On a night where only one result would suffice for both Liverpool and Everton during the 242nd Merseyside Derby, it was Jürgen Klopp’s struggling Premier League giants that once again had the last laugh against their bitter rivals as the Reds ran out 2-0 winners at Anfield in relatively comfortable fashion thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and a first league strike from Dutch star Cody Gakpo.
Derby day delight for Liverpool 🔴#LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/rfbIBDckom
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2023
Everton was unable to build on their fantastic home result at Goodison Park last time out against table-topping Arsenal under new manager Sean Dyche, once again coming up short against their hated adversaries from just on the other side of Stanley Park.
The Reds seemingly needed no further motivation than a chance to once again get one over their biggest rivals on a night in front of the Kop as Liverpool came out at the races in the opening twenty-five minutes. Though neither side was able to put a shot on frame, Klopp’s men showed plenty of intent in front of home support on the back of what has been a horrendous run of form for the Premier League giants.
Everton so nearly struck first in the 36th minute when James Tarkowski rattled the post after his looping header beat Alisson, but Liverpool instantly broke at pace after Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah combined well to break the press before the Reds set off on a four-vs-two break before Salah received the ball back from the Uruguayan before chipping England international Jordan Pickford to send supporters into rapture on what was the Egyptian’s 100th goal involvement at Anfield.
Fewest games needed to be directly involved in 100 goals at a single ground in Premier League history:
◎ 74 – Alan Shearer (Ewood Park)
◎ 92 – Thierry Henry (Highbury)
◉ 104 – Mohamed Salah (Anfield)Impressive numbers all round. 📊 pic.twitter.com/Owrn95SFwb
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2023
It was the Reds’ first goal in 346-minutes of Premier League action, but certainly was the type of strike that supporters had become so accustomed to over the years under Klopp and both players and fans alike had found new voice while looking to double the advantage before the half-time interval.
Liverpool would begin the second half in the same way they ended the first after January signing Cody Gakpo finally bagged his first Premier League goal since his arrival from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven when the 23-year-old hitman got ion the end of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ball across the face of goal before tapping in at the far post to double the Reds’ lead in the 49th minute.
And the Reds nearly broke once again just after the resulting goal kick when youngster Stefan Bajcetić played Salah into space and looked free to test Pickford to his limits but a last-ditch block from Tarkowski expertly blocked the Egyptian’s goal-bound effort.
It would all end by the same scoreline come the final whistle, with Liverpool remaining dominant over Everton in recent years, with the Reds bagging their 16th win in their last thirty-one meetings (16-13-2) against the Toffees while also leapfrogging fellow underachieving Chelsea into 9th in the Premier League table.
Liverpool Player Ratings
- GK: Alisson – 6.5
- RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
- CB: Joel Matip – 6.5
- CB: Joe Gomez – 7
- LB: Andrew Robertson – 7
- DM: Fabinho – 7
- CM: Jordan Henderson – 6.5
- CM: Stefan Bajcetić – 7
- RW: Mohamed Salah – 8
- LW: Cody Gakpo – 7.5
- CF: Darwin Núñez – 7.5
- Sub: Diogo Jota – 6
- Sub: Roberto Firmino – 6
- Sub: James Milner – 6
- Sub: Harvey Elliot – N/A
- Sub: Naby Keïta – N/A
Everton Player Ratings
- GK: Jordan Pickford – 5
- RB: Seamus Coleman – 6.5
- CB: Conor Coady – 5
- CB: James Tarkowski – 7
- LB: Vitalii Mykolenko – 6.5
- DM: Idrissa Gueye – 7
- RM: Dwight McNeil – 6.5
- CM: Abdoulaye Doucouré – 5.5
- CM: Amadou Onana – 6
- LM: Alex Iwobi – 7
- CF: Ellis Simms – 6
- Sub: Demarai Gray – 6
- Sub: Neal Maupay – 6
- Sub: Tom Davies – 6
Key Performers
Darwin Nunez’s first half by numbers:
100% aerial duels won
21 touches
5 duels won
4 touches in opp. box
3 shots
3x possession won
2 chances created
2 take-ons completed
1 assistLooks bang up for this. 🔴 pic.twitter.com/z90KUrVKAk
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2023
Mohamed Salah in the first half vs. Everton:
35 touches
8 duels contested
6 duels won
4 fouls won
4 touches in opp. box
2 shots
1 shot on target
1 goalHis strike is the difference so far. ⚽ pic.twitter.com/9PP4F6QWZ2
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2023
Cody Gakpo’s game by numbers vs. Everton:
28 touches
7 duels won
6x possession won
4 fouls won
3 touches in opp. box
2 big chances
2 tackles
2 chances created
2 shots
1 shot on target
1 goalLooked a different player after his goal. ⚽ pic.twitter.com/2iKOVKObGM
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2023
Social Media
Anfield will be rocking 🔴#LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/Ibms1uak16
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2023
Mohamed Salah has been involved in 99 #PL goals in 103 matches at Anfield (70 goals, 29 assists) 🏟
He could become the 13th player to reach 100 goal involvements at a single ground in the competition#LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/2bQjlkkaAq
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2023
At the start of the season Ellis Simms was loaned out to Sunderland, where he scored seven goals in 17 matches.
Tonight, he starts just his second ever Premier League game in the Merseyside derby. 💪#LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/UITT0UlVvf
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 13, 2023
Big opportunity for Ellis Simms as he starts for Everton in this evening’s Merseyside Derby. Joe Gomez has a big physical task on his shoulders, at Sunderland in the first half of this campaign, Simms was very good at pinning in centre-backs #LIVEVE
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) February 13, 2023
The Merseyside Derby is on Monday & it’s a great chance for both clubs & supporters to show their support for @SFoodbanks also @QuornFoods will #DoubleTheDonations of any food received. #LIVEVE
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) February 9, 2023
🗣️ “I’m here, 100% committed.”
Jurgen Klopp says he’s not going anywhere!
Can Liverpool get their first win of 2023 against Everton tonight?#BBCFootball #LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/QtIjzrcUBD
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 13, 2023
😳 “Anyone questioning Jurgen Klopp needs their head checking!”
👏 “He’s been a revelation. The job he’s done is nothing short of remarkable.”
🤣 “The sooner he leaves, the better!”@TonyBellew has BIG praise for rival boss Jurgen Klopp! 🤔#LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/eTiIiKzw1H
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 13, 2023
25 minutes played and we are still waiting for the first shot on target of the game at Anfield.
Liverpool on top so far however. #LIVEVE
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 13, 2023
GOAL Liverpool 1-0 Everton (36 mins)
Mo Salah finishes off an electric Liverpool counter-attack#LIVEVE
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2023
Reminder: Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 116 Premier League games when they have been leading at half-time. 😀#LIVEVE
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 13, 2023
Cody Gakpo gets his first Liverpool goal 💥 pic.twitter.com/Lky8mxjbNZ
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 13, 2023
Cody Gakpo is the first Liverpool player to score his first Premier League goal in a Merseyside derby since Raul Meireles in January 2011. 🔴#LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/ILzA8mhQYs
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) February 13, 2023
Liverpool’s Premier League record against Everton at Anfield since 2000:
WDDDWWDWDWDWDWDWWDWWLWW
◉ Goals scored: 40
◉ Goals conceded: 14
◉ Clean sheets: 12Domination. 💪 pic.twitter.com/oTX0AVNewn
— Squawka (@Squawka) February 13, 2023