Liverpool 2-0 Everton: Mohamed Salah ends drought as Reds win derby to ease pressure on Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool relieved some of the pressure on Jurgen Klopp as they picked up a much needed 2-0 win over Everton at Anfield, maintaining their fine Merseyside derby record in the process.

Mohamed Salah opened the scoring for the Reds before half-time as they eventually cruised to the three points, ending a run of four Premier League matches without a win in the process.

Everton, on the other hand, lose for the first time under Sean Dyche, who will have been worried by just how overrun his side were after going behind.

The opening half an hour or so was fairly scrappy, but the Toffees could count themselves unlucky not to open the scoring when James Tarkowski hit the post from an Alex Iwobi corner.

That misfortune turned into a double blow, as the hosts counter-attacked immediately, and did so with such speed that their visitors just could not keep up. Salah eventually rounded off the move, stabbing into an empty net from Darwin Nunez’s cross after Jordan Pickford had misread the danger.

The Reds doubled the lead with another clinical break after half-time, with Cody Gakpo tapping into an empty net at the back-post from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross.

From then on, Liverpool were in cruise control, with Everton not able to lay a glove on them as they set up camp in the opposing half.

Nunez had one shot saved by Pickford, and saw another effort curl wide, while substitute Tom Davies headed a glorious chance over at the other end as the Blues failed to score for the sixth time in their last seven away matches.

TALKING POINT – Are Liverpool back?

There have been a few false dawns for Liverpool this season, and their home form has never really been in question, as they have lost just once at Anfield in the league.

However, their performances recently, especially in defeat at Wolves and Brighton, have been so lacklustre and lifeless, and questions were beginning to get asked. In fairness, the form at Anfield, where they have now won seven times in 11 league games, has never been in question. But this display was somewhere close to what has been the more familiar norm for Jurgen Klopp’s side, carrying more energy, pace and aggression. The manager will be a much happier man this evening.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)

The striker has been a much-maligned figure since his big money move to Anfield in the summer, but he was a powerhouse for the Reds tonight.

Playing on the left-hand side of the front three, the Uruguayan didn’t give Seamus Coleman a minute’s peace, cutting into more central positions with real menace. It was his pace on the counter-attack that set up Salah’s opener, and he was unlucky not to get a goal himself, seeing one fierce shot blocked and another saved by Pickford.

PLAYER RATINGS

Liverpool: Alisson 6; Alexander-Arnold 8, Matip 6, Gomez 7, Robertson 7; Henderson 6, Fabinho 6, Bajcetic 7; Salah 7, Nunez 8, Gakpo 8. Subs: Jota 6, Milner n/a, Firmino n/a, Elliott n/a, Keita n/a

Everton: Pickford 6; Coleman 5, Coady 6, Tarkowski 7, Mykolenko 6; McNeil 5, Doucoure 5, Gueye 6, Onana 6, Iwobi 6; Simms 6. Subs: Gray 6. Maupay n/a, Davies n/a

KEY MOMENTS

36’ TARKOWSKI HITS THE POST! Wow! What a let off for Liverpool as Alex Iwobi’s corner is met by Tarkowski at the back post, and he thunders the woodwork with a header.

36’ GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Everton (Salah): Incredible! From Everton hitting the post, Liverpool clear the ball and counter attack in rapid, rapid fashion. Nunez crosses to Salah, who taps into an empty net as Pickford had come out to meet the ball and was absolutely nowhere near it.

49’ GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 EVERTON (Gakpo). That could be game over! Another clinical Liverpool counter-attack, and it results in Cody Gakpo netting his first Reds goal from a terrific Alexander-Arnold cross.

81’ DAVIES HEADS OVER. My oh my, Everton won’t get a better chance than that. Superb from Iwobi, floating a terrific ball to the back post for Davies, who heads over the bar from inside the six yard box. He’s got to hit the target there.

KEY STATS

• Liverpool maintain their stunning home record in the Merseyside derby, winning 15 of their last 26 home games against Everton, and losing just once
• Everton have now failed to score in six of their last seven away league fixtures