Match Report

Everton dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this season as they went down to a predictable, albeit somewhat controversial, 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield while Burnley beat Wolves in an earlier kick-off.

Having battled their way to half time at 0-0, the Blues couldn't hold the reds off in the second half with Divock Origi stepping off the bench to play a pivotal role and refereeing incompetence playing its part once again.

The Belgian was involved in Andy Robertson's goal that broke the deadlock shortly after the hour mark, and he then made the game safe by heading home after Luis Diaz's scissor-kick had bounced up invitingly for him in front of goal.

Everton, who lost Ben Godfrey to injury during the warm-up, had some chances on the counter-attack but lacked the quality to make a breakthrough of their own and ultimately were beaten by a much stronger side.

Burnley's victory meant that the Toffees kicked off the 240th Merseyside Derby in the bottom three and that is where they will remain, at least until they play Chelsea at Goodison Park next weekend.

Frank Lampard opted to rest Yerry Mina and Fabian Delph so soon after the midweek draw with Leicester but apart from Michael Keane coming in for Godfrey, his team was otherwise unchanged.

And his players did a sterling job of frustrating their hosts during the first 45 minutes and with better refereeing from Stuart Attwell, they might well have been given more chances to cause a surprise.

However, the official, who never really had control of an occasionally fractious contest, lacked the courage to award a clear shove in the back by Robertson on Anthony Gordon, one which would have put Attwell and Video Assistant Referee, Darren England, in the uncomfortable decision of debating whether it had prevented a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Gordon would later go down in the area under a challenge from Naby Keita but was booked for simulation, an incident that will do a young winger no favours as a media narrative begins to build around his propensity to go down too easily.

For all their territorial superiority, Liverpool failed to test Jordan Pickford in the first half. Sadio Mané had their first serious effort in the 21st minute, a 25-yarder that flew over the bar as Lampard's disciplined, deep-lying formation did its job in keeping the reds at bay.

Diogo Jota also missed with a first-time shot off Robertson's cross and Mohamed Salah, doggedly kept under wraps for the most part by the excellent Vitalii Mykolenko, sent a drive sailing over late in the first half.

For Everton, Abdoulaye Doucouré had the only real opening of the first 45 minutes when Richarlison played him in behind the defence but he could only drag his shot across goal and wide of the far post.

Meanwhile, a bout of handbags after the Mali international hacked Fabinho down to stop play after Liverpool's players refused to with Richarlison down injured and in need of treatment threatened to get out of hand and Mané was, fortunate to only pick up a yellow card for clearly catching Allan in the face with a raised hand and then Holgate with a finger near the eye.

Another rare opening fell to Alex Iwobi who broke down the left channel early in the second half but he just ran into Joel Matip without getting a shot away before Gordon surged into the Liverpool penalty area himself and was clearly leant on by Matip but, again, the referee ignored appeals for a penalty.

Gordon, who was causing Jà¼rgen Klopp's defence plenty of grief, was in again three minutes later but fired across the face of goal without testing Alisson and he drew a cynical foul from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 59th minute after he had skinned Keita on the touchline but Iwobi could only glance the resulting free-kick by Mykolenko harmlessly wide.

Three minutes later, Everton's valiant defensive stand was broken. Origi, who had only just come off the bench to wreak his customary havoc against Everton, combined with Salah on the left side of Blues' area and the Egyptian crossed to the back post where Robertson arrived to head home.

Pickford then had to punch clear and Mason Holgate away from his line before Salah smashed a shot narrowly over while Demarai Gray's last contribution was flash an effort of his own a few feet wide of Alisson's right upright at the other end.

However, although Lampard introduced Dele Alli and then Salomon Rondon for Allan, it was Liverpool who scored next as a corner was cleared only as far as Jordan Henderson and when he sent the ball back in, Diaz's attempt at the spectacular merely bounced up in the six-yard box and Origi had the relatively simple task for heading it past the stranded goalkeeper.

Richarlison despatched a stoppage-time shot straight at Alisson but Everton were beaten by that stage and dumped into the relegation zone to rub salt into the wounds.

Lampard will take heart from the fight and resilience shown by his players but he will know he needs more offensive production from his side next weekend when Chelsea come to town for a fixture that has taken on added significance for the Toffees.

Ultimately, while they ceded over 85% of the possession to Klopp's men, Everton could feel aggrieved that the officials didn't give them decisions at key moments that might have changed the outcome despite the reds' dominance.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton took on Liverpool at Anfield looking to repeat the fine victory they secured under Carlo Ancelotti on their last visit, only for the scoreline to be reversed after holding out for more than an hour.

The circumstances for the derby game could not be more daunting, with Burnley dumping the Blues into the Bottom 3 after beating Wolves earlier this afternoon. And Liverpool riding high in the Premier Leagues, desperate to keep the pressure on and steal the title off Manchester City.

Three players who weren't in the line-up are Donny van de Beek, André Gomes and Dominic Calvert-Lewin — all have been sidelined by knocks picked up in training. Yerry Mina was rested and not involved after his exertions against Leicester.

Salomon Rondon is only on the bench with Lampard keeping faith in Richarlison and his faltering role as lone striker. Delph and Price are among the subs.

Demarai Gray, Anthony Gordon, Alex Iwobi and Abdoulaye Doucouré were the creative players who would be looking to get forward with Allan sitting in front of the 4-man backline.

And as if it wasn't bad enough, Ben Godfrey picked up an injury in the warm-up and was replaced by Michael Keane, with Andy Lonergan stepping up to provide additional goalkeeper cover on the bench.

Everton were on the back foot pretty much from the kick-off but did a good job of closing down their red opponents, Gordon winning a free-kick on Salah as he advanced into the Everton area.

Gordon got the ball off Liverpool and dribbled forward, earning a free-kick but Gray totally wasted it, driving it into the wall.

Mykolenko did well to stop Salah, Richarlison going down after a light slap in the face from Fabhinho. Everton were doing a decent job of containing Liverpool.

Mykolenko again did well to stall Salah who could not believe he was guilty of the foul. But Everton were using the ball poorly when they did manage to get any possession. But they did count an attack with Gray's shot blocked by Matip.

Gordon ran at the Liverpool defence but went down under a push in the back from Arnold as he neared the Liverpool box — no foul, much to Blue madness! The ref then gave a similar offence in the Everton half but Keane's hoof forward was a total waste.

Liverpool's first venture into the Everton area came in the 19th minute but the cross in was taken by Pickford. Richarlison worked hard at the other end but Gordon way overhit the cross.

Mane got space and fired Liverpool's first shot, curling over the bar. At the other end, Richarlison won the first corner, delivered well by Gordon but headed away by Mane.

Gordon seemed to throw himself down in the box after being tripped and was immediately shown yellow for the dive. No VAR check for the penalty? Of course not.

Jota threw a punch at Coleman who was holding him, and his reaction looked worthy of a red card but again no VAR. Liverpool swung in the free-kick which won a corner, the first real pressure on the Everton goal but ended with offside.

Liverpool won another corner off Alan and it needed clearing by Keane. In the next phase a snapshot by Jota flew wide of Pickford's goal.

Everton continued to frustrate the Reds and stop them from playing their fast slick passing game, Richarlison breaking and releasing Doucoure but his mishit shot across goal was hopelessly poor.

Everton were having to defend more deeply, Salah still trying to get inside from deep on the wing. A fine spell of Everton battling for every ball ensued after Richarlison was dispossessed. Liverpool looked to work the ball into the Everton area but it just wasn't going their way. More tremendous defending saw another Liverpool corner, cleared by Richarlison.

Richarlison went down again, off the ball, after making the clearance, that must have hurt his head. Liverpool attacked again but Salah could only fire high and wide of Everton's goal.

Richarlison tried to tackle and went down in a heap, clutching his ankle, Liverpool playing on, Doucouré going in hard on Fabinho and seeing yellow, with the Red swine all going mad, herding at him. Mane pocked Holgate in the face and got booked as well after an exhibition of handbags Calvert-Lewin would be proud of.

The half-time whistle finally went on an increasingly fractious half that had gone almost perfectly for Everton, except for them failing to score after that poor effort from Doucouré.

Hostilites resumed with Liverpool continuing to probe Everton's defence, eventually conceding a corner that was cleared followed by a wayward shot and another protected Pickford free-kick. Another attack saw the ball chipped in to Pickford's arms.

Everton pushed forward only to have to retreat at pace on the red counter. Iwobi had a chance to run after a ball down the left but did nothing with the ball. Gordon repeated the feat almost exactly, and Liverpool attacked again, almost getting through this time, Mykolenko clearing to touch.

Gordon then had a great gallop forward and Matip clearly pushed him over in the area but of course, no penalty, with Lampard going mad. . Liverpool surged back upfield and Everton had to cover desperately as the pace and tempo of the game finally started to swing Liverpool's way.

Gordon got free on super ball from Iwobi but an awful, awful shot on goal. Absolutely pathetic from Gordon with the goal at his mercy.

Gordon got free on the counter, and Arnold zoomed across to take him out, but only a yellow for him. From the free-kick, Iwobi headed across goal and out of play.

Liverpool again came very close, a shot deflected behind off Coleman. But Everton defended the corner well again, and Klopp decided it was time for some changes, including that man Origi.

A crazy sequence of play saw Pickford come out and punch, then get stranded on the ground and Liverpool shots blocked before they fired over. In the aftermath, Allan was booked.

Everton got forward, Gordon playing to Iwobi and Gray going for the top corner but inches wide. Alli replaced Allan. Liverpool were now pretty much in full control, Lampard deciding to give Rondon a go in place of Demarai Gray.

Everton got a dangerous free-kick that Mykolenko delivered in and Allison punched it into an Everton player but the ball would go in the Liverpool goal.

Everton got forward again and Dele fired in a dangerous cross that Iwobi could not quite reach and Robertson just got ahead of him to clear what looked like a certain goal.

A dreadfully lazy Holgate clearance spun behind him and almost in the goal, as Everton's chance looked to have gone, as Liverpool attacked again.

Salah got free and Tiago looked to score but Coleman's deflection was very well saved by Pickford. But from the corner, that man Origi headed in from close range off Diaz's mishit to destroy Everton's valiant resistance.

Dele Alli got a yellow card for a high boot as the final minutes ticked away. Richarlison finally got a yellow card for a petulant kick at Hendersen while he was on the ground. Very surprising it wasn't a red.

And so the game ended with Everton rueing those key missed chances by Doucouré, Gordon and Gray that could have won this match.

Kick-off: 4:30 pm, Sunday, 24 April 2022 on Sky TV in the UK

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold [Y:65'], Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Thiago, Fabinho, Keita (60' Origi), Salah, Mane [Y:45'] (60' Diaz), Jota (82' Henderson).
Subs not Used: Konate, Milner, Gomez, Jones, Tsimikas, Kelleher.

Everton: Pickford, Coleman (c), Holgate, Godfrey [Injured] Keane, Mykolenko, Allan [Y:68'] (73' Dele [Y:89']), Doucoure [Y:45'], Gordon [Y:25'], Iwobi, Gray (77' Rondon), Richarlison [Y:90'].
Subs not Used: Begovic, Lonergan Kenny, Delph, Branthwaite, El Ghazi, Price.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton cross Stanley Park for what might be the least anticipated derby by the Blue side of Merseyside in living memory.

The team with the best home record in the Premier League hosts the worst away side in the 240th edition of this historic grudge match, with the Reds chasing the title and the Blues scrapping for their lives to stay in the top flight.

Rarely, if ever in the modern game, has this fixture appeared so lopsided on paper but Frank Lampard will, no doubt, be drumming into his players the fact that, in football, anything can happen and that, when it comes down 11 vs 11, there is always hope of springing a surprise, particularly in a local derby.

Though it was done behind closed doors last season, the Toffees have at least ended that painfully long run without a win at Anfield and, while James Rodriguez won't be around to lay on defence-splitting balls for Richarlison, the Brazilian will be there to hopefully repeat his heroics, this time in front of a packed house.

Three players who won't be in the line-up are Donny van de Beek, André Gomes and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, all of whom have been sidelined by knocks picked up in training.

"We've got a couple of small injuries,” Lampard said in his pre-match press conference at Finch Farm. “Donny van de Beek won't be fit. He's got a small injury in his groin area, his pelvic area. Andre Gomes is another small one this weekend."

Yerry Mina may also be rested after playing the full game against Leicester City on Wednesday. It was the Colombian's first action since being forced out of the defeat at Newcastle in February and, given his injury record, the club's medical staff are likely recommending caution to ease him back in.

"That's a decision I'll have to make closer to the game, because of the tight turnaround," Lampard explained. "He's an important player to us and we've got to understand we've got six more games after this.”

Calvert-Lewin, meanwhile, has been dogged by niggling problems in the thigh he so badly injured last August. The striker returned from a 4-month lay-off earlier this year but has looked far from his normal self and has been in and out of the line-up in recent weeks.

"I think every player has potential underlying problems,” Lampard said of the England international striker. “No one's a machine and this is a tough, demanding industry. I think Dominic's like every other player. He's had a bad run.”

Whether the manager goes with a straight swap and centre-forward and deploys Salomon Rondon remains to be seen. The Venezuelan played the last 25 minutes against Leicester in midweek and had a hand in creating a chance for Richarlison to put the Blues' first shot on target soon after coming on. He was also involved in the dramatic equaliser that the Brazil forward scored in stoppage-time.

“[It's good] when you have some options at the front end of the pitch,” Lampard said of Rondon. “He's trained well and I know what he can bring for us. He's a smart player, experienced player and a good player."

The other option is to go with a similar line-up to the one that started so sluggishly against the Foxes, and use the pace of Demarai Gray and Anthony Gordon either side of Richarlison, which would mean a greater reliance on the counter-attack as a strategy as opposed to Rondon's added physical presence and aerial ability.

A point for Everton would represent an excellent day's work but the first priority, with goal difference in mind, must be keeping things tight; a win would be the stuff of miracles but then that is what football is all about and why they play the games.

Kick-off: 4:30 pm, Sunday, 24 April 2022 on Sky TV in the UK
Referee:Stuart Attwell
VAR: Darren England

Last Time: Liverpool 0 - 2 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Keane, Godfrey, Mykolenko, Delph, Allan, Iwobi, Gordon, Richarlison, Rondon

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