REDS STILL IN LEAGUE TITLE PURSUIT AS THEY BEAT EVERTON 2-0 AT ANFIELD.
Goals from Andrew Robertson and Divock Origi earned Liverpool bragging rights in the Merseyside derby as they beat a stubborn Everton 2-0 and stretched their winning run at home to 12 consecutive Premier League matches.
The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half, but the ‘Toffees’ had come with a clear plan to slow the game down and crowd out their opposition in midfield. That meant chances were few and far between, with Sadio Mané and Diogo Jota flashing efforts off target, while Abdoulaye Doucouré dragged a shot past the post at the other end after a rapid counter-attack.
Mo Salah then blazed high and wide from inside the box as the half appeared to be fizzling out, only for Doucouré to get booked for kicking out at Fabinho in injury time. The incident sparked a 20 man brawl, and was the result of referee Stuart Atwell refusing to halt the game when Richarlison went down in midfield. The ‘Reds’ were clearly frustrated by Everton’s tactics with Jürgen Klopp and Frank Lampard sharing seemingly heated words as the HT whistle blew.
The game needed a goal and after both teams had fired a couple of shots off target, the deadlock was finally broken just after the hour mark through an unlikely figure. Salah dinked a clever cross to the back post, and it was met by Robertson who nodded in his first Anfield goal since September 2020. That saw the game burst into life and substitute Luis Díaz soon had a shot saved, while Joël Matip and Salah both came close.
Demarai Gray fizzed a shot just wide from 20-yards as Everton were forced to change their shape and push for an equaliser, but that was a rare sight of goal for Frank Lampard’s side. The action remained largely at the other end and after Jordan Pickford had saved from Thiago Alcântara, Origi, so often a derby day hero in the past, headed home a second in the 85th minute to end the tie as a contest.
Defeat for the ‘Toffees’, their eighth in a row away from home, means they stay in the Premier League relegation zone, whereas Liverpool move back to within one point of leaders Manchester City.
