Everton send Liverpool into crisis after rare Anfield win

Premier League: Everton send Liverpool into crisis after rare Anfield win in the Merseyside Derby

Alison saved brilliantly from Seamus Coleman in Liverpool's 2-0 loss at Anfield to Everton on Saturday. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

It dates back to September 1999 for the last time Liverpool lost to Everton at Anfield, and since forever, the Merseyside derby has always been one-sided but Carlo Ancelotti’s men had the last laugh on Saturday night.

In the absence of the regulars, Jordan Henderson continued in the heart of the defense but this time he had to partner new signing, Kabak who was making his home debut in the league.

Naby Keita made the bench after yet another injury layoff but it took only three minutes for it to fall apart.

 

James Rodriguez found Richarlison with a well-weighted ball which found the Liverpool defense wanting and the Brazilian fired home emphatically, inside just three minutes and it could even have been two later on but Alison saved well from Seamus Coleman’s header.

 

Liverpool had their moments in the first half but Jordan Pickford and a spirited Everton defense stood firm. 

Just around the half-hour mark, it went from bad to worse for Liverpool as captain Jordan Henderson limped off with what looked like a hamstring problem, Nathan Williams replaced him.

The second half saw Liverpool with some urgency and Sadio Mane headed wide twice, Jurgen Klopp’s side controlled the game but were susceptible to counter attacks from the visitors who managed the game intelligently.

 

Trent Alexander Arnold tested Pickford with long-range efforts on occasions and Salah should have scored from a near-post chance but the England number 1 was up to it.

 

Late on, substitute Dominic Calvert Lewin was brought down in the box by Alexander Arnold and Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot.

Gylfi Siggurdsen rolled it in past Alison to complete the result, it was Everton’s first win over Liverpool in well over a decade.

 

Everton captain, Seamus Coleman was elated after the game and he couldn’t hide it: "It's an amazing feeling, after coming here all those years and letting ourselves and more importantly letting the blue side of the city down," he said.

"It's been hard. We can try and brush it off but when you have lived in the city for 10 years it has been difficult to take.

"I'm fed up with coming out with the same clichés after losing. I'd thank the manager for the way he set us up and the players put in an unbelievable shift. That was against the champions, so we are delighted."

Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, Klopp said: "The first goal which we have to defend better gave the direction of the game. It was unnecessary.

"There were plenty of good football moments so we did well from a creative point of view but we had to chase the game and were not calm enough. Everton defended deep and full of passion but there were still moments where we were completely free in the box but we didn't finish."