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Mersey side derby is a match between local rivals Liverpool and Everton. It is the longest running top-flight derby in England, having been continuously played since 1962/63 season. Jurgen Klopp made three changes following the mid-week defeat at PSG as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Shaqiri were recalled, James Milner sat out while Lovren and suspended captain Henderson also missed out. Marco Silva named an unchanged Everton side which won over Cardiff last time out. Everton started the game with a positive intent but their early momentum soon faded away as the game went on. They looked the better team in the first half an hour with Andre Gomes's shot on target was well saved by Alisson to keep the game scoreless. Slowly Liverpool came back into the game and ended the half positively but they too didn’t have a proper chance to score. Liverpool started the second half much better than their first but couldn’t breach the Everton defence.
Substitute Origi, popped up with the winner in the final seconds of the game after Pickford failed to clear an audacious effort from Virgil van Dijk. This victory means that Liverpool are unbeaten in each of the last 18 matches against their local rivals Everton in all competitions.
Here we look at the 3 reasons why Liverpool won the Mersey side derby:
#3 Lack of creativity and finishing from the Everton attack
Everton have been no match for their neighbors for the past decade but a lot was expected from Gylfi Sigurdsson, Bernard and Andre Gomes but they failed to produce a moment of magic which could have helped Everton win the Mersey side derby for the first time since 2011. Gomes almost opened the scoring with a header but it was well saved by Alisson in the 21st minute. They had three goal-scoring opportunities in the first half but they failed to convert any of those chances, with the Gomes effort being their best chance to score.
Everton didn’t create much opportunity to score in the second half as Liverpool dominated the game. Richarlison would be a disappointed man as he didn’t receive enough services from his teammates. Everton conceded a sloppy goal late in the game as Divock Origi pounced on to head the ball home after Everton goalkeeper Pickford fumbled it on the line.
#2 A stubborn Liverpool defence
Liverpool are a side who usually concede goals at crucial times in the crunch matches. Since the arrival of Goalkeeper Alisson in summer, they have conceded just 5 goals in the league this season and have kept more clean sheets than any other team in the league. In the derby day, their defence was rock solid as they stopped every Everton attack with ease but they were aided by some poor finishing from the Everton attack. They were a bit shaky after their defensive errors which led to a loss against PSG in the Champions League in the early stages of the game but once the game grew, they settled and outplayed the Everton attackers.
Though Everton tried hard to score goals they were denied by Alisson, who made 3 crucial saves to keep his clean sheet intact. In fact, Liverpool has conceded just 5 goals from the 14 games this season and only Chelsea in 2008/09 has conceded fewer goals (4) at this stage in the Premier League.
#1 Divock Origi
Divock Origi scored his first Liverpool goal since 2017 when he scored the winner against Everton tonight. Origi came on as an 84th-minute substitute for Roberto Firmino, who is having a poor Premier League season. Everton were on course for at least a point in the derby but could have won if the Gomes header had gone in during the first half. Klopp replaced Mane and Firmino as they failed to score.
Origi’s introduction was the change Klopp was looking for as he hit the crossbar in the 90th minute and he scored a winner in the final seconds of the game heading in from close range after Jordan Pickford failed to deal with a freekick mishit by Virgil van Dijk. Origi has scored in all of his three appearances against Everton scoring more goals against the Toffees than any other side in the Premier League. His goal ensured that Liverpool were just 2 points behind the league leaders Manchester City ahead of their clash with Burnley on Wednesday.
