Everton 2-0 Liverpool: Toffees collect huge Merseyside derby win
Jurgen Klopp's final Merseyside derby as Liverpool boss was a flop, as Everton beat the Reds 2-0 on goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jarrad Branthwaite at Goodison Park.
It's Everton's first home Merseyside derby win in 13.5 years dating back to October 2010.
The 244th edition saw Everton burst out of the gates and take a deserved lead, then weather Liverpool's storm long enough for Calvert-Lewin to capitalize off a set piece and give the Toffees table relief.
WATCH EVERTON vs LIVERPOOL FULL MATCH REPLAY
Everton deliver a big win for manager Sean Dyche and the club writ large, moving onto 33 points and 16th place. The back-to-back wins, a rarity this season, boost the Toffees eight points clear of 18th-place Luton Town.
It's a double bonus for Everton that they strike a massive blow to Liverpool's Premier League title hopes. The Reds exit Goodison with 74 points in 34 games, three points behind leaders Arsenal. Manchester City have 73 points and have two matches-in-hand, the first coming Thursday versus Brighton and Hove Albion.
Good night for Goodison
Everton supporters have been waiting more than a decade for this, and their second win over Liverpool in 30 tries is thick with meaning.
The Toffees have twice been dealt points deductions this season, and are basically safe now. It will mean even more to Sean Dyche's men that they managed the feat while denting Liverpool's title hopes, as their despised rivals had timed their incredible Premier League run with some of the worst seasons in Everton history.
Whatever awaits Sean Dyche next, this will leave the Toffees boss feeling accomplished. It's been a terrible season around Goodison Park, but he's delivered something unexperienced by any adolescent Everton fan.
Glass slipper cracked
Liverpool stopped finishing their chances at the worst time of the season, and their bid to supply Jurgen Klopp with a fairytale ending is likely to only be viewed through the Grimm Brothers' lens — with darker hues amid great entertainment.
Six-save Jordan Pickford had his game of the year for Everton, but Liverpool should've been able to solve the keeper amid 2.00 xG and 22 shot attempts.
The high-powered Liverpool attack short-circuited over the past 14 days. First, a 3-0 home loss to Atalanta, then a 1-0 home shutout at the hands of Crystal Palace.
The Reds scored once in Atalanta and thrice at Fulham, but it was back to zeroes in the next game that mattered a great deal. Unfortunate? Sure, but that won't put another trophy in Klopp's cabinet.
What’s next?
Liverpool go to West Ham at 7:30am ET Saturday before Everton host Brentford at 12:30pm ET.
How to watch Everton vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET Wednesday (April 24)
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Everton vs Liverpool live updates — By Nick Mendola
Everton vs Liverpool final score: 2-0
Goalscorers: Branthwaite (27'), Calvert-Lewin (58')
Flashpoint
Alexis Mac Allister is a lucky boy.
Knocked to the turf by Abdoulaye Doucoure, Mac Allister has his right leg between the Everton midfielder's pegs and kicks out at his thigh.
No card.
Post!
Luis Diaz dances into the box and clobbers the inside of the far post.
The ball fires back off the bar and it stays 2-0 to the blue part of Merseyside.
Trio of Liverpool subs
Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, and Jarell Quansah enter for Dominik Szoboszlai, Ibrahima Konate, and Curtis Jones.
37 minutes to play.
GOAL! Toffees not going away — Everton 2-0 Liverpool (58th minute)
Dwight McNeil tears into a left-footed shot and Alisson has to push it over the bar.
Corner kick to the Toffees. Dominic Calvert-Lewin picks it out of the air with a header to beat Alisson at the near post.
Everton sub
Vitaliy Mykolenko was injured in the first half.
Ben Godfrey will move over to left back, while Ashley Young enters to play right back.
Halftime — Everton 1-0 Liverpool (27th minute)
Shutting out Liverpool never looked likely, but Jordan Pickford is having an imperious day.
Everton were terrific to start but it's been all Liverpool for some time, the Reds taking nine of the half's 17 attempts.
Both teams have three shots on target but the similariteis end there. Liverpool have 76% possession. and 1.28 xG to Everton's 0.50 but the game is 1-0 to the hosts.
Again from Pickford
Luis Diaz has a great chance to level the score from close range but Pickford make a solid leg save.
Big save, Jordan Pickford
Liverpool have found their flow.
Darwin Nunez is played 1v1 with Jordan Pickford, and the Uruguayan rips a shot across goal only to be denied by the quick-reacting Pickford.
Jarrad Branthwaite GOAL — Everton 1-0 Liverpool (27th minute)
Liverpool are all over the place in the own third, and the Toffees deservedly take the lead.
An odd bounce falls for defender Jarrad Branthwaite at the back post.
His shot is only slowed by Alisson Becker, and is over the line before Dominic Calvert-Lewin slides it into the back of the goal.
Everton close again
Calvert-Lewin gets to the six-yard box and is shoved as he heads toward goal.
Alisson Becker makes the save. Everton are up for this.
Godfrey saves goal
Liverpool open up Everton through a Trent Alexander-Arnold entry to Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian drives toward goal cuts a cross through the six, but Ben Godfrey's sliding intervention gets the ball away from danger.
Penalty overturned by VAR
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is taken down by Alisson Becker and a penalty is given to Everton.
But Andy Madley has been advised to hold play, and VAR sees Calvert-Lewin's run as just offside.
Everton lineup
Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gana Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Harrison, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin
Liverpool lineup
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Diaz, Salah, Nunez
Everton focus, team news
Beto suffered a nasty head injury late on against Forest so we can expect to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin start up top again as Beto is in the concussion protocol and will miss Everton’s next two games. Dyche could also bring the likes of James Garner and Amadou Onana into midfield but the balance was much better defensively against Forest as Gueye sat in with Gomes and Doucoure ahead of him supporting DCL in attack. Harrison and McNeil were also a big threat out wide and Jordan Pickford has been superb for the majority of this season and so too has Everton's defense (fourth fewest goals conceded this season in the PL), aside from that horror show at Chelsea last week.
OUT: Dele Alli (groin), Lewis Dobbin (ankle), Nathan Patterson (hamstring), Beto (concussion), Seamus Coleman (groin)
Liverpool focus, team news
What does Klopp do now with his starting lineup? Well, it seems like he will rotate the big guns back in with Salah, Nunez, Mac Allister, Konate and Szoboszlai all on the bench against Fulham. Klopp has used all of his squad expertly this season as injuries piled up but now he has the luxury of being able to choose who he brings out and in, rather than being forced to do so. Given how intense Liverpool's style of play is, he needs to find out which players are fresh and ready for the challenge. It will take a total squad effort against Everton and then at West Ham on Saturday if Liverpool are going to win both to really put the pressure on Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race. The bad news is they Diogo Jota is out injured again as he will miss the next two weeks.
OUT: Joel Matip (torn ACL - out for season), Thiago Alcantara (groin), Conor Bradley (ankle), Diogo Jota (muscle)
