Mohamed Salah scored two second-half goals to see off ten-man Everton in the Merseyside derby.

IMAGO / Offside Sports Photography

The first Merseyside derby took place at Goodison Park on 13 October 1894. Everton won 3-0. The Toffees would go on to finish second in the First Division, while Liverpool were relegated to the Second Division.

Now, 129 years later, the tables have turned. Everton have won just once at Anfield since 1999 and haven’t lifted silverware for 28 years. Jurgen Klopp has lost just one game as Liverpool manager against Everton back in 2020/21.

Once again, Liverpool had been handed the 12.30pm kick-off straight after the international break, the second time this season. It will not be the last time either, as the Reds’ clash with Manchester City was rearranged to a lunchtime kick-off after November’s international break.

Liverpool had a chance to go top of the Premier League, albeit for a few hours until Manchester City’s seemingly inevitable victory against Brighton & Hove Albion. The Reds’ boss named a strong lineup, with a midfield consisting of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai – all experiencing the Merseyside derby for the first time.

Kostas Tsimikas will hold the responsibility at left-back for at least three months after it was revealed Andy Robertson underwent surgery on his shoulder after picking up an injury with Scotland.

The Blues had the first chance on goal in the opening few seconds of the game, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s tame header proving easy for Alisson. The main highlight of the first half, however, was Ashley Young’s yellow card double – resulting in the full-back being dismissed.

In truth, Liverpool could have been two or even three goals to the good by half-time. Quick counter-attacks were thwarted by the inability to play the correct final pass.

Everton had to endure a second 45 minutes a man down with Liverpool attacking the Kop. The Reds were lucky to keep Ibrahima Konate on the pitch after his cynical foul on Beto was contested by the away side as the referee didn’t produce a booking – Konate was already on a yellow card.

The Reds were knocking, until Luis Diaz’s attempted cross was intercepted by the hand of Michael Keane. After consultation with the VAR, a penalty was awarded.

Mohamed Salah stepped up and scored again in the Merseyside derby. With fifteen minutes until the final whistle, it seemed Merseyside would once more be painted red.

The three points and bragging rights were secured in the seventh minute of stoppage time as a counter attack, led by Darwin Nunez, was finished with aplomb by Salah.

IMAGO / Offside Sports Photography

Liverpool’s victory in the derby shot them up to 1st in the Premier League, with 20 out of a possible 27 points. The win also keeps up an impressive streak of winning every game at Anfield so far:

  • W 3-1 vs Bournemouth
  • W 3-0 vs Aston Villa
  • W 3-1 vs West Ham United
  • W 3-1 vs Leicester City
  • W 2-0 vs Union Saint-Gilloise
  • W 2-0 vs Everton

The next challenge for the Reds is taking on French outfit Toulouse in the Europa League at Anfield. Kick-off is at 8pm on Thursday, 26 October.

Liverpool team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate (Matip 66), Van Dijk, Tsimikas (Nunez 62), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch (Elliott 62), Salah, Jota, Diaz (Gomez 81).

Everton team: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko (Chermiti 88), Harrison (Keane 46), Garner, Onana (Danjuma 80), McNeil (Patterson 46), Doucoure, Calvert-Lewin (Beto 61).


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