Brilliant Calvert-Lewin header seals very special Blues derby win

Everton 2 - 0 Liverpool

Tonight's hated local visitors to Goodison Park were sent packing after Calvert-Lewin followed up Branthwaite's scrambled opener with an absolute classic far-post header.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been passed fit after scans revealed no damage from the knee injury he sustained during Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest. Beto will not feature as a result of concussion protocols after he was knocked unconscious in that game. 

Seamus Coleman is out injured along with Nathan Patterson. Godfrey and Graner start with Young on the bench along with Onana, Danjuma and Gomes.

Everton kicked off, Pickford launching it long, McNeil getting the ball back but Liverpool quickly got control of the ball and tried to play in Diaz with a deep crossfield pass that Pickford collected.  

A great cross in by Harrison was just glanced away from Calvert-Lewin, McNeil's sht wa blocked to Doucoure who screwed his shot wide. Immediately the ball flew into the Everton goal area and had to be cleared. A very lively start. 

Everton's first free-kick was lobbed wastefully forward but there was a great turnover forced by a Tarkowski tackle and a tremendous ball in from Harrison as Calvert-Lwein was brought down by Alisson for a penalty but both Doucocure and Calvert-Lewin were clearly offside. No penalty. 

Liverpool got behind Everton far too easily and Saleh crossed in rather than shooting, where Godfrey incredibly pushed the ball beyond the post from point-blank range, with two red shites all over him. 

A Gana shimmy drew a free-kick in a dangerous spot, left of the Liverpool area, McNeil's far-post delivery headed over by Godfrey when he really should have got it on target. But the Blue shirts had started well and were competing hard all over the pitch.

Godfrey crossed a good ball to Calvert-Lewin but there was no-one following up on his decent layoff. Harrison was blocked for another potentially promising free-kick on the right, swung in to Tarkowski on the far post, to Calvert-Lewin with a prodigious lead at the near post, his reader beaten away by Alisson. 

Calvert-Lewin was next to be fouled, seemingly all foul contact from the Reds being called Everton's way. But this one was headed harmlessly by Tarkowski to Alisson.  A Liverpool forward ball almost caught to Pickford, then Godfrey made a tremendous tackle before Tarkowski gave away a corner policing Nunez.

Liverpool won another corner but Everton broke away, albeit too slowly to force a counter-attack. Branthwaite benefited when Nunez slipped. Everton won another call when Konate clearly pushed Calvert-Lewin in the back. But the deep crossfield ball balloned to high.

But Everton kept getting the soft free-kick calls, Branthwaite heading this one across goal and in the chaotic follow-up he forced it under Alisson and spinning in off the post, with Calvert-Lewin following up. It was clearly second phase and the goal withstood the VAR offside check. 

How would Everton now play with the lead? Would they keep up the tremendous effort of the first half-hour? Liverpool, of course, had other ideas as the seriousness of their situation sunk in, and Everton somewhat retreated into their defensive shell. 

McNeil went down after feeling an arm in his but that one was not called and Liverpool redoubled their attack but could not get past Branthwaite.  But Mac Allister adroitly fed Nunez who would surely score... but Pickford forced his shot away after it was blasted straight at him. 

Another Liverpool foul and Virgil van Dijk's name went in Madely's book. But the Reds finally got their own soft call for a nothing foul by Tarkowski. Mykolenko twisted his ankle badly after he was barged by Nunez and was in serious pain, needing treatment but he miraculously recovered and was back on. 

But Liverpool had effectively controlled the play since the goal and another incredible chance fell to Diaz at close range and again Pickford was in the way for another fantastic save.  Saleh then miskicked his huge chance, then blasted over when the ball was blocked back to him. 

Harrison tried to break out but was double-teamed. When Everton did finally get the ball forward, Doucoure was flagged offside and Liverpool were mounting another attack. Some tremendous blocks and saves were required and a corner cleared to just about keep the lead intact as 6 minutes of added time were played out and the Blues went in with the score 1-0. 

As feared, Ashley Young replaced Vatalii Mykolenko for the second half. Liverpool's first attack saw Gana clear behind for a corner, Pickford saving Van Dijk's header. Branthwaite then had to put it behind, Mac Allister's shot well blocked. Next to defend was Godfrey, but Everton looked to break although it rather went to Calvert-Lewin's head when he tried to lob Alisson from 60 yards. 

In the next attack, the ball came to Roberstson but he was offside and fumbled his shot anyway. Everton were getting a fantastic run of the ball that saw Ducoure progress and Harrison eventually set up Gana for another goal but he fluffed this shot and rolled softly to Alisson. 

Everton got the ball forward again and this time McNeil in space fired a tremendous shot at Alisson, that he pushed over the bar. McNeil then delivered an absolute peach to the far post where Calvert-Lewin leapt like a salmon and powered in his best-ever header completely flooring Alisson, a fantastic goal!

Liverpool were stunned, and seemed unsure quite how to respond to the fantastic atmosphere that now filled Goodison Park. But they did get forward and won yet another corner, Van Dijk's downward header picked up by Pickford. 

After 3 Red subs, the ball spun off Calvert-Lewin to McNeil via Harrison but he took 1 second too long and his shot was blocked. Everton forced a series of corners, Tarkowski trying to nod one forward to Branthwaite but he was offside.

Some more fantastic defending snuffed out Mo Saleh but Calvert-Lewin was needed to defend corners and unavailable for the quick bread. Liverpool kept trying to build their attacks but the ball almost miraculously kept coming to a Blue shirt, although Diaz did smash a shot against the post and out. Liverpool players were lining up, but the ball again ended up with Pickford.  

It was lovely to see Liverpool players messing up simple moves, Robertson stumbling the ball behind at a crucial moment. They kept at it but the Blue shirts kept getting the ball, as Onana replaced Gana.

Doucoure and Mac Allister got in a silly tangle, the Everton man a bit lucky to escape censure. Another attack briefly saw Saleh's boot but again he skied it. Everton responded, Doucoure crossing to the far post but it was too difficult for Harrison to convert. 

Into the final 10 minutes and Liverpool were still struggling to really threaten the Everton goal, with the Blues defenders seemingly doing everything right to keep them at bay.  The Reds buzzed around, until Elliot lofted it forward… straight into Pickford's hands. 

Garner was caught by Endo right on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area as the clock ticked closer, Young dreadfully wasting a late opportunity to further punish the Reds. From a Liverpool corner, Elliot tested Pickford with a clever dipping shot as 5 minutes were added. 

Everton tried to play up in added time, but were now finding it harder to keep the ball.  Another normally scoring chance falling to Salaeh was palmed away by another excellent Pickford save to underline the wondrousness of this exceptional victory over the hated enemy!!!

Everton: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski. Branthwaite, Mykolenko (46' Young), Gueye (75' Onana), Garner, Doucoure, Harrison, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin (90+4' Chermiti).

Sub not Useds: Virginia, Keane, Danjuma, Gomes, Warrington, Hunt.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (84'Gomez), Konate (63' Quansah), Van Dijk [Y:37'], Robertson (84' Tsimikas), Jones (63' Elliott), Szoboszlai (63' Endo), Mac Allister [Y:90+3'], Salah, Nunez, Diaz [Y:90+3']. 

Subs not Used: Gravenberch, Clark, Kelleher, Danns.

Referee: Andrew Madley

Attendance: 38,222

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