Everton 1 Liverpool 2
Just what the doctor ordered for Liverpool against their rivals. If there was anything that could pick Liverpool up after the devastating injury of Hugo Ekitike it would be scoring a last minute winner against Everton at the Hill Dickinson. Everton flew out of the traps and put severe pressure on the Liverpool goal in the first half as Beto missed a great chance 1 on 1 with Mamardashvili scuffing his shot miles wide, Everton did eventually get their goal as O’Brien crossed the ball into the box for Ndiaye who took a brilliant touch and fired the ball into the net to give Everton a deserved lead in the 27th minute. Or so they thought as upon review it was found that O’Brien was offside in the build-up keeping us at 0-0 for now, then just two minutes later McNeil gave the ball away to Gakpo who played a piercing through ball into Salah in the box who was never going to miss to put Liverpool in the lead just minutes after the Everton goal was ruled out. Liverpool looked stronger in the opening stages of the second half but it was Everton who struck back as a long ball was played down the left-hand-side for Dewsbury-Hall who held of Konate and played the ball across the box for Beto who was on hand to get Everton level in the 56th minute, the game changed after Beto had to come off through injury with Liverpool pushing for that winner in the closing stages. Rio Ngumoha missed a great chance in the eighth minute of added time as the game looked like it was ending as a draw, then in the 100th minute Szoboszlai whipped a corner into the box with Van Dijk rising the highest and nodding past Pickford to secure a huge win for Liverpool against their great rivals.
Not the greatest performance from Liverpool but they won’t care. The offside goal in the first half followed by the Salah goal changed everything for Liverpool who really struggled in that first half up to that point, Mohammed Salah has a great record against Everton and was brilliant today in his last derby covering every blade of grass throughout the game. I thought Cody Gakpo had a good game setting Salah up with a brilliant though ball for Liverpool’s first goal which should give him real confidence going into the last few games of the season, Liverpool’s midfield struggled throughout the game as Garner and Gueye got the better of Gravenberch and Szoboszlai in the middle of the park. Beto gave the Liverpool defenders trouble all game and I think his injury was the turning point of the game as Thierno Barry was horrific when he came on allowing the Liverpool defence to push forward towards the end of the game, overall a huge three points for Liverpool as they look more and more likely to remain in the Champions League for next season.
A late gut-punch for Everton in the first derby at the new stadium. The atmosphere in the stadium clearly rubbed off on the players as Everton started the first half really well and were really unlucky not to be in the lead but just that final bit of quality was missing in the final third for David Moyes’ team, Iliman Ndiaye was excellent throughout the game and looked devastated when his goal was disallowed but that didn’t stop him from giving Liverpool’s defenders nightmares all game. On the other wing was a different story as Dwight McNeil was terrible going forward and then gave the ball straight to Gakpo for Liverpool’s first goal which was so sloppy, I thought Jarrad Branthwaite had a great game at the back for Everton and it was such a shame to see him stretchered off after he’s already been struggling with long-term injuries over the past few seasons. James Garner yet again impressed me in the midfield alongside Idrissa Gueye as Everton edged the midfield battle but they just didn’t have that quality of the bench that could have won them the game at the end, it looks hard now for Everton to get into Europe for next season but it’s been a good year nonetheless.
Liverpool’s attack needs a refresh in the summer. Alright so obviously Liverpool spent £350 million on the attack in the summer with Isak, Ekitike and Wirtz coming in to replace Diaz, Nunez and along with the shocking passing of Diogo Jota but the attack still has something missing, with Salah leaving in the summer and Ekitike being out for probably nearly a year Liverpool need two attackers in my opinion this summer with one winger and a striker having to come in. Alexander Isak still looks miles off the pace up front which I don’t think is going to change this season as he builds up his fitness in anticipation for the World Cup this summer, Florian Wirtz yet again had a quiet game and the injury to Ekitike won’t help the German’s form as they have formed quite a good partnership as the season has gone on. On the wing for Liverpool I’d be looking at Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig who is having an outstanding season in the Bundesliga and is exactly what Liverpool need in the attack with Salah leaving, I’d be surprised if they spent big again on a striker so maybe they’d look at a loan until Ekitike returns to form. Do Liverpool have the ability to spend big again in the summer? I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.
Is that Champions League football confirmed for Liverpool? You’d think so with the way Chelsea are playing at the minute with this win keeping Liverpool in 5th on 55 points which is seven ahead of Chelsea in 6th and they remain three points behind both Aston Villa and Man United who have picked up wins this weekend, Everton had the chance to close the gap to Liverpool to three points but are now nine behind their rivals and have slumped down to 10th position in the league. Next for Liverpool is Crystal Palace at Anfield whilst Everton play West Ham at the London Stadium who are fighting for their lives at the minute to stay up, still lots to play for for both sides but you’d imagine that their fates are sealed as to what competitions they’ll be playing in next year barring a drastic turn in form for both.