LIVERPOOL are back to winning ways in the Premier League after a 2-0 win over Merseyside rivals Everton.
The Reds were locked in a tight battle with the Toffees at Anfield but Mo Salah finished off a brilliant counter-attack to put his side 1-0 up.
And Cody Gakpo doubled Liverpool’s lead with a tap-in in the second half.
- Start time: 8pm
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matiz, Gomez, Robertson, Bajcetic, Fabinho, Henderson, Gakpo, Salah, Nunez
- Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Coady, Mykolenko, Gueye, Doucoure, Onana, Iwobi, McNeil, Simms
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Right time, right place
Remarkably, that was Liverpool’s first win of 2023.
For Jurgen Klopp and his players, it couldn’t have come at a better time with the fixtures that lay in front of them.
One win doesn’t make a season but if The Reds can use it as a springboard to bigger and better things.
Gakpo gets duck off his back
Cody Gakpo’s goal this evening will silence some of his critics who have cited the new man’s lack of goals and creativity since his January move.
After his goal, his game seemed to go up a gear or two as he started to brim with confidence.
Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that the Dutch youngster will use tonight’s performance as a catalyst for bigger and better things now.
Credit: AFP Tenacious youngster gets plaudits
Stefan Bajcetic was awarded the man of the match award this evening with a stellar display.
In his debut season in the first team, playing alongside Fabinho and Jordan Henderson the Spaniard had a great game.
This will give the youngster some confidence in his fledgling Liverpool career.
FT: Liverpool 2-0 Everton
Jurgen Klopp’s side pick up a big three points to get themselves out of the rut they found themselves in of late.
It was a cagey start to the game for the first twenty minutes or so but from that moment onwards, Liverpool seemed to rediscover some of the quality they have been missing of late.
More importantly the hunger seemed to be back, they need to carry that forward into the rest of their season now.
Credit: Reuters FT: Liverpool 2-0 Everton
Goals from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo are the difference between the sides tonight.
Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated their opponents in all areas of the pitch this evening.
Alisson will not have much quieter games than that.
FT: Liverpool 2-0 Everton
The referee blows his whistle to bring the game to close.
Liverpool have got back to winning ways at the expense of their neighbours.
That could be a morale-boosting win for The Reds.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
90+2. Everton come forward, desperately trying to find some sort of reply.
The ball is headed clear by Liverpool.
Time has run out for The Toffees.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
90. Bajcetic comes off for Keita.
Salah comes off for Elliott.
It is announced that the young Spaniard is tonight’s man of the match.
We are going to have four added minutes here.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
88. Liverpool manage to get the ball into Salah who looks to add a third for the hosts.
It deflects off Tarkowski’s thigh and Pickford tips it around the post.
Another corner for Liverpool to try and get that third goal.
Credit: PA
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
86. It is all kicking off on the touchline now.
Robertson kicks the ball away and Pickford pushes the Scot in the chest.
Suddenly the subs get involved and its all kicking off.
This is the most passion we have seen from an Everton player as Iwobi runs the length of the pitch to get involved.
It is also the best run Iwobi has made tonight.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
84. You cannot see any way back into this game now.
They seem to be going through the motions.
Gueye is penalised for a foul on Fabinho and Doucoure is booked for kicking the ball away.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
82. Liverpool break on the counter, stretching Everton once again in the defensive third.
The ball is fed into the path of Salah who lets one fly.
Tarkowski manages to deflect it wide at the expense of a corner.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
80. Firmino comes on for Gakpo.
Milner comes on for Henderson.
Iwobi swings one into the back post and finds Davies whose header suggests he’s got his wallet under that man-bun.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
78. Maupay comes on for McNeil.
Davies comes on for Onana.
Stick or bust time for The Toffees.
Credit: PA Liverpool 2-0 Everton
76. Everton seem lacking invention.
They are trying to force a pass to create space for them to utilise.
The home fans start suggesting what league they feel their neighbours will be in come next season.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
74. Jota is penalised for a foul trying to press.
There seems more of an urgency in The Reds’ game.
Alexander-Arnold comes steaming forward once again.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
72. Liverpool are probing once again.
They are looking to find that third goal to kill this game off.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are looking more like themselves now.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
70. Diogo Jota makes his long-awaited return from injury as he joins the game.
Everton are struggling at the back as Liverpool start looking to press them high up the pitch.
Time is running out for the visitors to find a way back into the game.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton – Coady yellow card
68. That is a popular card with the home fans.
Alexander-Arnold looks to switch the ball from right to left to Gakpo.
Not quite got his range in there as Pickford comes to collect.
Credit: Getty Liverpool 2-0 Everton
66. Everton have limited options on the bench as they look to chase the game.
Liverpool are making good runs, utilising the space in between the Everton lines.
Diogo Jota seems to be warming up on the touchline.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
64. Gakpo is growing in confidence after that goal.
He feeds it to Salah with the outside of his boot.
The Egyptian cuts in onto his left and shoots but it is no problem for Pickford.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
62. Simms come off for Gray for The Toffees.
Tough evening for the young Everton striker.
Gakpo breaks forward for Liverpool and feeds it Nunez who looks to bend it in the top corner but doesn’t quite get enough bend on his effort.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
60. McNeil is seeing more of the ball down the Everton left in this half, but he is struggling to make an impact.
Mykolenko looks to offer him some support but the cross is poor.
This is the issue, Everton are now all over the shop defensively.
Credit: PA Liverpool 2-0 Everton
58. Everton are chasing shadows as Liverpool stroke the ball around.
Salah crosses to Nunez who gets a shot away which is saved by Pickford.
The ball comes back to the Uruguayan, who cannot direct it goalwards.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
56. Liverpool have Everton on the back foot once again.
Salah runs at the defence with the defenders wary of making a challenge.
He slips it to Henderson on the right but his cross is poor, although it nearly catches Pickford out in the Everton goal.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
