Match Report

Ashley Young became the latest Everton player to be sent off in a Merseyside derby and the Toffees' stubborn resistance was eventually undermined when Michael Keane's handball allowed the reds to break the deadlock from the spot with 15 minutes to go.

Young was already on a booking for a cynical check on Luis Diaz in the 18th minute and he received his marching orders from Craig Pawson seven minutes before half-time for fouling the same player near the byline.

It ruined yet another Merseyside derby and reduced the Blues to a gameplan of simply trying to hang on before they pivoted towards attack late on after falling behind and were caught two-against-one on the counter-attack deep in stoppage time and Mohamed Salah completed his brace.

Despite Idrissa Gueye being fit again after withdrawing from the win over Bournemouth with a foot injury, Amadou Onana and James Garner kept their places in midfield, with Young again preferred to Nathan Patterson at right-back and Jack Harrison lining up ahead of him in right midfield.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the first chance of the game when Dwight McNeil swung in a cross before a minute had elapsed but the striker could only head straight at Alisson Becker.

That would the visitors' best of the game because, as expected, Liverpool had the lion's share of possession and chances even before Everton were reduced 10 men.

The reds' best chance appeared to be on the break as Dyche's side left themselves open from attacking set-pieces, with Young getting back well to deflect Diaz's shot behind when the Colombian looked odds-on to score in the 12th minute.

Five minutes later, Liverpool raced away from defending a corner at one end to almost score at the other but this time Onana made an excellent covering tackle to break it up in his own box.

Harrison was fouled by Kostas Tsimikas in the 20th minute for what looked to be the same kind of challenge as the one for which Young was fouled but the referee was nonplussed by James Tarkowski's protestations.

Tarkowski's trip on Diogo Jota gave the Portuguese the chance to try and beat Jordan Pickford from a direct free-kick but could only drive his shot into the defensive wall and when Salah barged McNeil off the ball three minutes later, he could only sweep a curling effort over the crossbar.

The complexion of the game changed completely, though, when Young jumped in recklessly on Diaz and chopped him down just outside the area and, after a pause from referee, was shown a second yellow card.

Trent Alexander-Arnold smashed a shot a couple of feet over at one end and McNeil forced Alisson into tipping the ball over his own bar at the other but it was goalless at the halfway stage.

Sean Dyche switched to a more defensive posture to start the second half, withdrawing Harrison and McNeil and throwing Keane and Patterson on in their stead and for half an hour, the Blues were holding steady.

Tarkowski's excellent block denied Salah a clear shot at goal from about eight yards out and he followed that up by repelling Jota from the rebound in the 52nd minute.

Dyche then replaced Calvert-Lewin with Beto but, naturally, it was Jürgen Klopp's men who continued to threaten, Patterson surviving howls for a penalty when Diaz went down in the box under his challenge but a minute later, Keane gave Pawson, who had earlier waved away appeals for a second yellow card for Ibrahima Konaté, the pretext to award the decisive spot-kick.

Diaz's cross had struck the defender's out-stretched hand and while the referee had opted not to blow for a penalty, Video Assistant Referee David Coote advised him to take another look on the pitch-side monitor and he duly reversed his decision.

Salah drove home the resulting penalty and it was, effecitively, game over with 15 minutes of the 90 to go.

Pickford saved from Jota, substitute Darwin Nunez's centre ricocheted off Jarrad Branthwaite and narrowly behind, Pickford did superbly to push Harvey Elliott's stinging long-range shot onto the bar and over, and Jota fizzed one into the side-netting as the reds tried to kill the game.

They did that as Everton tried to force an unlikely equaliser and were undone on the break as Nunez and Salah tore away and the Egyptian converted the Uruguayan's pass to make it 2-0.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

A second yellow in the first half ruined Everton's game plan, which finally crumbled with a Salah penalty gifted by Keane.  

Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes and Dele Alli are all reported to be making good progress in their recoveries, they remain the only first-team squad members unavailable to Sean Dyche for this game, with Idrissa Gana Gueye available again after being forced out before the win over Bournemouth after sustaining a foot injury in the warm-up. 

But Dyche sticks with the team that won last time out, with Gana on the bench.

Storm Babet? Everton kicked off in bright sunshine and McNeil soon delivered a cross straight to the head of Everton's star centre-forward on a tremendous leap, and what did he do? Delivered it straight to Allison with all the goal at his mercy!

Docucore tracked Arnold back and tackled him superbly, but Liverpool were getting more of the play and Salah got in unmarked but completely fluffed his shot. Pickford then had to challenge Jota for a high ball.

A deep free-kick for a foul on Tarkowski was wasted, ending in Liverpool's first corner. It was cleared with all blue shirts defending, and just came back. But Everton got forward down the right and McNeil cleverly forced an Everton corner that turned into a rapid Liverpool counter, Diaz firing over thanks to a tremendous block by Young. The corner was headed clear. 

Harrison was double-teamed on the right and could not cross but the Blue shirts were playing up and challenging well enough for the ball. He got the next cross in but Calvert-Lewin was the wrong side of his defender. Allison fumbled the corner before clearing to Diaz and it needed brilliant work by Onana, outnumbered by swarming reds.  

Harrison was then triple teamed and Young took out Diaz for his customary early yellow card. Mykolenko stopped Salah dead in his tracks with a fine stop. Tsimikas fouled Young cynically but of course no yellow card, and the free-kick collected by Allison to launch another counter by Mykolenko again stopped Salah.

But Tarkowski was drawn into a soft foul on Jota as he advanced into the area, for a very dangerous free-kick in the Dee. But Arnold drove it into the Everton pack. However, Liverpool came back and won another corner that was cleared. Everton were getting forward but not reaching the Liverpool area before losing possession, leading to quick Liverpool attacks. 

More brilliant work on Salah was exhibited by Mykolenko as Onana tried to catch Allison and, in response, Salah lashed a cross-shot above Pickford's bar. 

Everton were trying to press but had become a little disheartened, Liverpool using the long ball down the flanks to bypass the midfield block. Dcalvert-Lewin got time on the ball but refused to pass it. Tarkowski challenged Arnold from behind and he saw yellow, while Jota steps on  Mykolenko's foot but again, no punishment.

Mac Allister tried to take advantage of the sun, firing long distance at Pickford. Doucore got time on the ball and he too failed to pass it before being surrounded. 

Diaz tried to get around Young but Young's tackle caught his ankle and off he went on a second yellow. The free-kick went for a corner, and that was cleared behind for another corner. Arnold tried a volley that flew just over the bar. 

At the other end, McNeil did very well to fashion space for a shot that was deflected just over but the corner was gathered by Allison and Liverpool's break had to be stalled. Arnold fired a sharp cross right through the Everton area, thankfully with no takers. 

Another Liverpool corner caused havoc, a handball claim denied by the VAR review as Everton had to withstand a lot of pressure from the side with the extra man. Calvert-Lewin headed on Pickford's goal-kick but Harrison could not keep hold, and Everton were again denied entry to the Liverpool area. 

Another Pickford boot almost fell for Calvert-Lewinn but he could not control it. Tarkowski looked to have blocked a Liverpool player for a possible penalty but that too was denied by the VAR and Everton survived the loss of a man without the loss of a goal in a reasonably well-defended first half while allowing many shooting chances to the Reds, without showing any bite up front to speak of.

Dyche went ultra-defensive in the second half with Patterson and Keane on in place of the two wide forwards, Harrison and McNeil, the second-half siege of the Everton penalty area commencing. 

Konate dragged down Onana as saw yellow. Everton got forward briefly until Konate felt an arm in his face. More Liverpool shots were blocked at the expense of a corner. The ball bobbled up and hit Keane's arm in the penalty area: no penalty. 

Onana did well to win another free-kick in the Liverpool half but Garner could not control his attempted shot. Onana blocked Diaz and got driven over the advertising boards behind the goal for his efforts. 

Everton got some respite forward but could not sustain the attack and were soon defending again. Beto replaced the largely ineffective Calvert-Lewin, while Klopp made a couple of changes after the hour-mark. 

Konate deliberately dragged back Docucoure on the break and should have seen a second yellow... but of course not, with Dyche getting a yellow card for his protestations. Nunez had a shot on target from outside the area, only Liverpool's second, that Pickford collected. 

But Liverpool were surging forward more strongly after the changes but Beto was getting involved and challenging in his own clumsy way. Tarkowski tried to clear in his direction.

Diaz tangled with Patterson in the area and Everton escaped another VAR check – quite rightly. Diaz then fired onto Keane's arm, sticking out in a very unnatural position. VAR gave it back to Paulson, who checked on the monitor, and of course gave the penalty to Liverpool.  

Salah v Pickford: Easy for Salah. No contest. Ian Woan yellow-carded as the Red Shite celebrated. 

Branthwaite headed a good Liverpool free-kick behind and, from the corner, Jota fired thankfully straight at Pickford. 

Everton finally got forward with 4 minutes left but were left stranded on the turnover, Branthwaite cleverly avoiding an own-goal with his header behind as Chermiti came on for Mykolenko.

Elliot hit a fierce shot that Pickford was equal to with a fine one-handed push onto the crossbar as 9 minutes of stoppage time were added. Everton looked for a late break but Doucouré's forward pass was never on. 

Jota dribbled in and shot into the side netting. Everton finally played the ball forward and won a late corner, but there was no-one on the end of it, Beto getting back well to tackle Salah. 

Everton rather rashly put almost everyone forward for a late corner at the end that was easily cleared and Liverpool surged forward for Salah to score a simple goal that was painful to see after such an effective defensive performance. 

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate [Y:49'] (67' Matig), Diaz (81' Gomez), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Jota, Tsimikas (62' Nunez), Gravenberch (62' Elliot), Alexander-Arnold.

Subs not Used:  Kelleher, Endo, Scanlon, McConnell, Quansah.

Everton:   Pickford, Young [Y:18';YR:37'], Tarkowski [Y:32'], Branthwaite, Mykolenko (88' Chermiti), Onana (80' Danjuma), Garner, Doucoure, Harrison (46' Keane), McNeil (46' Patterson), Calvert-Lewin (61' Beto).

Subs not Used:  Virginia, Godfrey, Gana, Dobbin.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Premier League football returns this weekend, Storm Babet permitting, with Everton travelling the short distance across Stanley Park to their old ground for the Anfield derby.

As of Friday evening, the game is still going ahead as scheduled, with the North West only under an Amber weather warning with "persistent heavy rain" and the "likelihood of some flooding" expected overnight.  

The Blues will once again be close to full strength, with Idrissa Gueye available again after being forced out of the win over Bournemouth with a foot injury sustained in the warm-up.

The midfielder came on a 78th-minute substitute for Senegal in their 1-0 friendly win over Cameroon in Lens on Monday and should be fit for selection by Sean Dyche should he opt to include him in the starting XI.

The manager faces a selection dilemma in that area of the pitch these days when all four of Gueye, James Garner, Amadou Onana, Jack Harrison and Abdoulaye Doucouré are all fit. Prior to Harrison overcoming the hip injury that prevented him from making his debut for the Blues until the Carabao Cup win at Aston Villa last month, Garner was the easy choice in right midfield but it's much more of a selection headache these days.

Dyche was, of course, giving nothing away in his press conference today but he once again praised Garner for his versatility and application so far this season.

“I really happy for Jimmy and his progress," Dyche said.

“When I got here he’d been injured. I knew of him from the season before at Forest. I went there quite a bit that season while I was having a rest and he was performing there. His adaptability for a young player is very pleasing. I’ve always seen him mainly in a central role but I do like the flexibility of him.

“He’s a player that can use that wisely and he does. He’s been very open to use it for us and has worked very hard in the positions and he’s growing into what he is. That’s a very good footballer in my opinion.”

Dyche referenced the five-man defensive system he employed at Villa in the Cup and that is another option open to him as he plots a way to hurt Liverpool. That evening Nathan Patterson was deployed at right wing-back but that could be a job for Harrison if the gaffer decides to go with that same formation on Saturday.

The almost clean bill of health – Seamus Coleman had his first session back with the first team this week and will need time to get closer to match fitness while Dele Alli and André Gomes remain some way away from being ready – means that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is fit to play a part in his first Merseyside derby since Everton's last win at Anfield more than 2½ years ago.  

Dyche is under no illusions about the size of the task facing Everton in the lunchtime kick-off, not only because of their poor record on Liverpool's turf so far this century but also because Jürgen Klopp's men have been in rich goalscoring form this term.

With five wins and just one defeat so far, they are in the thick of the early running for the title this season. They can be susceptible defensively at times, however, as was shown by Brighton last time out and will be without first-choice left-back Andrew Robertson who is ruled out through injury and Diogo Jota who is suspended. That is something the Toffees' boss will look to exploit, particularly in transition and at set-pieces.

“It’s been a long time with not many wins," Dyche admitted. "But it’s a tough place to go and I don’t think we’ll be listening to the noise around it, we’re trying not to anyway. But there is a lot of noise, rightly so.

“It’s a big game but it’s more about our focus to get through that and concentrate on our performance because, generally, I think they’ve been strong. We are taking on a top side.”

Kick-off: 12:30pm, Saturday 21 October 2023
Referee: Craig Pawson
VAR: David Coote
Last Time: Liverpool 2 - 0 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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