They were predicting it was going to be one of the most one-sided Merseyside derbies in history, and in the end, that’s how it played out at Anfield as Liverpool tore through rivals Everton with a ruthless 5-2 victory.
It was a result that actually sort of flattered the Toffees who, aside from a few bright sparks here and there, were pretty atrocious. They simply were not able to get themselves going in the slightest, and the title contenders were able to exploit that.
A huge result
It was a really fast start to the game for Liverpool who found themselves 2-0 up within 17 minutes courtesy of goals from Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri. Michael Keane pulled one back to give the visitors hope, before Origi scored his second of the game and Mane added a fourth to really put Everton on the back foot.
Richarlison pulled one back just before half time but in the second half, it just felt like both sides were going through the motions. Gini Wijnaldum gave fans a chance to sing his famous song in the last few minutes in the game, scoring a fifth to rubber stamp a huge result for his side.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was understandably elated with his side’s dominant performance.
Title race domination
“All the goals were incredible, outstanding. Wonderful goals, sensational passes, super pieces of football. I loved it a lot!
“We needed fresh legs and I had to show my respect to the boys in the squad, that’s all. They proved it. It is much more fun making changes, all of the boys are ready to deliver performances like this.
“It was a massive moment in my first season when Divock Origi got injured in the derby. It changed his career for a bit.”
Liverpool’s surge towards the title will now take them down south as they prepare to go head to head with Bournemouth. Everton, on the other hand, need to take a long look at the status of Marco Silva as their manager – especially given the fact that they have to contend with a game against Chelsea at the weekend.
Match Report
Liverpool: Adrian (6.5), Robertson (6.5), van Dijk (7.5), Lovren (8), Alexander-Arnold (7.5), Milner (6.5), Wijnadlum (8.5), Mane (9), Lallana (6.5), Shaqiri (7.5), Origi (8.5), Henderson (6.5), Gomez (6), Firmino (6.5)
Everton: Pickford (4.5), Sidibe (6), Holgate (6.5), Keane (6.5), Mina (6), Digne (6.5), Iwobi (6), Davies (6), Sigurdsson (6.5), Richarlison (7), Calvert-Lewin (6.5), Kean (6), Schneiderlin (6), Bernard (6.5)
Referee: Mike Dean
Goals: Origi x2, Shaqiri, Mane, Wijnaldum :: Keane, Richarlison
Yellow Cards: Alexander-Arnold, Davies, Richarlison
Red Cards: N/A
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