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Liverpool 2-0 Everton: Reds return to winning ways after Merseyside derby triumph

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Mohamed Salah gives Liverpool the lead over Everton at Anfield

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said “it felt like us, it looked like us,” after the Reds recorded their first Premier League win in 2023 with a comfortable Merseyside derby victory over Everton at Anfield.

Sean Dyche’s reign as Everton manager got off to the perfect start with a win over league leaders Arsenal at Goodison Park, but the task he has taken on after succeeding sacked Frank Lampard was laid out before him in graphic detail as they remain rooted in the bottom three.

Everton had actually kept Liverpool at arm’s length before they were caught by a devastating counter-attack after 36 minutes, defender James Tarkowski’s header hitting the post at one end before Darwin Nunez raced clear, squaring for Mohamed Salah to take advantage of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s poor positioning with a simple finish.

Liverpool snuffed out any hopes of an Everton recovery four minutes after the break.

And it was a special moment for £45m January signing Cody Gakpo, as he tapped in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross at the far post for his first goal since arriving at Anfield from PSV Eindhoven.

“The result is a massive relief,” Klopp said to BBC’s Match of the Day.

“The better you play the more likely you will score. The whole performance was extremely important for us because we needed to make a statement.”

Liverpool show signs of life

It has been a miserable 2023 for Liverpool, encapsulated by heavy away defeats at Brentford, Brighton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the ease with which they were able to overcome Everton’s admittedly flimsy challenge will lift the spirits.

This was a good night for Liverpool as manager Klopp was able to include Virgil van Dijk, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota on the bench after injury, the latter getting a rapturous reception when he was introduced as a second-half substitute for his first action since picking up the muscle problem that forced him to miss the World Cup in Qatar.

Firmino also got a late outing.

Another big plus was Gakpo’s goal, a huge morale-booster for a player who has been quiet – although it would have been difficult for any new acquisition to come into such a struggling side who are ninth in the Premier League table, nine points adrift of the Champions League places.

Gakpo’s confidence visibly lifted after his goal, showing assured touches and looking more at ease than at any time in his short Liverpool career.

“The dream is that you score in the first minute of the first game you play,” said Gakpo. “In the end I have had to wait a little bit but I’m really delighted that I can score this one.”

Another major plus for Klopp and Liverpool was the outstanding display of 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic, who showed astonishing maturity in midfield with a comprehensive range of passing, a sure touch and a willingness to engage in the physical exchanges. It was a complete performance by the youngster.

Liverpool were nowhere near their best – they did not have to be – but the sight of Salah on the scoresheet, goals from trademark lightning counter-attacks and a clean sheet will change the mood around Anfield considerably before a crucial visit to Newcastle United on Saturday night.

Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson celebrate after Liverpool take the lead against Everton at Anfield

Everton revert to type

Everton started the Dyche era with a performance full of passion and competitive edge to stun Arsenal, but this was a reminder of why they face a serious relegation battle, and evidence that the display against the Gunners was very much the exception in this season of struggle.

None of the things Dyche expects from his teams was on show here. They were passive, slow and careless in possession – their major flaw once again exposed as they barely mounted a threat apart from Tarkowski’s header that actually resulted in Liverpool breaking the deadlock.

The absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, injured once more after figuring for an hour against Arsenal, underscores the folly in not signing a replacement for Richarlison, an error in the summer compounded by the failure to correct it in January.

Much rests on the unreliable fitness of Calvert-Lewin, with Dyche having to rely on 22-year-old Ellis Simms, making only his second Premier League start. The youngster, understandably, struggled on his own up front with no service.

Everton now have a vital home game against managerless fellow strugglers Leeds United on Saturday and Dyche will want more of what they showed against Arsenal and less of what they produced at Anfield.

Player of the match

BajceticStefan Bajcetic

with an average of 8.25

Liverpool

  1. Squad number43Player nameBajcetic
    Average rating

    8.25

  2. Squad number27Player nameNúñez
    Average rating

    7.85

  3. Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah
    Average rating

    7.84

  4. Squad number18Player nameGakpo
    Average rating

    7.84

  5. Squad number26Player nameRobertson
    Average rating

    7.77

  6. Squad number1Player nameAlisson
    Average rating

    7.43

  7. Squad number14Player nameHenderson
    Average rating

    7.31

  8. Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold
    Average rating

    7.24

  9. Squad number7Player nameMilner
    Average rating

    7.13

  10. Squad number2Player nameGomez
    Average rating

    7.11

  11. Squad number3Player nameFabinho
    Average rating

    7.04

  12. Squad number32Player nameMatip
    Average rating

    6.95

  13. Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota
    Average rating

    6.74

  14. Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino
    Average rating

    6.68

  15. Squad number19Player nameElliott
    Average rating

    6.58

  16. Squad number8Player nameKeïta
    Average rating

    6.12

Everton

  1. Squad number26Player nameDavies

    Average rating

    3.75

  2. Squad number17Player nameIwobi

    Average rating

    3.53

  3. Squad number19Player nameMykolenko

    Average rating

    3.50

  4. Squad number30Player nameCoady

    Average rating

    3.48

  5. Squad number2Player nameTarkowski

    Average rating

    3.44

  6. Squad number23Player nameColeman

    Average rating

    3.43

  7. Squad number50Player nameSimms

    Average rating

    3.35

  8. Squad number7Player nameMcNeil

    Average rating

    3.33

  9. Squad number8Player nameOnana

    Average rating

    3.33

  10. Squad number16Player nameDoucouré

    Average rating

    3.30

  11. Squad number11Player nameGray

    Average rating

    3.28

  12. Squad number27Player nameGueye

    Average rating

    3.27

  13. Squad number1Player namePickford

    Average rating

    3.15

  14. Squad number20Player nameMaupay

    Average rating

    2.87

Line-ups

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold32Matip2Gomez26Robertson

14Henderson3Fabinho43Bajcetic

11Salah18Gakpo27Núñez

  • 1Alisson
  • 66Alexander-Arnold
  • 32Matip
  • 2Gomez
  • 26RobertsonBooked at 87mins
  • 14HendersonSubstituted forMilnerat 80′minutes
  • 3Fabinho
  • 43BajceticSubstituted forKeïtaat 90′minutes
  • 11SalahSubstituted forElliottat 90′minutes
  • 18GakpoSubstituted forFirminoat 80′minutes
  • 27NúñezSubstituted forJotaat 70′minutes

Substitutes

  • 4van Dijk
  • 7Milner
  • 8Keïta
  • 9Firmino
  • 19Elliott
  • 20Jota
  • 21Tsimikas
  • 47Phillips
  • 62Kelleher

Everton

Formation 4-5-1

1Pickford

23Coleman30Coady2Tarkowski19Mykolenko

7McNeil16Doucouré27Gueye8Onana17Iwobi

50Simms

  • 1PickfordBooked at 87mins
  • 23Coleman
  • 30CoadyBooked at 67mins
  • 2Tarkowski
  • 19Mykolenko
  • 7McNeilSubstituted forMaupayat 78′minutes
  • 16DoucouréBooked at 84mins
  • 27Gueye
  • 8OnanaSubstituted forDaviesat 78′minutes
  • 17Iwobi
  • 50SimmsSubstituted forGrayat 61′minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Holgate
  • 5Keane
  • 11Gray
  • 13Mina
  • 15Begovic
  • 20Maupay
  • 22Godfrey
  • 26Davies
  • 29Vinagre
Referee:
Simon Hooper

Attendance:
53,027

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Liverpool 2, Everton 0.

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