(Premier League 2023/2024): Highlights Liverpool - Everton

In English football history, the 209th in the league, all of which have played in the top flight, and still the game that has the tendency to ruin weekends if you lose more than any other game. Right now, of course, the world has been shocked by the events in Israel and Gaza over the past couple of weeks, and Anfield will now rise to remember and show support to those suffering in the Middle East. Here he is, Costa-Simacaz. It's a lovely ball, Diogo Jota trying to react, it's away by the goalkeeper, who decided to punch rather than catch it, when catching it appeared to be the easier option. It's a bit short from Konate, and this is McNeil, but it's covered by Van Dijk, but covered at the expense of a corner. Well, there is the Everton corner, Ibrahima Konate with the header away. That was probably a foul on Salah, but Liverpool are coming away with the ball anyway. And here they come in numbers, it's Sabos Lai, he's got Luis Diaz to his left, this is Luis Diaz! And it's a really, really good challenge by Ashley Young. Well, really, really firm challenge it had to be as well, again it's Gravenber, a lovely little ball initially, and Sabos Lai does exceptionally well, takes the ball infield, creates the space on the overlap for Luis Diaz, and if anything it touches maybe just a little bit heavy, which just allows Ashley Young to get the sliding challenge in. Really good from Simicas, Luis Diaz will do well not to get a card there, and he's not gonna do well, he's gonna get a card. My initial thought is a little bit harsh, I think he goes in, I don't think, put it this way, Diaz knows exactly what he's doing. Clever from Luis Diaz to buy himself a little bit of space, and to deliver the ball, Branthwaite with the header. Salah, wins it legally, and strikes for goal! It won't quite come down, but threw himself at it. There was always one that was just never quite coming round for him. Two or three occasions Mohamed Salah has been a little bit sloppy in possession, but not on that occasion, uses his strength and muscles the defender off. Luis Diaz to his left. Plenty in red available to his right, he's got a lot to do before he can get it to them. Big, big trouble very, very soon. It is a second yellow for Ashley Young, followed by the red. And there's another red card in a Merseyside derby. And there's no saving for Ashley Young now, two yellows equals a red, and he's gone in the first half. It's Soboslai, Alexander-Arnold will pick it up, it's a lovely take and touch. And it's sliced away by Mikalinka. It's towards Van Dijk, the touch actually goes off the defender, Branthwaite did really well as Van Dijk won the initial header. Simicas with the corner. Comes out to Alexander-Arnold... I mean, he can't hit it any better than that, it's a heck of a strike. It's so difficult to control and keep down. Well, you can see there the ball spinning, the ball coming to him at quite a high bounce, and you have to say that really is a great effort. Gravenberg had nowhere to go there. That's a nice piece of skill. That's towards McNeil. He will turn, and will shoot! And will probably get a corner, it took a deflection that just made the ball loop awkwardly for Alisson. Well, we know the dangers and the threat he provides, he's got good left foot, hasn't he? Here's Diogo Jota again, moving with pace, Salah! Olkowski, it's gonna come to Gravenberg! And Everton are gonna need a few of those in this second half. Well, that's the difficulty Liverpool have. It falls lovely to Mohamed Salah, three Everton players all throwing their bodies in the line, it's Tarkowski that makes the contact. Liverpool's challenge is to find a way through, and Luis Diaz is trying to do that. Too close, says the referee. Keane's gone out obviously to support his full-back, but in doing so, that cannot be nothing other than a penalty. Well, here comes Craig Pawson, here's his decision. Liverpool penalty. It was inevitable once you saw the replay. It's another moment for Mohamed to strike for Liverpool. And strike he does! And he strikes without nerve! And Liverpool lead. Well, in a game where Mohamed Salah has been pretty quiet, he pops up and puts Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot. And what a good penalty it was as well. Power, accuracy, had Pickford gone the right way I don't think he would have saved it anyway. It's a lovely penalty. Mohamed Salah again, once again in the derby, once again for Liverpool, once again at Anfield. Mikalinka, nice touch by Dhanjuma. He rags the challenge of Soboslai really well, but doesn't find the pass, then wants a free kick. Craig Pawson looked at him and shook his head, and here go Liverpool, and here goes Darwin Nunez. And he still goes, Darwin Nunez! And he's very nearly put into his own net by Branthwaite, who does well again in the end. He ends up going to the by-line, he nearly comes off Branthwaite and goes into his own goal, but manages to steer it past the right upright. The trail 1-0, they have three forwards on now trying to get something out of the game, Liverpool want to finish the game. Joe Gomez with the ping, now Elliott. And his effort! Quite a brilliant save from Jordan Pickford. It's a brilliant reaction from the England goalkeeper, it really is. Well, I'm sure as soon as this ball leaves Harvey Elliott's foot he thinks it's in the back of the net. Does he maybe just tip it onto the top of the crossbar? Wonderful save. Diogo Tot is looking to inflict with a sensational run that nearly leads to another brilliant derby goal. It's just into the side netting. He's possibly a little bit selfish here, he's not got the best angle in the world. Mohamed Salah was looking, could he have squared it? That's long towards Keane, Matip's header. Comes down towards Cimiti. And McAllister will help it away, it's a lovely ball as well. Darwin Nunez has an open expanse of turf to run into, he has support, he has Mohamed Salah, and Liverpool have... Oh, it's the perfect breakaway from Liverpool. Pinpoint precision from Darwin Nunez to tee up Mohamed Salah, and Liverpool wrap up the derby thanks to their Egyptian king. Well, that's always the danger with Everton pushing forward, trying to get that late equaliser, leave themselves a little bit exposed, but what a pass by Alexi McAllister initially to set Darwin Nunez away. And when you've got the pace that he has, he stretches teams, he stretches Everton on this occasion. Watch this little pass there, lovely little vision, lovely awareness, and as soon as this was the case, you can see there's four on two here, just pick the right pass. And he does, Darwin Nunez, right into the path of Mohamed Salah, who is not gonna miss this. A simple task for him to put the ball past Jordan Pickford and wrap up the three points for Liverpool. Derby day belongs to Liverpool once again, Jurgen Klopp's men take the points, thanks to Mohamed Salah. How many times have we said that before? The penalty that wasn't initially given was overturned by VAR, and on a nervous day he showed the ice-cool steel nerves that he has shown so many times to send Pickford the wrong way. Liverpool have the edge in a Merseyside derby. Liverpool 2-0 Everton.