Liverpool Edge Everton in Hard-Fought Merseyside Derby
Liverpool’s perfect start to the Premier League season has been extended with a 2-1 victory over Everton at Anfield, but it was far from a smooth ride for Arne Slot’s side. This was the 247th Merseyside derby, and it followed a familiar script: Liverpool dominating early on, Everton fighting back bravely, and the home side clinging to their lead until the final whistle.
The match began with Everton setting up deep, placing almost every player behind the ball in an effort to frustrate the league leaders. That strategy worked for only a short while. Within ten minutes, Mohamed Salah whipped in a teasing delivery, and Ryan Gravenberch was on hand to seize the moment. The Dutchman hooked the ball past Jordan Pickford with composure, giving Liverpool the breakthrough they had been pressing for.
Everton showed some ambition through Beto’s direct running and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s link-up with Jack Grealish, but their opportunities went begging. And when chances are wasted at Anfield, punishment usually follows. Sure enough, Gravenberch turned provider, threading a perfect ball into the path of Hugo Ekitiké. The young forward calmly slotted under Pickford to double Liverpool’s advantage, marking his fourth goal since joining the club in the summer.
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At that stage, Liverpool looked in control. Their midfield trio of Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister dictated the tempo, while Everton struggled to push forward with any consistency. But as the game wore on, David Moyes’ side began to grow in confidence. The introduction of Thierno Barry at half-time and a more expansive approach gave Everton life.
That shift was rewarded when Grealish skipped past Conor Bradley and delivered a cross that eventually fell to Idrissa Gueye. The midfielder unleashed a thunderous strike that left Alisson with no chance, halving the deficit and sparking real tension inside Anfield. From then on, Everton carried the greater threat. Grealish, in particular, was relentless, driving at defenders and drawing fouls as Liverpool’s back line looked increasingly vulnerable.
Slot turned to his bench, handing Alexander Isak his Premier League debut in an attempt to settle the contest. Yet, instead of easing nerves, the closing stages became a test of Liverpool’s resilience. Everton pressed hard, creating half-chances and forcing the hosts into sloppy errors. The final whistle eventually arrived to a mixture of relief and celebration from the home crowd.
For Everton, frustration was the theme once more. Moyes left Anfield still without a Premier League win at the ground, despite his team arguably being the better side in the second half. The lack of a clinical striker remains an issue, but their energy and midfield combinations suggest brighter days ahead.
Liverpool, meanwhile, remain the only team with a flawless record after five games. They may not yet be firing on all cylinders, and questions continue to be asked about their ability to hold on to leads, but with players like Gravenberch and Ekitiké stepping up, they are finding ways to win. And in a long, demanding season, that ability to grind out results might prove just as important as dazzling football.
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