Liverpool 2-0 Everton: Mohamed Salah fires Reds to Merseyside derby win against 10-man Toffees
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Updated 21/10/2023 at 14:05 GMT
Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 in the Merseyside derby in the Premier League to move top of the table. Mohamed Salah scored both goals after Ashley Young saw red after receiving two yellow cards in the first half. Liverpool have played nine games and collected 20 points. Tottenham have played eight games and are also on 20 points but the Reds lead the table courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC at Anfield on October 21, 2023 in Liverpool, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League table after a late 2-0 victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby.
In a quiet first half Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a chance in the opening seconds but put his header straight at Alisson. Everton were then reduced to 10 men shortly before half-time, as Ashley Young received a second yellow card for a foul on Luis Diaz.
Everton were furious in the second half when Ibrahima Konate was fortunate to escape a second yellow card that would have evened things up.
With the pressure slowly building on Everton, they then conceded a penalty with 15 minutes to go after a handball by Michael Keane.
Mohamed Salah emphatically converted the spot kick to give Liverpool the lead. In injury time Salah scored again to end the argument, sweeping in a second after good work by Darwin Nunez.
TALKING POINT
Can Liverpool find the intensity to go for the title? As things stand they’re top of the table, as this win launches them above Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City at time of writing. So far Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0 has looked like an upgrade on last season, but today was a surprisingly flat performance.
There’s mitigation of course; players were missing through injury and suspension, we’re just back from the international break and the new midfield of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch only started together for the first time today.
What made Klopp’s Liverpool 1.0 able to go toe-to-toe with Pep Guardiola and Manchester City was a relentless intensity, both in runs of form and the ability to kill games off decisively. This team don’t quite look to be at that level just yet; the good news is that they have a run of fixtures with which to gather momentum before their first real litmus test – a trip to the Etihad at the end of November.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
In one of the more subdued Merseyside derbies in recent years, flashes of real quality were at a premium. Salah was largely kept under wraps in general play, but his thumping penalty and sweet finish in injury time ultimately decided the game.
PLAYER RATINGS
Liverpool: Alisson 6; Alexander-Arnold 6, Konate 5, Van Dijk 6, Tsimikas 6; Szoboszlai 7, Mac Allister 6, Gravenberch 6; Salah 8, Jota 7, Diaz 7
SUBS: Gomez 6, Matip 7, Elliott 6, Nunez 7
Everton: Pickford 6; Young 5, Tarkowski 7, Branthwaite 7, Mykolenko 6; Harrison 6, Garner 6, Onana 7, McNeil 6; Doucoure 7; Calvert-Lewin 6
SUBS: Patterson 6, Keane 6, Danjuma 6, Chermiti 6, Beto 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
1’ IMMEDIATE CHANCE! Everton nick the ball high, and McNeil whips a cross to the penalty spot. Calvert-Lewin gets above Van Dijk, but plants his header straight at Alisson.
37’ RED CARD! My oh my! Diaz gets one on one with Young on the left. He goes past Young, who flails in a challenge; Young misses the ball, and hauls down Diaz. After a moment of deliberation by Pawson, it's a second yellow and Everton are down to ten! In co-comms Coisty thinks it's a bit harsh, but you can't be making that challenge when you're already booked.
72’ PENALTY? Diaz gets into space and crosses the ball. It smashes into Keane's hand from close range in the area, and this could be given after a review.
75’ GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1 (SALAH PEN. 75) EVERTON 0 It's in! Salah takes it, and smashes it into the right corner of the net with Pickford sent the other way.
90+7’ GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2 (SALAH 90+7') EVERTON 0 Stick a fork in this one, we're done! Everton push up, but Chermiti loses the ball near the Liverpool area. Liverpool quickly release Nunez, who leads a three on two break. Nunez times his pass perfectly to Salah in the area, an Salah sweeps his shot past Pickford.
KEY STAT
- Mohamed Salah has either scored or assisted in his last 13 matches in a row at Anfield.
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