Liverpool on Sunday bridged the gap between it and the Premier League leader, Manchester City after beating Everton by 2-0 and leaving it to languish at the bottom of the pack.
Ahead of the Merseyside derby, fans already know where the match will swing owing to the in-form Liverpool’s efforts not to allow any slip in the race for the leadership of the premiership which is tightly in the grip of Manchester City.
Struggling Everton stretched Liverpool 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, according to BBC Sport 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 today, could not replicate their blistering that pushed out Manchester City out of the way in 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 was 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.
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