At the break, Everton had enjoyed 14% possession of the ball. But, you know, statistics don’t explain everything. Lampard’s team was clear regarding how to scratch something positive from his visit to Anfield. The toffees sought to unsettle the locals, frustrate their race for the title and above all get out of the pit they fell into in the minutes before their meeting. Burnley’s victory had pushed them into the relegation zone. The plan was drawn. Goodison’s followed him and had Liverpool on the ropes for an hour.
No ball, of course. Slowing down the game. holding it back Wasting time on each throw-in, goal kick, foul kick, whatever. Men on the ground at the slightest contact, melé close to the referee in each decision that was once morest him. They stung the locals. Pickford enjoyed the first half. Doing his game, playing with the stands and with the rival. Not once morest them, but with them. He got on their nerves in an action just before the break, when he salvaged a ball in their area and needlessly dove to the ground. She hugged him with a smile, a wink and infuriated the local parish.
Same dynamic in the second act. Everton handcuffed Thiago, covered gaps in the front of his area and released Gordon and Richarlison on the run. About game time, the Anfield stands chanted Origi’s name. The Belgian striker already knew what it was like to unclog a Liverpool derby. He repeated. His first touch of the game enabled Salah, who bounced the ball from the near post to the far post. AThere Robertson appeared to open the can with a cross header. Origi would score five minutes from time. It was his first goal at Anfield since 2019, when he scored twice once morest Everton. He dominated Liverpool until the end. With the goal came tranquility in the red side of the city. In the blue they were overwhelmed. They are penultimate. They are two points away from salvation, or five days away from relegation to the second category for the first time in their history.
Changes
Divock Origi (59 ‘, Near Keita), louis diaz (60′, Mane), Dele Alli (72′, Allan), Rondon (76′, Gray), Henderson (81′, Diogo Jota)
goals
1-0, 61′: A. Robertson2-0, 84′: Divock Origi
cards
Arbitro: Stuart Attwell
Arbitro VAR: Darren England
Anthony Gordon (24′, Yellow) Doucoure (44′, Yellow) Mane (46′, Yellow) Trent Alexander-Arnold (57′, Yellow) Allan (65′, Yellow) Dele Alli (88′, Yellow) richarlison (90′, Yellow
