The first Merseyside derby of the season ended in a 2-0 win for Liverpool at Anfield after Mohamed Salah’s double downed ten-man Everton.
Despite a goalless opening 45 minutes, there was plenty of action at Anfield. Half-chances came and went for both teams with Liverpool dominating the flow of the game despite some promising Everton counter-attacks, but it was Ashley Young’s red card after 38 minutes that proved the most significant moment of the first half.
Two yellow cards for late lunges on Luis Diaz saw the former Manchester United man receive his marching orders, with Everton boss Sean Dyche visibly furious as both sides trudged off at half-time.
Despite a stellar defensive performance from the Everton backline in the second half, Salah’s second-half penalty gave the Reds a lead with 15 minutes remaining. Everton felt hard done by after Ibrahima Konate avoided an early bath in the second half for a possible second yellow card, but Salah’s 97th-minute strike put the game to bed and gifted Liverpool a hard-fought three points.
How the game unfolded
Despite Liverpool heading into the Merseyside derby as considerable favourites, it was Everton who had the first opening at Anfield. Alexis Mac Allister surrendered possession deep in his own half and Dwight McNeil’s cross picked out Dominic Calvert-Lewin six yards out, although his header landed straight into Alisson’s gloves with just 30 seconds on the clock.
The hosts responded well and began to flex their muscles. A quick counter-attack from an Everton corner was wonderfully blocked by Young to deny Diaz an opener and, despite the Toffees looking threatening with balls into the box, Liverpool looked characteristically sharp in attacking areas.
Young turned from hero to villain in the 37th minute, however, scything Diaz down on the edge of the penalty area having already received a yellow card for a foul on the Colombian earlier in the game. Craig Pawson took his time but eventually handed the 38-year-old a third Premier League red card of his career to date.
Unsurprisingly, the visitors sank deeper as the half wore on with ten men and Liverpool began to turn up the pressure in Everton’s final third, but the Reds couldn’t find a breakthrough before the half-time whistle.
Liverpool have become acutely aware in recent weeks of just how challenging life is in the Premier League with ten men, knowing they needed to capitalise on their one-man advantage sooner rather than later. However, it wouldn’t be easy for the hosts who now faced a deep Everton back five for the remainder of the match.
Some early Liverpool pressure forced a number of outstanding last-ditch blocks from the Everton backline, James Tarkowski proving the Toffees’ saviour on several occasions. But Dyche’s men stood firm, frustrating the hosts in front of an anxious Kop, and the Reds were incredibly fortunate not to receive a fifth red card of the season themselves when Konate felled Beto in the 63rd minute having already received a yellow.
Everton’s hard work defensively was undone with just over 15 minutes remaining when Diaz’s cross struck the outstretched arm of substitute Michael Keane. Despite an iffy recent penalty record, Salah made no mistake from the spot, thrashing the ball into the far corner with aplomb.
A venomous Harvey Elliott effort from range tested Jordan Pickford with two minutes of normal time remaining, with the England goalkeeper producing a fine save, but he was unable to stop Salah’s second of the game in the 97th minute after a quick counter-attack that sealed all three points for the Reds.
GK: Alisson – 6/10 – Barely had a kick throughout but was calm in possession and his distribution was on point for the Reds.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6/10 – Practically playing as Liverpool’s most advanced midfielder, looking to act as playmaker from deep inside Everton’s half. Some mixed deliveries and passes in the final third and couldn’t find that killer ball.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – 4/10 – Dealt with Calvert-Lewin and Doucoure well in the first half but picked up a silly yellow card for a foul on Onana early in the second half. Incredibly lucky not to get a second yellow card for a foul on Beto ten minutes later, with Klopp swiftly switching him for Joel Matip.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – 7/10 – Did everything he needed to up against Calvert-Lewin and Beto. Strong in possession and didn’t give Everton’s forwards a sniff.
LB: Kostas Tsimikas – 6/10 – Some strong deliveries into the box from the left-hand side and deputised for the injured Andy Robertson well. Had little defensive work to do throughout.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister – 5/10 – Sloppy in possession in the opening stages, taking too long on the ball in central areas. Picked up a little as the game wore on but still doesn’t look entirely comfortable in the number six role for the Reds.
CM: Dominik Szoboszlai – 6/10 – Such a composed customer in central areas, with nothing fazing him during his first Merseyside derby. Struggled to change the game in the second half.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch – 7/10 – Looked incredibly sharp on his first Premier League start, frequently exhibiting his close control and press retention in tight areas. Influence waned a little in the second and was replaced by Elliott.
RW: Mohamed Salah – 8/10 – Not at his electric best but still managed a double in front of the Kop, proving the difference for the Reds. Not a bad Merseyside derby for the Egyptian.
ST: Diogo Jota – 6/10 – Lively in spells but struggled for consistency. Sharper than he has been at times this season and some good mazy runs.
LW: Luis Diaz – 8/10 – His quick feet forced Young’s red card in the first half and they produced the penalty that gave Liverpool the lead in the second. The Reds’ sharpest forward.
Substitutes
SUB: Harvey Elliott (62′ for Gravenberch) – 7/10
SUB: Darwin Nunez (62′ for Tsimikas) – 6/10
SUB: Joel Matip (66′ for Konate) – 7/10
SUB: Joe Gomez (81′ for Diaz) – N/A
Subs not used: Caoimhin Kelleher (GK), Jarell Quansah, Calum Scanlon, Wataru Endo, James McConnell
Manager
Jurgen Klopp – 6/10 – The red card changed the game completely, but Liverpool struggled to break down Everton’s ten men. His substitutions did open the game up but it’s tough to judge too much from such an unusual encounter.
GK: Jordan Pickford – 7/10 – Had surprisingly little to do for the majority of the match, rarely being tested by Liverpool’s attackers. No chance with Salah’s penalty and one great save from Elliott.
RB: Ashley Young – 2/10 – Put in a vital block from Diaz’s shot in the opening 20 minutes but picked up two yellow cards for late tackles on Diaz in the first half. Also kicked the ball away in between his two cautions and ultimately cost his team with his dismissal.
CB: James Tarkowski – 8/10 – Sensational throughout, chucking his body in front of everything. Led by example for the Toffees and helped keep his backline in a solid, organised shape. Unlucky to be on the losing side.
CB: Jarrad Branthwaite – 7/10 – Performed admirably in difficult circumstances and partnered Tarkowski well at the back. Similarly unfortunate not to have kept a clean sheet.
LB: Vitaliy Mykolenko – 7/10 – Some really strong one-on-one defending up against Salah, with the Egyptian getting little change from the full-back.
RM: Jack Harrison – 6/10 – Lively in the first half but hooked at half-time after Young’s red card, forcing Dyche into a reshuffle.
CM: James Garner – 7/10 – Worked his socks off in midfield and did his defensive duties very well indeed. Showed incredible energy in the midfield.
CM: Amadou Onana – 7/10 – Everton’s star performer in the first half with some great defensive work inside his own penalty area. Just as committed in the second half.
LM: Dwight McNeil – 6/10 – Put in one brilliant cross for Calvert-Lewin after 30 seconds but was also forced off at the break to accommodate for a more defensive lineup in the second half.
AM: Abdoulaye Doucoure – 7/10 – Perhaps could have done better on a few occasions in the first half in an advanced role. Did his defensive job incredibly well in the second.
ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 5/10 – Missed a good early opportunity but was offered very little service from his teammates. Practically operated as a midfielder in the second half.
Substitutes
SUB: Michael Keane (46′ for McNeil) – 5/10 – Gave away the decisive penalty even if it wasn’t intentional.
SUB: Nathan Patterson (46′ for Harrison) – 6/10 – Coped fairly well with Diaz down the left. A strong showing given the circumstances.
SUB: Beto (61′ for Calvert-Lewin) – 5/10
SUB: Arnaut Danjuma (80′ for Onana) – N/A
SUB: Youssef Chermiti (88′ for Mykolenko) – N/A
Subs not used: Joao Virginia (GK), Ben Godfrey, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Lewis Dobbin
Manager
Sean Dyche – 7/10 – Did everything right to frustrate Liverpool in both halves, but was ultimately unlucky not to get something from Anfield. Will take plenty of positives from his side’s display, but no points.
Player of the match: Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
