Liverpool 2 - 0 Everton [L]

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Everton face familiar foes Liverpool in the first Merseyside derby of the season at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, looking for their first win at their old ground since 2021 under Carlo Ancelotti.

The good news for Everton is that Vitaliy Mykolenko reappears in the starting line-up, having overcome his early-season injury problems. David Moyes goes with Beto to spearhead the attack, ahead of his strong midfield trio.

But there's no sign of Merlin Röhl in today's matchday squad. David Moyes has confirmed Merlin Röhl picked up a minor knock in training yesterday.

First Half

Everton kicked off and tried a ball over the top to Beto that bounced through to Alisson. The home side pressed Everton hard playing out from the back until they committed a foul but Beto could not control another long ball played up.

Ndiaye and Dewsbury-Hall were hemmed in by 5 players in the corner and tried manfully to break out but couldn't do it. Liverpool worked it around and O'Brien had to deny Gakpo, Everton defended well until Ndiaye could give Beto a break-out ball. 

Pickford resorted to the long ball but the pressure was quickly back on and Everton wanted a free-kick for a foul by Van Dijk on Ndiaye but he had got the ball before the man and Darren Engand let it go and  a looping ball in from Salah on the right wiing was clipped first-time past Pickford by Gravenburch to give the home side an early lead.

Liverpool attacked again and Salah almost scored with a powerful shot across Pickford's goal. Everton had not seen much of the ball in the first 15 minutes, succumbing to the intensity of their opponents' play. A great Garner tackle stopped Szoboszlai. More shots by Mac Allister and Gakpo needed blocking as Everton were fully stretched in defence, unable to get the ball forward to Grealish. 

Everton got forward for a throw-in from O'Brien but it was easily defended, Ndiaye played a brilliant through to Beto that he just watched bounce harmlessly past him, before Liverpool surged forward, Gakpo failing with an acrobatic effort. 

Grealish finally got the ball and ran in the channel,feeding a super ball to Dewsbury-Hall who tried to find the top corner, but missed. Ndiaye was carded for his foul on Kerkez. Liverpool advanced down the right and Ekitike was fed the ball by Gravenberch and finished far too easily past Pickford.

Everton had a rare spell of possession but struggled to create anything meaningful from it, Mykolenko putting another ball in Beto's direction but he did nothing with it. Ndiaye did get forward and clipped in a difficult ball that Beto had to turn around for and failed to get it on target. 

Ndiaye was finally given a free-kick for a foul, Garner tasked to swing in a deep delivery that hung in the air, Alisson out to punch. Grealish ran at Bradley and won a corner. Garner played it short to Gealish who then set him up for a drive but it was blocked. 

Grealsish pulled a brilliant ball back but it was to Gana, whose scuffed shot was at least on target but easily saved. 

Liverpool: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Wirtz, Isak, Jones, Robertson, Frimpong, Ngumoha.

Everton: Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Gana, Garner, Ndiaye [Y:27'], Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Beto.

Subs: Travers, Patterson, McNeil, Barry, Dibling, Coleman, Alcaraz, Aznou, Iroegbunam.

Referee: Darren England

 

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