The final Merseyside derby of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign could be the final blow to his dreams of bidding farewell to the Premier League title. For the first time in 14 years, Everton achieved victory over their local rivals at Goodison Park. Victory will taste even sweeter for Sean Dyche’s side, who all but guaranteed a place in the top flight at the expense of Liverpool’s title chances.
“We lost the league at Goodison Park,” the home crowd sang, rejoicing at a deserved victory, Everton’s outstanding performance and the best night of Dyche’s reign. Liverpool suffered a heavy defeat, with goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Everton were fired up and Goodison responded. His old club came alive as Dyche’s team performed with intent, intensity and quality not seen often this season. Calvert-Lewin, who was suspected of being injured the night before the match, led the line admirably. It was no coincidence that the provision for centre-forwards was also significantly improved. Jack Harrison and Dwight McNeil provided Calvert-Lewin with much-needed service, while working tirelessly to help Idrissa Guay and James Garner take control in midfield. Long before Branthwaite gave Everton a deserved lead, Liverpool were rickety and vulnerable.
Liverpool were without both Diogo Jota and Codi Gakpo, with the latter joining the injured striker on the sidelines hours before kick-off as his partner went into labor. Also, although they lacked composure for long periods in the first half, it would be more accurate to say that Everton did not allow composure.
Abdullahi Doucoure missed the first chance of the derby when he connected Dwight McNeil’s low cross home from close range. Branthwaite sparked the movement with a pinpoint diagonal ball that flipped the Liverpool defense and separated Harrison from Andy Robertson.
Harrison was also involved in an incident that could have serious implications for the visitors’ night. The winger produced a great cross with the outside of his foot and found Calvert-Lewin on goal. The striker nudged the ball around Alisson and was sent sprawling by the Liverpool goalkeeper and into an unguarded net. Referee Andy Madeley immediately pointed to the penalty spot and showed Alisson a yellow card, infuriating the home crowd. The mood worsened when VAR ruled that Calvert-Lewin was offside when receiving Harrison’s shot. No penalties or yellow cards.
There was a reprieve, but Liverpool could not break free from their pedestrian approach. Ben Godfrey stepped up to the key challenge to prevent Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones from converting the initial cross from Mohamed Salah, but Everton remained in the ascendant until the final 15 minutes of the first half. Ta. Godfrey took a free kick from McNeil and headed it home. Another McNeil free-kick was diverted by James Tarkowski to Calvert-Lewin, but the striker’s close-range header was saved by Alisson.
It was third time lucky for McNeil’s free-kick as Liverpool committed another unnecessary foul, this time by Jones against Gueye, giving the winger another opportunity to worry about the visiting defense. Gave. The first pass was cleared by Tarkowski, who hooked the ball across the penalty area to Harrison. On his first touch, Godfrey teed up and although his shot was blocked, the rebound fell to Branthwaite, who was lurking free on the edge of the six-yard box. The defender’s low shot wriggled under Alisson, rolled inside the post and trickled down. There was another VAR check for offside on the scorer, but after a long delay Everton were denied a second refusal.
Liverpool responded. Klopp’s side finally started to control possession and began to stretch Everton’s defence. Jordan Pickford, previously unscathed, saved Nunez’s shot when the Uruguayan international was put through by Salah. The Everton keeper denied Luis Diaz’s attack with his feet after Nunez turned provider. Nunez also created a clear lead for Salah, but his first shot against Branthwaite was canceled out and Liverpool’s top scorer squandered the rebound.
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Everton also put up fierce resistance to Liverpool’s belated pressure. Branthwaite and Guyet blocked the goalbound shot. Tarkowski dominated the penalty area and deflected numerous crosses.
This pattern continued after the restart, but Everton had the luxury of scoring a second goal from their remarkable first attack. McNeil stung Allison with a powerful drive from 25 yards. McNeil took the resulting corner kick deep and Calvert-Lewin ran into the gap left by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk and headed into the bottom corner.
McNeil almost went three points when Harrison removed Liverpool substitute Wataru Endo just outside the area. His perfectly placed shot went wide. Desperate for a breakthrough, Liverpool peppered the Everton area with crosses, but they too often hit the royal blue jerseys or were immediately stopped as soon as the goal was in sight. Diaz eventually beat Pickford with a curling shot from the left, but the shot hit the inside of the far post and rebounded. Pickford also ruled out Harvey Elliott and Salah in the closing stages as Everton continued their famous victory.
