Finally, Jurgen Klopp can have few complaints at refereeing decisions
Call off the Kop cavalry charge against the PGMOL. Referees are Liverpool’s friends again.
Three critical decisions settled the Merseyside derby in Jurgen Klopp’s favour. Two were correct as Ashley Young was dismissed for two yellow cards, and Michael Keane’s handball effectively settled the game following a Var penalty check.
The third - referee Craig Pawson’s failure to send off Ibrahima Konate when a trip on Beto merited a second caution - reeked of the kind of rank inconsistency which is contaminating the Premier League, leaving Everton manager Sean Dyche ‘baffled’ and Klopp relieved.
“I would be amazed if anyone thinks that was not a yellow. Especially in the modern game,” said Dyche. “How it is not a second yellow is a near impossibility. It was a bad decision. There were a lot of bad decisions. But that is a vital decision.”
Dyche was booked for arguing his case as Mohamed Salah celebrated the first of a double which - for a few hours at least - took Liverpool top of the Premier League. Given the punishment for Young which meant Everton played an hour (inclusive of nine minutes added time) with ten-men, one wondered if Dyche might sardonically request a replay.
He restrained himself from going that far, although he suggested the remit of Var should be amended to include second bookable offences and get rid of the pointless ritual of on-field referees re-examining incidents on a pitch-side TV screen.
“In a game of this magnitude it (Var) is there for the correct details,” he said. “I am getting bored with them going to the TV. We all know what is going to happen, don’t we? I don’t get that.”
Klopp betrayed his emotions when he subbed Konate seconds after he had avoided his second caution for a 65th minute foul on Everton’s substitute striker, Liverpool’s manager recognising his defender’s good fortune.
“I understand and imagine the frustration of Everton and Sean at this moment, absolutely,” said Klopp. “Would we have won? I don’t know. It would have been interesting. It is hypothetical. I thought we were the better side and we deserved the three points.”
Sadly, officials continue to assert a malign influence on the biggest fixtures even if - as the cliche goes - such matters might ‘even themselves out of a course of a season’ as Klopp seeks compensation for the torment he suffered against Spurs. There may come a time when a Premier League weekend passes without the refereeing being the focus. It cannot come soon enough.
The competing managers could bury their rivalry to share notes on how unfairly they consider their sides have been treated on occasions this season. Where they would differ is which decisions on Saturday had the most impact on the eventual outcome.
Keane’s 75th handball after Luis Diaz’s cross was daft, not unlucky, and the centre-half has previous for inexplicably extending his arms to block crosses.
Once Pawson halted the game for a Var check, the outcome was inevitable. So too was Liverpool’s win once Salah beat Jordan Pickford. The Egyptian would double the lead in the last minute of injury time, confirming Liverpool’s superiority even though Everton were organised and brave defensively.
Offensively, Everton offered nothing more than a Dominic Calvert-Lewin header at Alisson after 36 seconds, the general gulf in class between the sides inescapable.
There’s a suggestion the form book gets ripped on derby day. Not so much in this city, recently.
Everton have still won only once at Anfield this Millennium, and that was behind closed doors when Liverpool had no senior centre-backs.
Liverpool, still trying to convince themselves as much as everyone else they will be in the title conversation, began with the pace that usually blows aside anyone below mid-table. They focused on Everton’s full-backs and for 39 minutes Young and Vitaliy Mykolenko were admirably holding off Diaz and Salah.
Young’s first indiscretion was a needless challenge on Diaz on the halfway line, somewhat harshly punished with a booking. That proved more significant when he committed a more cynical foul on Diaz before half-time, Pawson compelled to show a second yellow card.
Everton, already in resistance mode, had to retreat further.
They battled creditably until Keane’s error meant that, ultimately, it proved to be the same old story at Anfield for Merseyside’s boys in blue.
Join the conversation in the comments section.
03:09 PM BST
Dyche speaking on beIN Sport: No Konate red an 'impossibility of football'
It certainly doesn’t help [the red card]. How they didn’t get one was an impossibility of football. It’s a shame that again we’re going to end up talking up the officials in probably most interviews I do.
I don’t think it’s rocket science today. The fact their manager took him off straight away was a clear sign of what he thought.
Everyone in the stadium probably thought the same thing, everyone at home probably thought the same thing but the people that count didn’t think that.
03:03 PM BST
Klopp speaking to BBC
I liked a lot of moments and then the red card was pretty influential in the game. I wanted us to be calm and ignore that we were one man up. It is difficult in the stands because it’s like now you have to create with each possession and it took a while until we got chances. And then the penalty. I saw it back and it is a clear penalty. Ibrahima, could have gone, yes. It could have happened obviously and then we took him off and from that moment we were solid and compact.
02:53 PM BST
Van Dijk on having to work hard for the win
In my opinion the hard work came form the fight Everton put in. The long balls, the set pieces, they tried to counter on us but we were very prepared for it. The message was to stay patient and play quick from side to side. They made the change at half-time to play with five at the back and we had to be more patient.
It is difficult to face teams playing with 10 men. We have been on the other side and done well. Our mindset was they were still playing with 11 because it is a bit of mental thing when you have a man extra.
We have been doing it [breaking quickly] for many seasons it is a big strength with the pace. The second goal especially. It is something we enjoy and have to keep going.
02:52 PM BST
Klopp enjoyed his celebration
BOSS ✊ pic.twitter.com/7wvADHrGxe
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 21, 2023
02:44 PM BST
Szoboszlai on his first Merseyside derby
It feels really good, playing at Anfield is something special and playing against Everton is a derby. It feels nice.
I expected it would be a good atmosphere but not that loud. I have played in a lot of stadiums but this is one of the best.
It didn’t sound that way on TV...
02:38 PM BST
A word for Everton...
Their defending with 10 men was excellent, and the look to have a gem at the back in Branthwaite. They need to improve their trajectory as a club or else he will follow Anthony Gordon to a more upwardly mobile side. Onana and Doucoure were impressive in midfield, and Dyche how has centre-forward options. There is enough there to suggest Everton should avoid another relegation battle.
02:36 PM BST
Salah's brilliance now passes without much comment
8 - Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in eight goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Everton for Liverpool (seven goals, one assist). Indeed, only Steven Gerrard (9) has scored more goals for the Reds than Salah (7) in this fixture in the competition. Winner. pic.twitter.com/0SSYtIhCbZ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 21, 2023
02:31 PM BST
FT: Liverpool 2 Everton 0
Not Liverpool’s most convincing performance, especially in the second half when they toiled with a man advantage, but they were the better side over the course of the game. Liverpool’s penalty was relatively uncontentious, but all the post-match talk will be about Craig Pawson’s decision not to show Konate a second yellow. The foul looked similar to the first of Ashley Young’s two first-half yellow cards. Liverpool go level on points with Arsenal and Spurs.
02:27 PM BST
GOOOOAAALL! Salah seals the win
Liverpool have been a threat on the break all day, and Everton’s gamble in search of a late equaliser backfires. Nunez carried the ball forward and waited to play the pass to Salah at the right time, and he passed the ball beyond Pickford first time. Liverpool fans at Anfield can relax now and enjoy the rest of their weekend.
02:25 PM BST
96 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Szoboszlai with a wonderful piece of skill to reach the edge of the area, but his shot flew over when he had red shirts to his right in better positions. Everton do have a throw in Liverpool’s half.
02:23 PM BST
94 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Everton have a corner! Anfield holds its breathe after Chermiti forced Van Dijk into an intervention which conceded the set-piece. Everton look for the near post and the ball skips across the area for Liverpool to clear. Doucoure then produces an excellent recovery tackle.
02:21 PM BST
92 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Salah with a loose pass in midfield and Everton win a free-kick which Pickford is going to launch forward, but Liverpool defend well and clear their lines.
At the other end, Jota dribbles into the box but slams his shot into the side-netting.
02:19 PM BST
90 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Rasping shot from almost 30 yards from Harvey Elliott which Pickford did very well to push over the bar. We are about to play nine minutes of stoppage time, so Liverpool have not done the job just yet.
02:18 PM BST
89 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Dyche with one last attacking sub: Chermiti is on for Mykolenko. Can Everton get enough balls into the penalty area for Chermiti and Beto to attack?
02:17 PM BST
88 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
It looked like Everton had an opening but Danjuma played a really poor pass which was cut out by Gomez. Everton fans behind the goal believe there should have been a free-kick given for a late challenge on Danjuma. Liverpool break and Branthwaite heads Nunez’s cross behind.
02:15 PM BST
86 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Branthwaite has had a magnificent game at the back for Everton, would not deserve to finish on the losing team. Gomez penalised for handball in the Everton half which gives the away team a chance to pump the ball forward.
02:14 PM BST
83 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Now Liverpool can keep possession in the Everton half without having to rush things. Gomez is playing at left-back, filling in for Tsimikas who came off earlier. Can Everton fashion one late chance?
02:11 PM BST
80 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Klopp now looking to sure things up by bringing on Joe Gomez for Diaz. Jota then flashes a header towards goal but it was straight at Pickford. Dyche has rolled the dice by bringing on Danjuma.
02:07 PM BST
77 minutes: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
Now Everton have to come out and chase an unlikely equaliser which could leave them vulnerable a man down. Dyche still looks livid with the decision not to send Konate off.
02:05 PM BST
GOOOOAAALL! Salah buries the penalty with power
No chance for Pickford regardless of how much homework he did. Salah put his laces through it and blasted the penalty into the right-hand corner. A muted fist pump from Klopp on the touchline.
02:03 PM BST
PENALTY LIVERPOOL!
There has been plenty of controversy in this game but I think that was actually a straightforward. Keane’s arm was away from his body. Pickford has data on Liverpool’s penalty takers tapped to his water bottle, and he consults it before Salah steps up.
02:02 PM BST
71 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Craig Pawson busy again! First Diaz goes down in the box but Patterson slides past him with little contact, but then Michael Keane deflects a Diaz cross with an outstretched arm. Pawson is being sent to the screen...this will surely be given.
01:58 PM BST
68 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Everton’s defending in this half has been superb, with Doucoure and Onana proving a very effective screen in front of them. Sean Dyche has been booked for giving the fourth official an earful about that Konate decision.
01:55 PM BST
65 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Everton are fuming here and they might have a case: Konate fouled Beto as he was turning into space near the halfway line but Pawson decides against showing him a second yellow card. There was not much contact, but it was a counter-attacking situation much like Young’s first yellow. Klopp is going to bring on Matip for Konate which speaks volumes.
01:52 PM BST
63 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
More frustration for Liverpool as Diaz tries an ambitious but silly shot from long range and a tight angle. High, wide and handsome. It looks like Alexander-Arnold is staying wider in a more orthodox position to try and stretch this Everton rearguard.
01:51 PM BST
61 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
A few groans from the home crowd after Tsimikas stands up a cross which is catching practice for Pickford. Dyche is bringing on Beto for Calvert-Lewin, a like-for-like change and fresh legs up front. Nunez and Elliott are on for Tsimikas and Gravenberch.
01:48 PM BST
59 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Anfield is quiet at the moment, sometimes the opposition going down to 10 actually causes some nerves in the home crowd, because anything other than a win will be viewed as disaster. Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez are getting ready to come on.
01:46 PM BST
56 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Onana drives through midfield again and wins a foul, but Everton cannot make anything of the set-piece despite putting it in the mixer. Then Onana tracks the run of Diaz into the box, and falls awkwardly over the advertising behind the goal. Looked a nasty fall, but he is now back on his feet.
01:43 PM BST
52 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Everton defenders putting their bodies on the line to deny Liverpool! Two massive blocks from Tarkowski to deny first Salah from the penalty spot and then Diaz. Alexander-Arnold’s shot from range flicks up on to the hand of Keane and Var checks for a penalty, but nothing doing.
01:39 PM BST
49 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Liverpool working the ball from side to side again. Surely a matter of when not if Darwin Nunez is introduced to bring some of what Alan Pardew once christened chaos factor. Onana does well to win a loose ball in midfield and Konate body checks him and is shown a booking.
01:37 PM BST
47 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
It looks like Everton are setting up with a narrow back five with three midfielders in front of them. Liverpool are going to have heaps of possession in this half, but there will not be much space in behind. Mykolenko has had a decent game up against Salah.
01:35 PM BST
Second half is under way!
A defensive double sub from Dyche at the break: Keane and Patterson on for McNeil and Harrison.
01:27 PM BST
Another red card in the Merseyside derby
1 - Ashley Young is the first player to be sent off for two yellow cards in a Premier League game against Liverpool since Sadio Mané in October 2015, while playing for Southampton. Exit. pic.twitter.com/hwu9k3Rmpo
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 21, 2023
01:23 PM BST
HT: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Liverpool were the better side before Ashley Young’s red card, but the next 45 minutes promise to be attack against defence. Some of Liverpool’s passing football has been slick, but they looked at their most dangerous when Everton were caught forward. Dyche’s team have outlets but this really should be a Liverpool win from here, which would put them level on points with Arsenal and Spurs.
01:18 PM BST
45 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Calvert-Lewin was almost clean through from a long, straight ball over the top but he could not bring the ball under his spell. In the final seconds of two minutes added on, Jota almost slalomed his way through and there were appeals for a penalty but nothing doing.
01:15 PM BST
44 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Liverpool win successive corners, but Onana defends ever so well in his own penalty box. Szoboszlai tries the spectacular from distance but his shot is skewed horribly. He has that in his locker, but important Liverpool stay patient.
01:14 PM BST
43 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Everton on the ropes and a man down as half-time approaches - Alexander-Arnold whips a lovely ball in from the right which flies all the way across the box between four Liverpool players. Dyche points to his head and barks at his players to concentrate.
01:12 PM BST
40 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Liverpool piling on the pressure trying to land a double whammy on Everton, with Alexander-Arnold unleashing a fierce volley from distance that whistles over the bar. That would have been a classic. Then Everton win a corner from a deflected McNeil shot, but Alisson claims.
01:10 PM BST
RED CARD! Ashely Young shown second yellow
Evertonians will claim Young has been harshly treated, but you cannot dive in like that on a booking. It was Diaz who drew the foul, dribbling at Young near the left-edge of the penalty area, and the Liverpool winger nudged the ball past him before Young caught his right foot. Craig Pawson took his time but produced the second yellow and Young complains to the fourth official as he heads down the tunnel.
01:08 PM BST
36 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Everton have had spells when they have looked comfortable defensively, but any time they are drawn forward and have to defend space they looked vulnerable.
01:06 PM BST
34 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
A couple of nervy moments if you are an Everton fan. Pickford slightly spilled a long shot from Mac Allister but he claimed it at the second attempt. Then Mykolenko’s header back to his goalkeeper looked like it might be flying past Pickford for a split second. Liverpool still looking for the breakthrough.
01:03 PM BST
32 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Cool from Liverpool, who play out from their own penalty area through Alisson and then Alexander-Arnold. Tarkowski is forced to jump out of position to engage Gravenberch, and gets a yellow card for his foul on halfway. Then Everton won the ball in a dangerous position but Calvert-Lewin did not lift his head and ran into traffic.
01:00 PM BST
30 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Everton looked lively enough going forward in the first 15 minutes, but their quality on the ball is letting them down at the moment. Every time they look to play forward the pass is overhit or misdirected. There is space there for runners if they can get it right.
12:57 PM BST
27 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Nice effort from Salah, going for that whip into the top corner with his left foot from the right-hand corner of the penalty area, but it flew just over the bar. Salah showed his upper body strength to win a duel and fashion the chance. Liverpool on top.
12:56 PM BST
25 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Liverpool with another good switch from left to right, this time from Szoboszlai, and McNeil has to turn it behind for a corner. There looked to be a two-on-one for a short one, but Liverpool deliver into the box for Everton to head clear. Liverpool enjoy a sustained spell of possession in the Everton half. Gravenberch has looked silky so far.
12:54 PM BST
23 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Smart play going forward from Liverpool again, and Jota wins a free-kick in a really dangerous shooting position. Just left of centre and 20 yards or so out. Not much room to get it up and down, but Liverpool have Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Szoboszlai over it.
Salah touches it off for Alexander-Arnold to strike, but it is straight into the Everton wall. A bit of a let down after the big build up.
12:52 PM BST
20 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
It is very surprising to see a Sean Dyche team come to Anfield and get caught with numbers ahead of the ball twice in the first 20 minutes. Mac Allister with a nice switch of play to Salah but he could not get past Mykolenko. Tsimikas is fortunate to escape without a booking for a foul in midfield, a few minutes after Young was shown one.
12:48 PM BST
16 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Better from Everton in the last few minutes, they are starting to win more second balls in midfield and have released Doucoure to play closer to Calvert-Lewin. Cracking cross from the right from the left foot of Harrison, and Konate produced an excellent defensive header behind for a corner. Alisson rather flapped at it at the back post, but Liverpool surivive.
Yet again Liverpool almost hit Everton on the counter from a blue set-piece! Diaz looked to have three red shirts to his right to put clean through on goal, but Onana sprinted back to get a foot in. Everton with some fine recovery defending but they have been caught out twice from their own corners.
12:44 PM BST
13 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Slack defending from Konate looked to have opened the door for McNeil, but Van Dijk covered around to defend at the expense of a corner. The delivery did not get past Konate who heads away.
Then Liverpool break away with four attackers running at two Everton shirts! Szoboszlai slipped a pass to Diaz who was bearing down on Pickford, but Young produced a superb recovery run to semi-block his shot. Diaz’s touch in the inside left channel just got away from him.
12:42 PM BST
10 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Everton hanging in there but only just. It was a swift Liverpool break with Gravenberch finding Jota in the penalty area, but his shot was blocked and went behind for a corner which Everton scrambled away. Then Alexander-Arnold’s pass towards Salah sold him short and Everton win a throw near halfway.
12:38 PM BST
7 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Liverpool are moving the ball fluently through midfield. Tsimikas then swings in a dangerous cross which Pickford punches clear on the bounce and gets clattered by Jota. Ashley Young shepherds behind a long Alexander-Arnold ball under pressure from Diaz. The Liverpool right-back has been quite influential in the early minutes, picking up advanced central positions.
12:35 PM BST
4 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Liverpool’s turn to threaten: Mac Allister fires a lovely pass into Gravenberch at the edge of the box, and the ball is swept to Sala on the right who was wide open in the box, but the flag went up for offside. Salah sliced his attempted cross regardless. A promising beginning to the game. Diaz tries to flick a pass through with the outside of his foot but it runs through for a Pickford goal kick.
12:33 PM BST
2 minutes: Liverpool 0 Everton 0
Blimey, a presentable chance for Everton inside the first minute. Calvert-Lewin was up early above Van Dijk to meet a cross from the right, but his header lacked power and was straight at Alisson. Great tackle from Doucoure to catch Alexander-Arnold after he burst through midfield.
12:32 PM BST
KICK OFF!
After a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and a minute’s silence for the victims of the Israel-Gaza conflict the game is underway.
12:30 PM BST
More details of Alexander-Arnold's car accident
Alexander-Arnold suffered a major scare while driving in 70mph winds after a 40ft electricity pylon crashed down onto a car in front of him, causing him to hit the vehicle. Ben Rumsby has the full story here.
12:26 PM BST
The players are on their way out
There have been some goal-fests and some bitty encounters in this fixture down the years. What will we get today? Everton are in decent form and Liverpool’s team is front-loaded so it should be fairly open.
12:21 PM BST
Jurgen Klopp keeping a watchful eye on the warm-ups as usual
12:11 PM BST
Ryan Gravenberch still going through a period of adaptation
I haven’t tried much British food yet but I will have to try - maybe fish and chips or the breakfasts with lots of beans. What do you call it? A fry-up?
12:03 PM BST
The importance of Virgil van Dijk
Writing in his Telegraph Sport column, Jamie Carragher believes a potential Liverpool title charge relies on the form and fitness of Virgil van Dijk. He looks more assured at the start of this season, as he fully recovers from that horrible knee injury sustained in this fixture.
In defensive terms, Van Dijk has gone from being superhuman to human. He remains one of the top four centre-backs in the Premier League.
11:58 AM BST
More from Dyche on TNT
I think you have to start right and defend well because they have a strong record. You need to make the game about yourselves as well and take it on. It’s important we do that today.
The feeling, the atmosphere, of course is all valid and relevant, but when you go out there it’s all about the performance. [Victory] would reaffirm the good work we’ve been doing. I don’t think the points tally is what it deserves.
11:53 AM BST
Liverpool's new-look midfield
Klopp needed to rebuild his engine room this summer and all three signings - Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch - starting today. It is certainly a very offensive set-up but there are concerns about a lack of offensive protection. Doucoure, Onana and Garner will fancy getting about them.
11:50 AM BST
Could we be in for more Var controversy?
The Merseyside derby has produced 22 red cards in the Premier League era, five more than any other fixture.
11:43 AM BST
Jurgen Klopp not underestimating Everton
Everton deserve respect.
(Dominic) Calvert-Lewin is back, real quality. (Abdoulaye) Doucoure, (Amadou) Onana, (Idrissa) Gueye, super experienced. Really good centre-halves and England’s number one in goal (Jordan PIckford). A good team.
They are used to the kind of game. I don’t think we should make it too big for them, I think they are ready for it.
The facts are Everton are in a good moment. Successfully stayed up and start was not easy but last few weeks they have results with performances.
11:37 AM BST
Sean Dyche on the task at hand
It’s a tough place to go. So, I don’t think we’ll be listening to the kind of the noise around it. We’re trying not to anyway.
But there is a lot of noise, rightly so, big game. It’s more about our focus to get through that and concentrate on our performances ... the whistle blows, you’re focusing on the teams, but the build-up, the feel around it, there’s no two ways, it’s a proper derby. I’ve played in a few and I’ve been around a few, but it’s certainly the biggest one I know.
11:33 AM BST
Team news
Trent Alexander-Arnold does start after his scrape yesterday with Kostas Tsimikas at left-back for Liverpool in place of the injured Andy Robertson. It is a midfield three of Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch with Jurgen Klopp preferring Diogo Jota to Darwin Nunez.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin starts up top for Everton with James Garner continuing in midfield. Ashley Young will have a fight on his hands to keep Luis Diaz quiet. Jack Harrison starts on the left and it looks like Dwight McNeil will start from the right, cutting inside on to his stronger left foot.
Team news! 📣
Robertson out with injury. Calvert-Lewin starts up front.
🔴 Liverpool 🆚 Everton 🔵#TelegraphFootball | #LIVEVE pic.twitter.com/vpuD4dzEy3— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) October 21, 2023
11:25 AM BST
Jack Harrison could start his first Merseyside derby
The winger spoke to Chris Bascombe in this interview about how he is enjoying his football again under Sean Dyche, but that the discipline of Marcelo Bielsa never leaves him. It remains to be seen if Harrison will line up against Trent Alexander-Arnold, who walked away from a nasty-looking car accident involving a falling pylon yesterday.
11:18 AM BST
Best offers and free bets
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11:16 AM BST
Do Liverpool have the solidity to mount a title challenge?
By Jack McRae
Kostas Tsimikas, baptised as the ‘Greek Scouser’, is likely to be given a rare opportunity and spell to impress at full-back after Andy Robertson sustained a shoulder injury with Scotland. It might not be the easiest game for the bit-part player to make his first start of the Premier League season as he lines up opposite an emboldened Jack Harrison and Everton.
Harrison, a deadline day arrival on loan with an option to buy from Leeds United, will be looking to pick up where he left before the international break as he inspired Everton to a 3-0 rout of Bournemouth.
The winger struggled for consistency during his time at Leeds, but was capable of truly game changing performances - including a survival-clinching strike against Brentford on the final day of the 2021-22 season. Everton will hope they unlock Harrison’s magic to ensure they avoid being dragged into a relegation scrap of their own.
Despite their win against Bournemouth, chances of victory against Liverpool today appear slim. Everton have not won two Premier League games in a row in over a year and their notoriously poor recent record at Anfield needs no reiteration. Liverpool boss, Jürgen Klopp, was also keen to downplay his successes over their Merseyside rivals.
Klopp’s side have shown much greater steel this season than last and are perhaps unfortunate to not sit top of the league. The intensity and firepower about Liverpool that was absent in the previous term has returned following a midfield overhaul and it would be short-sighted to discount them from a title challenge.
Title challenges are a thing of the past, and an unforeseeable likelihood in the future, for an ever unstable and unpredictable Everton. Yet, putting a costly dent in a Liverpool challenge at Anfield could prove almost equally as motivating as their own survival.
Sean Dyche has managed to mastermind two victories over Klopp’s Liverpool in his time at Burnley - what he and the Everton fans making the short trip across Stanley Park would give for another today.
