Liverpool 0-2 Everton: Match Report

Everton conquered their Anfield blues with a 2-0 win over their rivals. Goals from Richarlison and Sigurdsson leave them in control of their Premier League fate. The Champions league is within their reach now…

The home of the Champions has been anything but a fortress of late. Perhaps the lack of a twelfth man is playing its part. Nonetheless, the losses at home for Liverpool gifted The Toffees a golden opportunity to beat their local rivals. A feat they hadn’t managed at Anfield in the 21^st century. It would make for interesting viewing, since the derby was there for the taking of either side.

If you’ve followed the current Premier League campaign, you’ll know that injuries have been countless for Liverpool, particularly in the defensive region. Jurgen Klopp’s side would line up with the back line of Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Kabak and captain: Jordan Henderson. Not the ideal pair of central defenders for The Reds.

Everton’s side was largely what we expected to see: The core of that team seems so much stronger this year than any in recent time: Doucoure, James Rodriguez and Richarlison being some of the regular starters. The game shaped up nicely and kick off arrived.

Little time passed before Everton netted the first goal of the game. Under 3 minutes in, James Rodriguez’ beautifully weighted pass sliced the Liverpool defence apart (Ozan Kabak getting some un-warranted criticism for not telepathically cutting the ball out) and Richarlison struck in clinical fashion. His calm finish left Alisson clueless in the Liverpool net as the ball struck the bottom corner. 1-0 Everton. Now Liverpool found themselves in an all-too familiar situation of recent weeks. A goal down, trying to get back into the game.

Things went from bad to worse for the Premier League Champions when they went in search of a leveller. Captain (and acting Centre back) Jordan Henderson went down with an injury around the 30-minute mark. Another defender injured for Liverpool. He was replaced by the largely underrated fellow Englishman: Nat Phillips, who would go on to have a very solid game.

Up until half time, little happened. Liverpool displayed long spells of possession, but with no end product. Everton had set up perfectly to hold The Champions back. This, intertwined with Liverpool’s lack of desire to shoot, took the game to half-time: Where The Blue side of the city were in the driver’s seat.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team selection enabled him to bring on both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin around the 60-minute mark. Some might argue that this won them the game. Making these changes before Liverpool made any (apart from their injury replacement) gave The Toffees the advantage of fresh legs. Calvert-Lewin displayed a brilliant striker’s performance as he frustrated Liverpool’s centre-halves as he held the ball up and put his body about frequently.

With even more possession in the second half, Liverpool still failed to take their chances, or rather failed to MAKE their chances. A lack-lustre display in the final third from The Reds. It was around the 80^th minute that Everton had a counter attack which left Calvert-Lewin through on goal. Un-characteristically, the striker’s shot was saved, and as he raced to pick up the scraps, he stumbled over Alexander-Arnold. Penalty. A controversial one to say the least, but The Reds felt they might get their justice as Referee Chris Kavanagh took a look at the VAR monitor. He took the briefest of glances before sticking with his original decision of awarding a penalty. Gylfi Sigurdsson would not disappoint Everton fans as he slotted his penalty past the outstretched gloves of Alisson as he struck the ball low.

2-0 to Everton.

The last 7 or so minutes were filled with slow passes from a deflated Liverpool side who must’ve felt hard done by after the penalty decision. Nonetheless Everton ran out 2-0 victors, winning away at Anfield for the first time in the 21^st century. Now the top 4 dream is in their hands.