Match Report

Everton produced a barn-storming performance on a dramatic night under the lights at Goodison Park to move eight points clear of the relegation zone and put a huge dent in Liverpool’s League title hopes.

Against the backdrop of a pulsating atmosphere, Jarrad Branthwaite pounced in the 27th minute to put the Blues ahead and while Jordan Pickford’s heroics at one end protected the precious advantage, Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed home the killer second goal at the other 13 minutes into the second half.

Luis Diaz came the closest to opening the door for the reds in Jürgen Klopp’s last Merseyside derby when he fired off the upright with 20 minutes to go but it always felt as though Everton were in control on a memorable occasion, where Sean Dyche’s men became the first Toffees team to beat Liverpool at home since 2010.

Given the miserable history of this fixture for those of a Blue persuasion, this was a game that many had written off, with the greater attention being paid to the supposedly more winnable clash with Brentford on Saturday. Dyche, however, had called for a typical derby display and, having set the team up perfectly, he got one in spades as Everton came out with high-octane intensity.

With greater composure from Abdoulaye Doucouré, the Toffees might have grabbed the lead as early as the third minute but when the ball broke to him via a deflection off Ibrahima Konaté, the Frenchman side-footed disappointingly wide with a reflex effort.

Everton then thought they had been awarded a penalty when Alisson Becker upended Calvert-Lewin in the Liverpool box but the striker had been slightly offside when he latched on to Jack Harrison’s smart ball in with the outside of his boot.

A terrific, goal-saving intervention by Ben Godfrey, who had been preferred to Ashley Young at right-back, cleared Mohamed Salah’s volleyed pass out of his own six-yard box in the 10th minute and took a tap-in away from Darwin Nuñez but it was Everton who were carrying the greater threat, terrorising the visitors’ defence from dead-ball situations.

Godfrey should have done better with a header at the back post that he put a couple of yards wide and Calvert-Lewin forced the first save from Alisson with a header but it all came together in chaotic fashion when another Dwight McNeil free-kick was only partially cleared and James Tarkowski hooked it back into the box.

Harrison cushioned it square to Godfrey, his shot pinged off Andrew Robertson and then Curtis Jones before Alexis Mac Allister miscued horribly to Branthwaite who squeezed a shot under the goalkeeper and in off the post, with Calvert-Lewin sliding in to make sure as the ball squirmed over the line.

Goodison erupted but the goal sparked a sustained spell of Liverpool pressure from then until the end of a first half that was elongated by six minutes of time added on for stoppages.

Nuñez was played in and seemed odds-on to score but Pickford made himself big and blocked his shot and England’s No.1 was there again in the 44th minute when the Uruguayan striker nodded the ball into path of Diaz and Pickford quickly adjusted his feet to stop the goal-bound effort in superb fashion.

He was called into action one final time in a frenetic close to the opening half when he beat away Robertson’s low cross and Everton went into the break a goal up and worthy leaders.

Having hobbled through the final few minutes of the half after rolling his ankle, Vitalii Mykolenko was replaced at the interval by Ashley Young but far from the anticipated onslaught from Klopp’s men, it was Everton who had the chances in the first quarter of a hour after the restart.

Calvert-Lewin eschewed the chance to send Harrison away down the right, opting instead for an ambitious attempt to lob Alisson from the centre-circle, and a really promising counter-attack led by Doucouré ended with Harrison teeing up Idrissa Gueye in the box but the goalscoring hero from Sunday against Nottingham Forest choked his effort this time and rolled into the keeper’s arms.

Still the Blues came forward, though, and when McNeil stung Alisson’s palms with a thunderous drive from outside the box, the Brazilian’s save led to the 58th-minute corner from which Dyche’s side doubled their advantage in scenes very much evocative of Joe Royle’s first game in charge almost 30 years ago.

McNeil swung a trademark delivery to the back post where Trent Alexander-Arnold completely lost Calvert-Lewin and the striker rose unchallenged to power a downward header into the goal to send the home fans into delirium.

Another McNeil shot was blocked by the last man and Branthwaite nodded wide after Tarkowski had headed the ball invitingly back across goal from yet another dangerous set-piece at one end while a welcome slice of fortune at the other ensured that Liverpool would not find a route back into the contest in the closing stages.

Diaz twisted and turned in front of Godfrey before smacking a shot off the face of the post while in the 79th minute, the off-key Salah spooned a shot over after the ball had ricocheted into his path around 11 yards out from goal.

Young wasted the chance to put the icing on the cake when he belted an awful free-kick wide with a minute left of the 90 but there were to more chance for Pickford to dazzle, first when Harvey Elliott chested the ball down and sent a dipping volley searching for the net but the Everton keeper palmed it over acrobatically and then when he dived to his left to parry a Salah volley to safety.

Just nine days ago, Dyche and his team were deservedly having their credentials and their appetite for the fight against relegation questioned following that dreadful 6-0 defeat at Chelsea.

A 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in a must-win game has been followed by a massive result against the enemy from across the Park that will stand in stark relief as a moment to be treasured in a season that has been desperately short on highlights.

Matters off the pitch remain worryingly in flux but, for a few days at least, Evertonians can bask in a memorable victory on another seismic night in terms of the battles at either end of the Premier League table.

Matchday Updates

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

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton and Liverpool go to head-to-head in the re-arranged Goodison derby on Wednesday evening, with the Blues hoping to take another step towards safety while denting the reds' title hopes.

It's 14 nearly years since an Everton team beat Liverpool on home turf but if they can pull off what almost everyone would regard as a minor miracle, they would put themselves within touching distance of ensuring their Premier League status for another year.

Sean Dyche is hopeful that Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be passed fit after scans revealed no damage from the knee injury he sustained during Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest.

The striker was withdrawn from the fray in the 67th minute having undergone treatment on the pitch a few minutes earlier after picking up the knock and there were fears that he might be ruled out of the clash with Liverpool.

However, the injury has settled down and, while the manager didn't seem all that convincing in his press conference at Finch Farm, he did say, "We'll wait and see tomorrow but we're hopeful" when asked about Calvert-Lewin's availability.

His usual deputy, Beto, won't feature, however, after he was knocked unconscious in stoppage time at the end of the 2-0 win over Forest and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The Portuguese's scans came back clear but he won't be able to play in either of Everton's next two games due to the Premier League's concussion protocols.

If neither make it, the responsibilty for leading the line could fall to Youssef Chermiti who has made 13 appearances off the bench in all competitions this season but has just one start to his name since arriving from Sporting Lisbon last summer, that in the Carabao Cup tie at Doncaster back in August.

Playing the lone striker role against Liverpool's much-vaunted defence would be a tall order for the 19-year-old but it represents a big opportunity for him to write his name into Goodison folklore if he can get himself onto the scoresheet and earn Everton something from the game.

Club captain Seamus Coleman is also ruled out along with Nathan Patterson.

With this being the second of three games in the space of six days, Dyche could elect to make other changes in the side, perhaps resting André Gomes in favour of James Garner and even changing formation to a back five that would feature wing-backs and allow Ashley Young to drop back to the bench.

Amadou Onana, who was benched at half-time at Chelsea and who didn't feature at all against Forest, would also be pushing for a start.

In comparison, Júrgen Klopp will have an embarrassment of riches at his disposal even without Diogo Jota who is ruled out with the injury he sustained at Fulham at the weekend.

He joins Joel Matip, Thiago Alcantara and Conor Bradley in the treatment room but the reds have a clean bill of health otherwise, with Klopp expected to bring the likes of Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai back into his starting XI.

The disparity between the two clubs these days says as much about the imbalance that exists in the Premier League as a whole as it does about Everton's decline during the Farhad Moshiri years and what is always a daunting fixture can feel like Mission Impossible.

With some confidence back in the veins from the win over Forest, not least for the likes of goalscorers Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil, there is always hope that the Toffees can spring a surprise which would really throw the cat among the pigeons as far as the big battles go at either end of the Premier League table.

Kick-off: 8 pm, Wednesday 24 April 2024
Referee: Andy Madley
VAR: David Coote
Last Time: Everton 0 - 0 Liverpool

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Doucouré, Chermiti  

Lyndon Lloyd

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