Excellent Everton dent lacklustre Liverpool's title hopes in fierce Derby

Thursday 25 April 2024

Premier League 2023/24

Gameweek 34/38

Goodison Park, Goodison Road, Liverpool, L4 4EL

Excellent Everton dent lacklustre Liverpool's title hopes in fierce Derby

Everton continued their survival push with a huge 2-0 win over their local rivals Liverpool, with some great performances from Jordan Pickford and goals from Calvert-Lewin & Branthwaite.

MATCH PREVIEW:

It's the 244th Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton, as two teams filled with confidence with their most recent wins, square off this season. Liverpool comfortably saw off 10-men Everton in the reverse fixture, where Salah scored a brace and Ashley Young was sent off for two bookable offences at Anfield on October 2023. Everton know that if they beat Liverpool, they have ended the Red's title challenge with another loss. Liverpool know that Manchester City will not play until their trip to the Amex Stadium on Thursday, and see this as a chance to move level on points with Arsenal, who were ruthless as they thrashed Chelsea 5-0, by winning this derby. Everton's survival hopes are in the balance, even with their points deduction causing them to be in the relegation scrap for the 3rd straight year. Who will come out on top in this fierce, local derby, will it be Blue or Red?

TEAM NEWS & FORM GUIDE:

There is no Beto in the team, due to a head injury, so Dominic Calvert-Lewin keeps his place in the starting XI with two changes from their home win over Nottingham Forest, with Ben Godfrey and James Garner starting in place of Ashley Young and Andre Gomes.

Starting XI: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski (C), Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Harrison, Garner, Gueye, McNeil, Doucoure & Calvert-Lewin. Formation: 4-4-1-1 (Midfield)

Substitutes: Virginia, Keane, Onana, Danjuma, Young, Gomes, Chermiti, Warrington, Hunt.

Form Guide (Last 5 games): LDWLW

There is no Diogo Jota in the team, as the Portuguese is set for another spell on the sidelines, with 6 changes from their away win over Fulham, with Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Ibrahima Konate, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, & Alexis MacAllister starting in place of Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo, Jarrell Quansah, Ryan Gravenberch & 

Starting XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk (C), Robertson, Szoboszlai, MacAllister, Jones, Salah, Nunez, Diaz. Formation: 4-3-3 (flat)

Substitutes: Kelleher, Gomez, Endo, Elliott, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Clark, Danns, Quansah

Form Guide (Last 5 games): DLLWW

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Trent Alexander-Arnold: A return from injury for the 25-year-old academy player. Scored a beautiful free-kick against Fulham, which was simply sublime. Having spent 3 months on the sidelines with a knee injury, can he grab an assist or two today?

Dwight McNeil: The youngster has sprung into action the last couple of games. He is the top assister for Everton and also scored against Forest in the weekend. What can he do today in the Merseyside Derby? He has already beaten Liverpool with Sean Dyche, but with Burnley in 2021. Can he do it in blue this time?

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF

Everton get us underway in the 244th Merseyside Derby. Loads to witness and watch between two class teams in the Premier League. And in the 4th minute already, Liverpool's first chance of the game. Diaz has the ball and tries to cross it in, ACROSS THE FACE OF GOAL AND NEARLY AN OWN GOAL FOR EVERTON! BUT MYKOLENKO HAULS IT OFF THE LINE FROM THE CAPTAIN'S MISCUE. HUGE CHANCE FOR LIVERPOOL, BUT A LUCKY ESCAPE FOR EVERTON. Another big moment happened, but this time, it was Everton's way. Everton are attacking the Liverpool backline and in goes the cross from Jack Harrison, Calvert-Lewin the target, AND ALISSON GOES FOR IT AS WELL, AND THEY BOTH COLLIDE! CALVERT-LEWIN THINKS HE'S BEEN BROUGHT DOWN and what does Andy Madley say for that? PENALTY TO EVERTON!! MASSIVE MOMENT IN THE GAME FOR THE HOSTS. ALISSON CLATTERS INTO THE STRIKER AND HAULS HIM DOWN IN THE AREA. IT'S ALSO A YELLOW CARD FOR THE BRAZILIAN. BUT HANG ON A MINUTE. VAR are having a look to see if DCL was offside from Harrison's cross. And the verdict, is NO PENALTY, FREE KICK TO LIVERPOOL. Calvert-Lewin was unfortunately offside. BIG escape for Liverpool. With crazy free kicks and chances from either side, the breakthrough arrived on 27 minutes. Once again it's another free kick for Everton. In it goes inside the penalty area, Branthwaite had a try, but away it's been headed, back inside by Godfrey, AND BRANTHWAITE, SAVED BY ALISSON, BUT THE FOLLOW-UP IS SQUEEZED IN BY THE TALL MAN!! EVEN THOUGH IT'S ASSURED INTO THE NET BY DCL, IT'S A GOOALLAZZOOO FOR EVERTON!! IN THE MERSEYSIDE DERBY, THE TOFFEES STRKE FIRST!! THERE WILL BE A VAR CHECK FOR OFFSIDE. Bit of a nervous wait for the Evertonians, BUT THE GOAL STANDS!! GOODISON PARK ROARS FOR THE FIRST GOAL OF THE MATCH!! IT'S ONLY JARRAD BRANTHWAITE'S THIRD LEAGUE GOAL OF THE SEASON, AND WHAT A TIME TO SCORE IT! 

Branthwaite celebrates after scoring his 3rd PL goal this season.

This question has been asked of Liverpool, so many times this season, can they pull off another incredible comeback? Fun fact, Liverpool have won more games when they were a goal down and have won them all, except against Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United, Manchester City and Crystal Palace. But will today be another day where they can produce a comeback?

Liverpool tried to threaten the Everton defence, but Jordan Pickford was always going to deny the Reds attack. Even denied Luis Diaz, before the 31-year-old blazed over from close range. This sums up the kind of day Liverpool are having. 

Salah and Nunez could not deliver for Liverpool as they missed costly chances for the Reds

This will conclude the first half, after Vitaly Mykolenko's knee treatment occurred after the Ukranian fell down awkwardly in the penalty area. So it's half-time at Goodison Park. Everton, the happier of the two teams, with their defence and attack working in harmony beautifully.

KICK-OFF: Second Half

Liverpool kick-off the second half, as they seek a way of getting back into the game. They're still alive, but they have to try and convert their chances to have any chance of scoring. Just like how they are doing, but every time they complete the move, the final product is not produced. Like for example, Luis Diaz's effort is once again saved by Pickford and yet again, Everton are doing a good job with their defence tonight. And Everton struck again on 58 minutes. OOH, that was a great save from Alisson to deny McNeil from distance. Tipped over the bar, for an Everton corner. Swung in by McNeil and THE HEADER IS IN!!! FROM DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN!!! EVERTON ARE IN DREAMLAND!! WHAT AN INCREDIBLE SET-PIECE DISPLAY. NO ONE WAS MARKING THE STRIKER AND HE HAD ONLY ONE THING IN MIND. HEAD IT INTO THE BACK OF THE NET!! EVERTON 2 - LIVERPOOL 0. Is this the goal that eventually kills Liverpool's dream?!

DCL scored Everton's second goal of the night. 

Goodison Park has just erupted. The noise is just brilliant!! Now, is there a way back for Liverpool? A triple change from Liverpool saw Endo, Elliott and Quansah on for Szoboszlai, Konate and Jones. The Reds' best chance came on 69 minutes. You can't give space to Lucho (Luis Diaz) like that!! The Colombian has a load of space, gets away from Godfrey and DIAZ HITS IT!! OH, SO CLOSE!! LUIS DIAZ HAS HIT THE POST!! This is now the 22nd time this season that Liverpool have hit the woodwork, the most this season. How close can you get for a Liverpool goal?

Diaz's agonizing effort hits the post, in what was Liverpool's best chance of the second half.

This is ofc Jurgen Klopp's final Merseyside Derby in the Premier League. But this defeat is going to be very costly. And Salah's effort was once again saved by Pickford in the closing stages of the game. AND THAT IS THAT!! THE FULL TIME WHISTLE HAS BEEN SOUNDED!! EVERTON HAVE DONE IT! THEY HAVE DENTED LIVERPOOL'S TITLE HOPES WITH THEIR FIRST HOME WIN IN 14 YEARS!! This is Sean Dyche's 3rd win of the sesaon and a big one too. Boy, this will make the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City fans very happy. 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JORDAN PICKFORD

Pickford celebrates with the fans after the end of the game.

What a performance from England's number 1 keeper. The 30-year-old, may have conceded 6 goals against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, 9 days ago. But now, back-to-back clean sheets for him and Everton. That itself is 6 points gained from 2 games. Impressive performance from him. Could he be key to Everton's survival in the Premier League and can he and the team keep them up?