Everton 2-0 Liverpool: Talking points as Everton survival desire proves stronger than Liverpool title credentials

In the Merseyside Derby played at Goodison Park on Wednesday, Everton shocked Liverpool through goals from Jarrad Branthwaite (27′) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (58′), booking important three points as they fight for survival and putting an incurable dent in their neighbours’ hopes of winning the Premier League title.

The game

Everton obviously entered the clash with a clear idea on how to play and best use the recent woes of their local rivals. Though Liverpool dominated possession for long spells, Sean Dyche’s men played very directly and made the best of Dominic Calvert-Lewin arguably getting away with a number of fouls on the Liverpool centre-backs. Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucoure did their part too in causing the Reds problems.

The opening 10 minutes were particularly lively. Doucoure wasted an early chance for the home side, but Liverpool responded quickly in the same way through an opportunity wasted by Darwin Nunez. In the sixth minute, Everton appeared to have got the better of the Liverpool back line and referee Andy Madley awarded a penalty for the Toffees as Alisson Becker brought Calver-Lewin down, but a VAR inspection established that the Blues striker was offside. Four minutes later, Ben Godfrey saved Everton with a heart-stopping clearance in front of two Liverpool attackers at two or three yards from the goal, and then he missed a chance to score at the other end. In the 17th minute, Everton had another great opportunity as James Tarkowski, through a possible foul on Virgil van Dijk, headed the ball across goal and Calvert-Lewin nodded on target, but Alisson made a fine reflex save.

There were more than enough of danger signs for the visitors, and in the 27th minute, they finally succumbed after Ibrahima Konate clumsily prevented Alexis Mac Allister from clearing the box and set Branthwaite up for a shot from around 10 yards. Alisson made contact with the ball, insufficient to prevent it from going in.

From that…

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Author : Veselin Trajkovic

Publish date : 2024-04-24 22:05:28

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