event at their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, there was still an opportunity for a Liverpool fan to have a cheeky dig at their neighbours in the form of a celebration.
Wigan Under-18s' Harrison Rimmer made himself a pub quiz answer for years to come by scoring the first goal - and he made the most of the feat by holding up six fingers, referring to the Reds' six European Cup/Champions League titles.
'Moyes has been able to do so well because of Dyche'published at 09:12 18 February
09:12 18 February
The Athletic's Adam Crafton says it is important for Everton fans to remember the contributions of Sean Dyche as they move into a new era at the club.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Crafton said:"One of the reasons why David Moyes has been able to do so well is that he inherited a defence that has been will-drilled for years under Sean Dyche, and if it wasn't for Dyche then Everton would probably be in the Championship.
"Once they get into that stadium and everything starts to look rosy under the new ownership, they shouldn't forget the job that he did last season with point deductions, and even this season."
'Increasingly obvious Liverpool need a new striker in the summer'published at 07:25 18 February
07:25 18 February
Jordan Chamberlain Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
It is becoming increasingly obvious with every match that Liverpool need a new number nine in the summer.
Luis Diaz finally got a start on the left wing because of Cody Gakpo's injury and scored his first goal for 10 matches.
He is not a centre-forward. He does not make enough runs in behind and is not physical enough to challenge the centre-backs aerially. Diaz is an excellent left-winger, though, and there is no reason to sell - he should just be played in his best position more often.
Darwin Nunez is sadly not a long-term option. He may well have a few big moments from now until the end of the season, but if Saudi money is on the table, Liverpool would be mad not to take it. After all, he has only scored six times this season.
Diogo Jota is a good player but, ultimately, not reliable as a result of his abysmal injury record. He has also only scored eight goals this term - hardly prolific.
Alexander Isak is the best potential option. The Swede is coming into his prime at 25 years old and has been sensational for Newcastle this season.
Liverpool's best hope of securing him would be if the Magpies miss out on Champions League football, as Isak absolutely should be competing at the highest level.
Bar Isak, there are not a lot of elite strikers at clubs who will sell, so it would be wise for the Reds to go big on him this summer.
'If you look at others it is only going to backfire'published at 07:13 18 February
07:13 18 February
Image source, Getty Images
Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool are fully focused and not worried about other teams as they look to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to 10 points when they go to Aston Villa on Wednesday.
However, the Reds captain insists the players will not get ahead of themselves, especially those who have the experience of being that far ahead of Manchester City in 2018-19 and falling agonisingly short.
"I don't know how others would think, I can only say what I think and what I tell the boys to do because I've been through this whole situation and come up short," said Van Dijk.
"The only thing you have to do is just focus on us. Let's try to win every game ahead of us - and if we do that then obviously we have success.
"We have to put all our energy in only ourselves and that is hard enough already.
"If you focus on other things or look at others it is only going to backfire so we keep going.
"Certain players in our team might watch other teams but it is not going to help you."
Gossip: Reds target Huijsen has £50m release clausepublished at 07:00 18 February
07:00 18 February
Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen has a £50m release clause in his contract, which can be activated from this summer - and Liverpool are among the clubs interested in the 19-year-old Spain Under-21 international. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Can Robertson inspire (and calm) Reds?published at 17:19 17 February
17:19 17 February
Luke Reddy BBC Sport senior journalist
There was a point in the second half of Liverpool's win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday when Andy Robertson turned to a nerve-filled Kop and called for calm.
The full-back - like many - could feel the anxiety raining down from all four sides of Anfield in a second half during which Arne Slot's men looked a shadow of what has become expected.
A shadow of themselves technically maybe, but not so much physically.
In the first half, Liverpool covered 52.6km and in the second half 53.1km. There were 66 home sprints in the opening period and 65 after the break.
The intensity of their endeavour didn't drop, though the quality of their output somewhat did. It was 10 Liverpool shots in the opening 45, zero thereafter. The Reds' xG for the second period was an ugly zero.
The league leaders have lost something - though it is hard to pinpoint what. Theories they are tightening under the pressure of a title race carry some weight perhaps. The coming days will fill in some blanks.
The likes of Robertson - one of a handful of starters on Sunday to have won a league title before - will be crucial if Arsenal's chase is to be managed.
The full-back has faced criticism this season and debate as to whether his best years are behind him has become consistent. Links with Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez have been frequent, while Robertson's own error and subsequent red card in the 2-2 draw with Fulham did the 30-year-old no favours.
But for a man 'slowing down' his contribution physically - at least on Sunday - was clear. Robertson performed 26 sprints and 308 intensive runs - both figures being the most on the pitch. He reached a top speed of 33.2km/h, according to Opta - a stat which wasn't bettered by any player on the day.
With the ball, his tally of 75 touches was only bettered by Virgil van Dijk and the impressive Matheus Cunha.
There is undoubtedly room for improvement, with Robertson losing possession 18 times - four behind Mohamed Salah's top mark. His duel success of two wins from eight contested also leaves space for an uptick.
There is work to do, but Robertson's endeavour signals he is a player keen and still capable of doing it.
There may never be a better time to settle nerves and never a more apt time for a player under the microscope to show he has plenty left in the tank.
'Evertonians love a cult hero - we have found one'published at 14:55 17 February
14:55 17 February
Mike Richards Fan writer
Image source, PA Media
The transformation under David Moyes has been nothing short of miraculous.
He arrived at a club with players devoid of confidence and took charge of a grup that looked unsure how to win.
Combine that with the hangover of PSR issues - meaning recruitment was difficult in January -, with having three of our four strikers injured, with Iliman Ndiaye picking up a knee injury and Abdoulaye Doucoure's suspension, and the form has been quite simply incredible.
The Everton bench on Saturday consisted of two goalkeepers, three outfield first-team players and four youth-team players. When you see other clubs, who have spent big money, bemoan their luck on the injury front, it is somewhat laughable.
The win over Crystal Palace was not pretty but we are seeing an Everton side create good chances week in, week out. And we have got a player who can finish.
Evertonians love a cult hero and, in a resurgent Beto, we have found one.
So often overlooked under the previous regime, he was on the brink of exiting the club in January. Fast forward a few weeks and not only is he scoring goals, his humble nature and appreciation of the love from the fans is fabulous to see.
Sometimes a player not only needs an opportunity but needs to feel appreciated. Moyes has certainly made him feel that.
We are playing to his strengths, while starting games regularly is giving him the adaptation time he has not been given since his arrival.
His unorthodox and unpredictable style is certainly a weapon in our attacking arsenal. Even when other strikers return, they will be hard pushed to replace Beto.
