Liverpool 2-0 Everton: Reds return to winning ways after Merseyside derby triumph

Liverpool recorded their first Premier League win in 2023 with a comfortable Merseyside derby victory over Everton at Anfield.

Sean Dyche's reign as Everton manager got off to the perfect start with a win over league leaders Arsenal at Goodison Park, but the task he has taken on after succeeding sacked Frank Lampard was laid out before him in graphic detail as they remain rooted in the bottom three.

Everton had actually kept Liverpool at arm's length before they were caught by a devastating counter-attack after 36 minutes, defender James Tarkowski's header hitting the post at one end before Darwin Nunez raced clear, squaring for Mohamed Salah to take advantage of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's poor positioning with a simple finish.

Liverpool snuffed out any hopes of an Everton recovery four minutes after the break.

And it was a special moment for £45m January signing Cody Gakpo, as he tapped in Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross at the far post for his first goal since arriving at Anfield from PSV Eindhoven.

Liverpool show signs of life

It has been a miserable 2023 for Liverpool, encapsulated by heavy away defeats at Brentford, Brighton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the ease with which they were able to overcome Everton's admittedly flimsy challenge will lift the spirits.

This was a good night for Liverpool as manager Jurgen Klopp was able to include Virgil van Dijk, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota on the bench after injury, the latter getting a rapturous reception when he was introduced as a second-half substitute for his first action since picking up the muscle problem that forced him to miss the World Cup in Qatar.

Firmino also got a late outing.

Another big plus was Gakpo's goal, his first for Liverpool and a huge morale-booster for a player who has been quiet - although it would have been difficult for any new acquisition to come into such a struggling side who are ninth in the Premier League table, nine points adrift of the Champions League places.

Gakpo's confidence visibly lifted after his goal, showing assured touches and looking more at ease than at any time in his short Liverpool career.

Liverpool were nowhere near their best - they did not have to be - but the sight of Salah on the scoresheet, goals from trademark lightning counter-attacks and a clean sheet will change the mood around Anfield considerably before a crucial visit to Newcastle United on Saturday night.

Everton revert to type

Everton started the Dyche era with a performance full of passion and competitive edge to stun Arsenal, but this was a reminder of why they face a serious relegation battle, and evidence that the display against the Gunners was very much the exception in this season of struggle.

None of the things Dyche expects from his teams was on show here. They were passive, slow and careless in possession - their major flaw once again exposed as they barely mounted a threat apart from Tarkowski's header that actually resulted in Liverpool breaking the deadlock.

The absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, injured once more after figuring for an hour against Arsenal, underscores the folly in not signing a replacement for Richarlison, an error in the summer compounded by the failure to correct it in January.

Much rests on the unreliable fitness of Calvert-Lewin, with Dyche having to rely on 22-year-old Ellis Simms, making only his second Premier League start. The youngster, understandably, struggled on his own up front with no service.

Everton now have a vital home game at home to managerless fellow strugglers Leeds United on Saturday and Dyche will want more of what they showed against Arsenal and less of what they produced at Anfield.

Player of the match

BajceticStefan Bajcetic

Everton

Squad number26Player nameDavies

Squad number17Player nameIwobi

Squad number19Player nameMykolenko

Squad number30Player nameCoady

Squad number2Player nameTarkowski

Squad number23Player nameColeman

Squad number50Player nameSimms

Squad number7Player nameMcNeil

Squad number8Player nameOnana

Squad number16Player nameDoucouré

Squad number11Player nameGray

Squad number27Player nameGueye

Squad number1Player namePickford

Squad number20Player nameMaupay

Line-ups

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold32Matip2Gomez26Robertson

14Henderson3Fabinho43Bajcetic

11Salah18Gakpo27Núñez

Substitutes

Everton

Formation 4-5-1

1Pickford

23Coleman30Coady2Tarkowski19Mykolenko

7McNeil16Doucouré27Gueye8Onana17Iwobi

50Simms

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Liverpool 2, Everton 0.

Second Half ends, Liverpool 2, Everton 0.

Substitution, Liverpool. Harvey Elliott replaces Mohamed Salah.

Substitution, Liverpool. Naby Keïta replaces Stefan Bajcetic.

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Séamus Coleman.

Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jordan Pickford.

Attempt saved. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.

Jordan Pickford (Everton) is shown the yellow card.

Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card.

Hand ball by Andrew Robertson (Liverpool).

Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) is shown the yellow card.

Fabinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton).

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by James Tarkowski.

Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stefan Bajcetic.

Attempt missed. Tom Davies (Everton) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Alex Iwobi with a cross.

Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Jordan Henderson.

Substitution, Liverpool. Roberto Firmino replaces Cody Gakpo.

Substitution, Everton. Tom Davies replaces Amadou Onana.

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