Final Thoughts: Liverpool Battle Past Everton to Maintain Lead in Premier League Title Race | OneFootball

Liverpool 1 – 0 Everton – The Postmortem

The Merseyside Derby is always an emotionally charged fixture, but this encounter at Anfield carried extra weight for Liverpool. After their painful 1-2 defeat to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final before the international break, Arne Slot’s men needed to respond. With Arsenal winning 2-1 at Fulham the night before, this was a must-win match to maintain control of the Premier League title race.

Everton arrived on a strong nine-game unbeaten run under David Moyes, with their defensive resilience making them tough to break down. True to form, they frustrated Liverpool for long periods, but a decisive moment in the second half proved the difference.

Below is how the team lined up, with match details following.

The Starting Eleven

Caoimhin Kelleher, Curtis Jones, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk (c), Andy Robertson, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Díaz

Subs:

Darwin Núñez – Diogo Jota (75 mins)

Cody Gakpo – Luis Díaz (86 mins)

Wataru Endō – Mohamed Salah (90+2 mins)

Goals (Assisted by)

Liverpool 1 – 0 Everton

Diogo Jota (Luis Díaz) – 57 mins

Photo: IMAGO

Important Match Stats

Possession: Liverpool 64% – 36% Everton

XG: Liverpool 1.39 – 0.67 Everton

Total Shots: Liverpool 17 – 5 Everton

Corner Kicks: Liverpool 11 – 5 Everton

Offsides: Liverpool 2 – 4 Everton

Fouls: Liverpool 7 – 11 Everton

Yellow Cards: Liverpool 2 – 2 Everton

Goalkeeper Saves: Liverpool 0 – 3 Everton

The First Half

Liverpool started on the front foot, dominating possession but struggling to create clear openings against a deep-lying Everton side. David Moyes’ men were compact, disciplined, and content to disrupt the Reds’ rhythm.

The biggest talking point of the half came in the 39th minute when James Tarkowski lunged into a reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister. The tackle was high, late, and dangerous, leaving the Argentine writhing in pain. The Anfield crowd erupted in fury as the referee showed only a yellow card—much to the disbelief of Liverpool’s players and coaching staff. Mac Allister managed to continue, but it was a moment that could have drastically altered the match.

Everton’s defensive approach meant Liverpool had to be patient. Their best chance of the half fell to Virgil van Dijk, whose towering header from an Andy Robertson corner forced Jordan Pickford into a smart save. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah found little joy against Everton’s low block, and Diogo Jota struggled to impose himself in the final third.

Despite Liverpool’s dominance in possession, the first half ended goalless, with frustration evident among the home supporters.

The Second Half

Liverpool emerged from the break with greater urgency, moving the ball quicker and stretching Everton’s defensive lines. Luis Díaz, who had been one of the livelier figures in the first half, started finding space down the left, and it was the Colombian who provided the breakthrough.

In the 57th minute, Díaz drove past Nathan Patterson and whipped in a dangerous low cross. Jota, showing his trademark poacher’s instinct, met it first-time and fired past Pickford from close range. Anfield erupted as Liverpool finally found the breakthrough they had been searching for.

Photo: IMAGO

Everton responded by pushing forward slightly more, introducing Dominic Calvert-Lewin to add aerial threat. However, Liverpool’s defence—marshalled by Van Dijk and Konaté—stood firm. Caoimhin Kelleher was called into action only once in the latter stages, making a comfortable save from a long-range effort by Abdoulaye Doucouré.

Liverpool managed the game professionally in the final moments, keeping possession and preventing Everton from mounting any real pressure. Slot’s substitutions, including the introduction of Darwin Núñez, Cody Gakpo, and Wataru Endō, helped see out a crucial three points.

As the final whistle blew, relief swept across Anfield. Liverpool had secured a vital win, keeping them firmly in control of the title race.

Final Thoughts

This was not a vintage Liverpool performance, but it was exactly what was needed—a response, a win, and a step closer to the Premier League crown. Everton made it difficult, but Jota’s goal proved decisive, and Díaz’s relentless energy was key in breaking down a stubborn defensive unit.

James Tarkowski’s horror challenge on Mac Allister will be a talking point in the days ahead, with many questioning how he escaped a red card. But ultimately, Liverpool did what they needed to do.

With Arsenal still in the hunt, there is no margin for error. Next up is a tricky away fixture at Fulham, where Liverpool must maintain their momentum. The title race is far from over, but this was a crucial step forward.

Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Liverpool 2 – 1 Everton