LIVERPOOL, UK — Cody gakpo scored the first goal for Liverpool when Jurgen Klopp’s team got their first win Premier League win this year with win 2-0 against Everton at Anfield on Monday.
Mohamed Salah’s first-half opener helped Liverpool win in a heated match that ended with players facing each other on the pitch after a foul by the Everton keeper jordan pickford on Liverpool Andy Robertson. While the win raised Liverpool’s dim hopes of breaking into the top four, the loss sent Everton into the relegation zone ahead of their crucial clash with Leeds United on Saturday.
rapid response
1. Liverpool ended a winless streak against Everton
Liverpool finally register their first Premier League win in 2023 – and welcome back to health Diogo Jota for his first appearance since October – when Klopp’s side deepened relegation fears for neighbor Everton.
In a year that’s been off to a bad start for both clubs, managers Klopp and Sean Dyche’s main aim now is to find a way to salvage their teams’ seasons. For Liverpool, it’s all about finding the form to take the lead to get in the top four and championship qualification. However, for Everton and newly appointed boss Dyche, the only priority is to get out of the bottom three and avoid relegation.
However, both teams still have to do everything to achieve their goals.
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Despite this victory, Liverpool are still 9 points behind 4th place Newcastle United Football Club, whom they played next at St. James’ Park on Saturday. Playing one game less than Eddie Howe’s team, a win would give Liverpool any real hope of breaking into the top four, but anything other than three points would make Klopp’s side look like outsiders for a place in the Champions League.
The picture is even more bleak for Everton, who remain in the bottom three after this defeat. Dyche’s team who defeated the leaders weapon in his first game in charge earlier this month, against Leeds at Goodison Park on Saturday, with the managerless Elland Road team one place and one point above them in the standings.
While this defeat would be a blow to Everton’s local pride, the reality is that Saturday’s game is far bigger. However, if Liverpool and Everton are to save their seasons, both need to be better than Anfield in this one.
2. Nunez and Gakpo promise the future
Gakpo and Darwin Nunez Both have struggled to score since completing a big-money move to Liverpool this season, but the two strikers played a big part in this win over Everton.
Nunez, who has come into this match with five goals in 16 games since the club’s record £75m move from Benficascored an assist for Salah’s opener while Gakpo finally scored his first Liverpool goal since moving in for £37m from PSV Eindhoven last month. Both players are only 23 years old, so their careers are ahead and Liverpool have signed them to replace Salah, Roberto Firmino And Sadio’s manethe latter is left to Bayern Munich last summer.
It’s no secret that both Nunez and Gakpo are immature and inexperienced at the highest level, and that’s evident in their performances for Liverpool, but they’re also both very talented and fans Liverpool fans are showing patience with the pair. they faltered at Anfield.
Nunez never lacks effort and he can create havoc in the opposition box, even when he misses too many chances, and Gakpo is still adjusting to the demands of football. England and Klopp’s requirements for him in the team system. However, with Nunez scoring one and Gakpo scoring another, it was a good evening for Liverpool’s two great hopes for the future.
3. Everton need a healthy Calvert-Lewin – and fast
Everton go into this game with the worst goalscoring record in the Premier League this season, and they have never wanted to add to their meager 16-goal tally all season. The center is absent Dominic Calvert-Lewin For most of the season, injury problems were the main cause of their failure to score, but the England striker still managed to score just one in 11 appearances.
It says everything about Everton’s situation Gray Demarai And Anthony Gordon, now a Newcastle player, is their top scorer in the league with just three goals each. At Anfield, Dyche handed over the 22-year-old Ellis Simms started his first season in place of the injured Calvert-Lewin, and he was completely out of depth against the Liverpool defenders. Joel Matip And Joe Gomez.
summer signing Neal Maupay (one goal all season) and Gray started this game on the bench, but this Everton squad lacked the firepower that Dyche desperately needed Calvert-Lewin to find fit and form again. If he continues to come in and out of the squad as he has all season, it will be difficult for Everton to score the goals they need to stay in shape.
Unable to replace Gordon after moving to Newcastle in January, Calvert-Lewin is currently Everton’s only option as a reliable goalscorer.
Best and worst performers
BEST: Darwin Nunez, Liverpool. The Uruguay striker is Liverpool’s best attacking player. All speed and purpose, and his breakthrough led to Salah’s 36th-minute opener.
BEST: Andy Robertson, Liverpool. The Liverpool full-back was back to his best form, and it was his outburst that started to move to make it 2-0 early in the second half.
BEST: Joel Matip, Liverpool. He rarely gets the acclaim he deserves for his performances, but with Virgil van Dijk Not fit enough to play after the injury, Matip once again controlled the Liverpool defense before the goalkeeper’s handshake Alisson.
WORST: Ellis Simms, Everton. A daunting task for the 22-year-old Everton forward from just his second start in the Premier League, but loan spells at Sunderland and Blackpool are a world away from the challenge of playing against Liverpool.
THE WORST: Vitalii MykolenkoEverton. Everton’s left-back was tortured by Salah all night and Tran Alexander-Arnoldand to lose the ball too often.
WORST: Jordan Pickford, Everton. One of the more erratic performances of the Everton goalkeeper. Only Pickford knows what he did on Liverpool’s first goal, when he left space for Salah to score.
Highlights and remarkable moments
Everton hit the post at one end, and 45 seconds later, Salah put the ball into the net at the other end. Devastating fast attack ability.
LIVERPOOL HAS ONE HACK OF WHAT!
Everton hit the post and 15 seconds later, Mo Salah put the ball into the net of Everton!
: @USANetwork #MyPLMorning | #LICEVE pic.twitter.com/NEAXCxfdUp– NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 13, 2023
After the game: What the player/manager said
Vow ceremony: “It’s been a huge win for us. We’ve had a perfect week of training and the players are very excited and we can’t wait to see the game change everything. Hopefully that’s it. a beginning.”
dike: “We’ve given the players a lot of information and there’s a lot for them to take in. There’s still a lot of work to be done. Last week we beat Arsenal and I’m not thrilled. No lack of effort. or work ethic, it’s still hard to get here, but [Liverpool] is a great side.”
Key stats (powered by ESPN Stats & Information research)
– Salah’s goal was his 100th goal (71 goals and 29 assists) in 104 Anfield appearances in the Premier League.
– Gakpo’s goal was his first in any tournament since scoring in Netherlands‘ World Cup group stage final with Cata on November 29th.
Next
Liverpool: Klopp & Co. travel to Tyneside on Saturday for the Premier League game against Newcastle.
Everton: The Toffees will also play on Saturday, when they welcome Leeds to Goodison Park in a clash at 17th and 18th places across the table, with huge implications for the relegation battle.
