What Arne Slot got right as Liverpool move one step closer to the title after Merseyside derby
Liverpool have moved one step closer to the title with a 1-0 win over Everton thanks to Diogo Jota - and Daily Star Sport has a look at what Arne Slot got right and wrong
Liverpool and Everton's second round dust-up lacked the tension their first round promised. In the end, it was a routine win for Liverpool.
Arne Slot's side had pried and probed, much to the frustration of the Anfield crowd, with Everton looking the most likely to score on the break.
However, Liverpool grew into the game in the second-half, and Everton's defending became more last-ditch before Diogo Jota fired the ball past Jordan Pickford.
Slot's side looked to kill the game as Everton could barely muster an attack.
David Moyes' winless streak at Anfield has continued, and Daily Star Sport has a look at what Slot got right and wrong in the Merseyside derby.
Anfield has turned into an anchor
Once upon a time, Anfield was a fortress for the Reds - the sheer thought of a trip to banks of the River Mersey would cause sleepless nights.
However, in recent weeks, it seems to weigh heavy on the shoulders of the Liverpool squad. The crowd expects and Arne Slot's patient, pragmatic style has caused panic and dread to spread around the stadium when the Reds aren't ahead.
You could feel how nervous the crowd was, even as the game ticked past the hour mark. One fan admitted: "The style will never bring Anfield to what it should be, it’s far too slow and kills crowds..."
Taking the sting out of the game
Arne Slot's side knew how to kill the game on Wednesday. Anfield was frantic, Everton were in the ascendancy and then Diogo Jota scored.
From there it was almost academic for the Reds, Everton were chasing shadows as the pace was taken out of the game. The Toffees started to give away cheap fouls in frustration allowing Liverpool to spend more time on free-kicks.
The truth is Everton never really looked like getting back into the game after Jota fired Slot's side ahead.
The reliance on Mohamed Salah and how Arne Slot is tackling it
Diogo Jota opened the scoring for the Reds on Wednesday evening - it was his first Premier League goal since January.
The Reds are in a sticky situation, Mohamed Salah is a generational talent, but his contract is up at the end of the season. And Liverpool have too often looked to the Egyptian to bail them out of games that are threatening to run away from them.
Slot needs to find a way around this, and Jota could be the man to help fix that if he gets him firing.