LIVERPOOL have the Merseyside derby bragging rights after a thumping victory over Everton at Goodison Park.
It was a dream start for Jurgen Klopp’s side, with Jordan Henderson and Mo Salah firing them into an early two-goal lead.
But the Toffees got back in the tie thanks to Demarai Gray, who beat Alisson one-on-one.
Rafa Benitez’s pushed for a leveller, but Salah restored the two-goal lead on the break before Jota hammered in a terrific fourth.
Everton fans voted with their feet following that goal, with barely a few thousand left in the ground at full time.
- Final score: Everton 1-4 Liverpool
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GOODNIGHT FROM GOODISON
Less than a mile separates Anfield and Goodison Park, but Merseyside’s two clubs could not be further apart at this moment in time.
Another four-midable performance from Liverpool, their biggest win at Everton for 39 years, had the Reds roaring with delight. Glory and silverware surely beckon for Jurgen Klopp’s men led by the irresistible Mo Salah.
On the other side of Stanley Park, the Blues are feeling just that. Eight games without a win, an unwanted manager under pressure, and fans revolting against the board. The Toffees are currently closer to the Championship than the Champions League.
Liverpool will continue to cruise, but more upheaval is expected at Everton before things can improve. Whether that happens before Monday’s game with Arsenal remains to be seen, but whatever the case we’ll be here with the news as it breaks.
Thanks for following tonight’s game with us, goodbye.
TIGHT AT THE TOP
Two points continue to separate the top three teams in the Premier League after Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool all registered wins on Wednesday evening. It is shaping up to be some title race.
Not pictured: Everton.
TOXIC TOFFEES
The atmosphere at Goodison Park this evening has been described as “toxic” by many in attendance.
Boos at full time, and chants of “sack the board!”, there doesn’t seem to be an immediate fix for the problems that have arisen at the club.
A fortune spent on average players, questionable ownership and six different managers in six years has left the Merseysiders bereft of identity.
Supporters are demanding that something has to change.
CATCH MO IF YOU CAN
Two more goals for Mohamed Salah this evening took hit tally to 19 for the season in all competitions.
In doing so, he also became the first Liverpool player to register goal involvement in seven consecutive away games.
In fact, the only Premier League match that Salah has neither scored or assisted this season is Burnley at home.
Speaking afterwards, the Egyptian insisted he had no personal goals for the campaign, just targets with his team.
My first target is to win something with the club. The Premier League? The Champions League? Maybe both.
Mo Salah
RAFA OUT?
It’s now eight games without a win for Everton, their worst run of form this century. As a result, bookmaker Paddy Power are paying out on Rafael Benitez to be the next Premier League manager to leave his job.
Other less attention-hungry bookies are as short as 1/6 about the Spaniard leaving his post imminently.
FT: EVERTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL
Boos ring out from the remaining home fans at full time as Everton crash to their heaviest home defeat in a Merseyside derby for 39 years. Local rivals Liverpool were superb once again, and it means the pressure increases on their former hero Rafa Benitez. Goals from Jordan Henderson, Diogo Jota and a double from Mohamed Salah were too much for the Toffees, who only had Demarai Gray’s effort amid half hour of hope to show for their efforts.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FINAL WHISTLE IS BLOWN!EVERTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL
90. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” rings around Goodison Park as the fourth official signals an additional three minutes of playing time.
It’s been a miserable night for Evertonians. It’s been business as usual for Liverpool.
EVERTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL
88. Off goes Diogo Jota. On comes Takumi Minamino.
EVERTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL
85. The Everton players want the final whistle. The Everon fans that have stayed want the final whistle.
I’m not sure Cenk Tosun wants any part of this, but he’s on for a first Premier League appearance of the season. He replaces Demarai Gray.
EVERTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL
84. Jordan Henderson has put in a superb shift this evening, and his reward is an early finish.
The Liverpool captain departs having opened the scoring, and is replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
EVERTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL
83. Rafa Benitez is once again being serenaded by the Liverpool fans, perhaps with a more mocking tone than the earlier affection.
It could be a difficult week for the Spanish coach.
EVERTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL
81. Van Dijk becomes the seventh player to be booked this evening. The centre-back is penalised for a mismatched challenge on Gordon.
EVERTON 1-4 LIVERPOOL
79. Diogo Jota gets in on the act!
It’s a brilliant piece of skill from the Portuguese forward, but the defending sums up Everton’s performance tonight – and perhaps sums up their season too.
Andy Robertson’s pass into the middle is slightly behind Jota, but he takes an exquisite touch to spin away from a flatfooted Allan before slamming an effort into the roof of the net from an acute angle.
The Reds are running riot.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!
DIOGO JOTA WITH A SENSATIONAL STRIKE!!
EVERTON 1-3 LIVERPOOL
77. Liverpool sense more as their away fans bellow out the Christmas hits.
EVERTON 1-3 LIVERPOOL
75. A beaming Jurgen Klopp makes his first switch of the night, introducing veteran James Milner for Thiago.
The 35-year-old has quarter of an hour to get in on the action.
EVERTON 1-3 LIVERPOOL
73. It’s another Everton change. Rafa decides to shore up the midfield now the game is out of reach, and replaces Andros Townsend with Fabian Delph.
EVERTON 1-3 LIVERPOOL
71. Mo Salah’s double tonight now mean that he’s either scored or assisted in every Premier League away game this season. That’s nine goals and five assists.
On current form, no player in world football comes close (although I will accept Fulham’s Neeskens Kebano).
EVERTON 1-3 LIVERPOOL
69. Want to know how confident these Liverpool players are at the moment?
Jordan Henderson is out on the far touchline, performing tricks to move beyond Digne. Mad tekkers, as the kids say (in 2009).
EVERTON 1-3 LIVERPOOL
65. Is there a better player in world football than Mohamed Salah?
It’s certainly not Seamus Coleman, who – it has to be said – is at fault for this goal.
The Everton captain fails to deal with a loose pass back to him from Demarai Gray, and his hesitation allowed Salah to poke play past him and rush clear.
Head down, the Egyptian burst through from the halfway line and cooly slipped a delicate effort past Jordan Pickford and into the bottom corner.
It’s two for Salah, three for Liverpool, and the points are heading back to Anfield.
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!
MO SALAH AT THE DOUBLE!!EVERTON 1-2 LIVERPOOL
64. Townsend goes for the goal with the free-kick! Deflected wide for a corner!
EVERTON 1-2 LIVERPOOL
63. Gordon gets to a bouncing ball ahead of Robertson, pokes it past the defender and hits the deck.
Paul Tierney points for a free-kick, produces a yellow card for Liverpool’s left-back and the Everton roar with approval at a decision finally going their way.
Replays, however, show that contact was minimal, and Gordon could have arguably been the third home player booked for diving.
EVERTON 1-2 LIVERPOOL
61. Liverpool test the Everton defence with a succession of corners, but Keane and then Pickford manage to repel the danger.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
