Premier League
Liverpool Steal Merseyside Derby Late
Jurgen Klopp’s celebration in 96th minute shows just how much this wins means to Liverpool. If you had told me Divock Origi would score the winning goal, I would have laughed in your face for quite a long time. But, the Belgian is the reason Liverpool take all 3 points. It was in the 84th minute that Origi replaced the struggling Roberto Firmino. This made the difference.
Tight Affair
Although Liverpool had looked more likely to score throughout the 90 minutes, Everton did a very good job of keeping them out. It would be unfair to say that Liverpool were better considering their goal came from luck and Everton’s defensive plans nearly, just nearly, worked. Marco Silva will have been proud of the effort his backline put in and even the work of Jordan Pickford, before his blunder.
Liverpool led in just about every statistical category, but they were level with Everton in one: shots on target. Both clubs managed to get three shots on target even though the Reds took 16 total compared to the visitors’ 9. Liverpool also had 58% possession on the day. This could be the new look at Anfield this season. Low scoring affairs and clean sheets are really what Klopp wants. They’re averaging under two goals scored per game, but have only allowed 5 goals in 14 matches thus far. Salah is not running away with the player of the year award, but they are where they need to be to compete.
History
Everton have now gone for than 8 years since their last win over Liverpool in all competitions. Their last derby win came in October of 2010 at Goodison Park in the Premier League. It has been even longer since they have won away. You’ll have to look back at a different century to find the last time Everton won a Merseyside Derby away. Kevin Campbell scored the winning goal on September 27, 1999, in a 1-0 victory. Since then, at has not been a fixture Blues’ fans look forward to.
Up Next
We have our first set of midweek league action this season. Both clubs are back in action on Wednesday with Liverpool travelling to Burnley and Everton returning home to face Newcastle. Liverpool are in second place and just two points behind the reigning champions and leaders Manchester City. Everton are in sixth place, level on points with Manchester United but ahead on goal difference.
Photo credit to Everton Football Club via Flickr
