Premier League: Everton Overcomes Liverpool with 2-0 Victory
In what may well mark the end of Jürgen Klopp’s tenure at Liverpool, Everton triumphed over their neighbouring rivals at Goodison Park in the last Merseyside derby of Klopp’s reign. This marks the first time in over a decade that Everton has bested Liverpool at this venue. This monumental win carried extra weight as it likely ensured Everton’s continued Premier League standing whilst putting Liverpool’s title ambitions in jeopardy.
The energised Everton crowd embraced their team’s triumph with the chant “You lost the league at Goodison Park,” a poignant reminder of a resounding Everton win and a potentially title-ending defeat for Liverpool. Everton’s victory was secured by goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Everton came onto the pitch with gusto, reciprocated by Goodison’s exhilarating atmosphere. Under Sean Dyche’s leadership, the home team demonstrated a renewed quality of play, intensity, and purpose that earlier season games seemed to lack. Despite potential injury concerns, Calvert-Lewin displayed exceptional leadership on the front line, supported by exceptional service from midfielders Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil.
Liverpool, rattled, seemed vulnerable well before Branthwaite ushered Everton into the lead. The out of sorts Liverpool side was lacking key players Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo, with the latter unable to play due to becoming a father moments before the kick-off time.
The first missed prime opportunity came for Everton when Abdoulaye Doucouré failed to properly connect with McNeil’s low cross. The critical play which eventually led to Everton’s lead was initiated by a precise diagonal pass from Branthwaite, sending Harrison on a run away from Liverpool’s Andy Robertson.
Harrison was engaged in a contentious event that could have resulted in severe consequences for the guests that evening. His exquisite cross with the edge of his foot enabled Calvert-Lewin to have a shot at goal. The forward managed to pass the ball around Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson, but stumbled, denied the chance to score into the open goal. Referee Andy Madley instantly signalled for a penalty and gave Alisson a yellow card, which enraged the home spectators. The crowd was further infuriated when VAR revealed that Calvert-Lewin was offside when he got Harrison’s pass. The penalty and the yellow card were consequently cancelled.
This dismissal did not invigorate Liverpool to abandon their sluggish style. Everton maintained their edge until the last 15 minutes of the first half, despite a necessary interception by Ben Godfrey to deter Darwin Núñez or Curtis Jones to convert Mohamed Salah’s first-time cross. At a McNeil free-kick, Godfrey misdirected his header, despite having a decent position. Another free-kick taken by McNeil reached Calvert-Lewin via James Tarkowski but Alisson managed to thwart the forward’s close-range header.
On McNeil’s third free-kick attempt, Liverpool committed another needless foul, this time by Jones on Gueye, providing the winger another chance to unsettle the visitors’ defence. Tarkowski managed to return the ball’s initial clearance across the penalty area toward Harrison. Harrison’s intuitive touch set up Godfrey whose shot was blocked, but the rebound conveniently fell for Branthwaite who was left unattended near the edge of the six-yard box. Branthwaite’s low shot manoeuvred beneath Alisson, hit the post, and finally rolled in. Despite a protracted VAR check for offside against Branthwaite, this time Everton’s goal was not revoked.
Liverpool began to react at this point. Klopp’s team finally started to dominate the ball possession and pushed the Everton defence. Jordan Pickford, the Everton goalkeeper, had to make saves from Núñez, who had been fed by Salah, and Luis Díaz, after a crucial play by Núñez. Núñez also managed to create a solid chance for Salah but after his initial shot was deflected by Branthwaite, Salah surprisingly shot the follow-up over the bar.
Everton presented a strong defence as Liverpool increased their pressure, with Branthwaite and Gueye making impactful saves against on-target shots, whilst Tarkowski vigilantly protected his penalty zone from an array of crosses. The same trend persisted post-halftime, but swiftly, Everton revealed the bonus of a second goal during their prominent attack. An intense strike from McNeil, covering 25 yards, grazed past Alisson’s fingertips. Capitalising on the subsequent corner positioned by McNeil, Calvert-Lewin took advantage of the gap left by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk to head the ball to the lower corner.
McNeil was on the verge of scoring the third goal when he got possession from Wataru Endo, a substitute from Liverpool, just outside the zone. His strategically located strike, however, went off-track. In a desperate search of a breakthrough, Liverpool bombarded Everton’s area with crosses, only to keep hitting the royal blue jersey or getting vanquished instantly whenever the goal was in sight. Díaz did manage to get around Pickford with a shot that curled in from the left, but it indirectly bounced off the far post and out. Everton maintained their victory as Pickford averted the late attempts by Harvey Elliott and Salah. – Guardian.