Liverpool moved back to within one point of Premier League leaders Manchester City and left neighbours Everton languishing in the bottom three after victory in the Merseyside derby.
Struggling Everton made Liverpool fight for their win with a well-organised and disciplined performance that will give them hope they can still avoid the drop but was not enough to deny Jurgen Klopp’s quadruple-chasing side.
Liverpool can find different ways to get the job done and after blowing Manchester United aside on Tuesday they demonstrated patience to finally break down Everton’s stubborn resistance in what could prove to be a priceless win.
The deadlock was broken after 62 minutes when Andy Robertson arrived at the far post in front of the Kop to head home Mo Salah’s cross.
Everton could not respond, although the outstanding Anthony Gordon shot across goal, and Liverpool wrapped up the win when substitute Divock Origi tormented the neighbours once again when he headed in Luis Diaz’s bicycle kick with six minutes left.
The loss means the Toffees end the day in the top-flight’s bottom three for the first time since 6 December 2019. They were last in the relegation zone this far into the season in 1998-99.
Liverpool get the job done
This was not the flowing, blistering Liverpool that effectively won the FA Cup semi-final in the first 45 minutes against Manchester City at Wembley and who dismantled a hapless Manchester United at Anfield.
Everton’s rearguard action and determination to disrupt Liverpool infuriated and frustrated Anfield in the first 45 minutes but eventually the dam broke and for all the visitors’ courage they were not able to hold out.
Manager Jurgen Klopp may well take as much pleasure from how Liverpool were forced to dig deep and overcome Everton’s determined challenge as he would from the way they have swept so many teams aside this season.
Liverpool had to fight for control and, in truth, they were never in their normal level of command and still had to survive one or two anxious moments before the final whistle.
It puts the Reds right back in City’s rearview mirror after Pep Guardiola’s side thrashed Watford 5-1, and still on course for their ambition of adding the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup to the EFL Cup.
Liverpool now face Villarreal in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield on Wednesday as firm favourites and their challenge continues to gather huge momentum.
More to follow.
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Liverpool
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Squad number14Player nameHenderson -
Squad number23Player nameDÃaz -
Squad number27Player nameOrigi
Everton
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Squad number1Player namePickford
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Squad number23Player nameColeman
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Squad number4Player nameHolgate
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Squad number5Player nameKeane
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Squad number19Player nameMykolenko
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Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
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Squad number6Player nameAllan
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Squad number17Player nameIwobi
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Squad number11Player nameGray
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Squad number7Player nameRicharlison
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Squad number24Player nameGordon
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Squad number33Player nameRondón
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Squad number36Player nameAlli
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-ArnoldBooked at 58mins
- 32Matip
- 4van Dijk
- 26Robertson
- 8KeïtaSubstituted forOrigiat 60′minutes
- 3Fabinho
- 6Thiago Alcántara
- 11Salah
- 10ManéBooked at 45minsSubstituted forDÃazat 60′minutes
- 20JotaSubstituted forHendersonat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Konaté
- 7Milner
- 12Gomez
- 14Henderson
- 17Jones
- 21Tsimikas
- 23DÃaz
- 27Origi
- 62Kelleher
Everton
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Pickford
- 23Coleman
- 4Holgate
- 5Keane
- 19Mykolenko
- 16DoucouréBooked at 45mins
- 6AllanBooked at 66minsSubstituted forAlliat 73′minutesBooked at 89mins
- 17Iwobi
- 11GraySubstituted forRondónat 77′minutes
- 7RicharlisonBooked at 90mins
- 24GordonBooked at 25mins
Substitutes
- 2Kenny
- 8Delph
- 15Begovic
- 31Lonergan
- 32Branthwaite
- 33Rondón
- 34El Ghazi
- 36Alli
- 60Price
Live Text
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Match ends, Liverpool 2, Everton 0.
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Second Half ends, Liverpool 2, Everton 0.
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Attempt saved. Richarlison (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Richarlison (Everton) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).
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Richarlison (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Dele Alli (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dele Alli (Everton).
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Hand ball by Divock Origi (Liverpool).
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Attempt blocked. Salomón Rondón (Everton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
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Goal! Liverpool 2, Everton 0. Divock Origi (Liverpool) header from very close range to the top right corner. Assisted by Luis DÃaz following a corner.
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Attempt missed. Luis DÃaz (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Henderson with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Jordan Pickford.
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Attempt saved. Thiago (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Jordan Henderson replaces Diogo Jota.
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Luis DÃaz (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mason Holgate (Everton).
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Attempt blocked. Richarlison (Everton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
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Thiago (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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