LIVERPOOL have beaten Everton 2-0 in a heated Merseyside derby at Anfield.
The Toffees played the majority of the game with 10 men after Ashley Young was sent off for two cynical fouls on Luis Diaz in the first half.
The Reds took the lead after Mo Salah scored a stunning penalty before the Egyptian claimed his second of the afternoon late on to seal the win for the Reds.
- Match result: Liverpool 2-0 Everton
- Liverpool team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Salah, Jota, Diaz
- Everton team: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Garner, Onana, Harrison, Doucoure, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin
PADDY POWER WELCOME OFFER – Get £40 in free bet builder bets
Follow our live blog below…
That’s all from Anfield
But there’s plenty more Premier League action today including live blogs of the matches between Chelsea against Arsenal, and Sheffield United against Manchester United.
Goodbye.
More home comforts for Mo
This lunchtime’s derby day double means that Mohamed Salah has either scored or assisted in each of his last 13 Premier League appearances for Liverpool at Anfield (14 goals and three assists).
Only Alan Shearer (separate runs of 18 and 17 games) and Thierry Henry (17 games) have ever done so in more consecutive home appearances in the competition.
Jurgen top of the Klopps
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has now won more Premier League Merseyside derbies than any other manager.
Following today’s victory – his ninth against the Toffees – the German has overtaken Rafa Benítez, who won eight during his six years in charge at Anfield.
Dyche dumbfounded by Konate decision
Sean Dyche was at a loss to explain how Ibrahima Konate stayed on the pitch despite cynically bringing down Beto when already on a yellow card.
The Everton boss had seen his own player Ashley Young dismissed in the first half in similar circumstances, and pointed to Jurgen Klopp’s response in immediately substituting his defender following the reprieve from the referee.
The whole stadium looked at it and thought ‘what’s going on there?’ Their manager is a fine judge quite obviously because he’s looked at it and thought ‘I better get him off’. That was the proof in itself.
Sean Dyche
Van Dijk saluts Salah
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk paid tribute to Mo Salah after the Egyptian’s two goals settled this afternoon’s Merseyside derby.
In particular, the Dutch centre-back has been impressed by his teammate’s ability to keep his cool when faced with pressure penalties in big games.
It’s what great players do. He missed a couple of penalties at the end of last season, but he continues to step up and deliver like he does, and that’s what we need. It’s what big players do and I’m very pleased for him.
Virgil van Dijk
Match stats from Anfield
The good news for Everton is that they won the tackling.
Full time – Liverpool 2-0 Everton
Merseyside is red once again this afternoon.
Two late goals from Mohamed Salah – one from the penalty spot – settle the first derby of the season as the ten-men of Everton are seen off at Anfield.
Everton will feel aggrieved, if not for Ashley Young’s first half red card for two bookable offences, then because Ibrahima Konate failed to go the same way when committing similar offences in the second period.
And then to make matters worse, the Toffees resistance was broken by VAR, who overruled Craig Pawson’s on-field decision to award a penalty against Michael Keane for handball that ultimately broke the visitors’ resistance.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
90+8. And now, finally, Anfield awakes.
The home fans are singing the name of matchwinner Mo Salah.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
90+7. On the counter, Liverpool seal the three points in the season’s first Merseyside derby.
One last, desperate Everton attack breaks down on the edge of the home side’s penalty area, and then the Reds go to work.
Harvey Elliott steers the ball out to Darwin Nunez in space, and the substitute sets off on a driving run.
Drawing the last defender, the Uruguayan then plays in Mo Salah, who cooly pulls another left-footer beyond Jordan Pickford.
Game over!
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
90+3. The visitors win a corner in front of their own fans, who believe this may just be their chance.
Jordan Pickford wants to go up for the set-piece, but Sean Dyches ignore hims.
Instead, Everton pack the penalty area with giant defenders, not least Branthwaite, who occupies both Alisson and Van Dijk.
Eventually, Garner whips over the delivery…
…but it evades everyone and travels through to safety.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
90. Everton aren’t done just yet.
They have nine minutes of stoppage time to rescue what would be an unlikely point.
They couldn’t, could they?
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
89. Sensational shot from Elliott!
And an even better save from Pickford!
The Liverpool substitute manages to dig out a fierce drive from 30 yards that looks destined for the net until the Everton goalkeeper responds with a flying tip on to the crossbar and over.
Breathtaking stuff!
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
87. And straight down the other end, Brathwaite almost adds insult to injury by heading past his own goalkeeper.
Instead, the defender can breathe a huge sigh of relief that his effort to cut out Nunez’s cross flew the wrong – or right – side of Pickford’s post.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
86. Danjuma tries to conjure something special on a rare Everton attack.
The Dutchman is stopped in his tracks, and the travelling fans at the end of Anfield believe he was done so illegally.
However, Craig Pawson infuriates them further by waving away their appeals for a free-kick.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
84. Despite their lead, there’s still not much noise being made inside Anfield.
Maybe the home fans are saving their voices for local bragging rights in the coming days.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
82. The hosts go close to doubling their lead.
Diogo Jota meets a corner from the left with a flashing header, but it’s straight at Pickford.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton – Liverpool substitution
80. Liverpool respond in kind by introducing Joe Gomez.
Luis Diaz makes way after his involvement in the game’s key incidents.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton – Everton substitution
79. It’s time for Sean’s last roll of the Dyche.
Amadou Onana has done well this afternoon, but the Toffees now opt for the more attacking Arnaut Danjuma.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
77. On the bench, Everton officials feel aggrieved, still bemoaning the decision not to send off Ibrahima Konate.
Assistant Ian Woan follows his manager Sean Dyche into the book by saying too much to the fourth official.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
75. The deadlock is broken in the Merseyside derby!
There was no doubt about the penalty decision, and there was no doubt about Mohamed Salah’s execution as he stepped up to the spot.
Left-footed, the Egyptian slams his penalty into the right corner with confidence, leaving Jordan Pickford rooted to his spot.
Perhaps it was the only way Liverpool were going to find a way through Everton this afternoon.
Salah scores!
Liverpool 0-0 Everton – Penalty to Liverpool!
74. Sure enough, Craig Pawson returns to the field and awards a spotkick to Liverpool.
A huge chance. A huge moment.
Liverpool 0-0 Everton
72. But surely this will be a penalty!
Diaz gets down the left and whips in a cross that clatter’s Michael Keane’s outstretched arm.
Craig Pawson says no, but VAR quickly indicate that the referee should review his decision pitchside.
Liverpool 0-0 Everton
70. Not for the first time this afternoon, the fans on the Kop are demanding a penalty.
This time it’s when Diaz goes down under Patterson’s sliding challenge.
It’s perhaps not the best decision from the Scot to go to ground, but the Colombian made the most of it by throwing himself to the floor.
No spotkick.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
