Liverpool 2-0: Candies crush Reds and knock them out of title race

Everton were the big winners in the Merseyside derby after beating a disappointing Liverpool 2-0 to leapfrog them into the Premier League while ending the Reds’ title hopes.

The Merseyside derby had the character of a final for Liverpool in the title race but on Wednesday night (24/04) the city’s big and traditional match was painted blue, with Everton producing a superb display to triumph 2-0 for 29th matchday of the Premier League, to celebrate its first victory at “Goodison” against its fellow countrymen after 14 whole years (October 17, 2010, 2-0 Everton with goals from Cahill and Arteta).

Branthwaite in the 27th minute and Calvert-Lewin (58′) in the second proved to be the executioners for Klopp’s side, with Sean Dyche’s side taking a massive hat-trick (second successive in the league after the 2-0 win over Nottingham ) and to embrace the stay in the big salons, at the same time cutting the hopes of her compatriot for the title.

It is worth noting that this was Jurgen Klopp’s first defeat at Goodison Park in his last appearance in a Merseyside derby, with Sean Dyche on the other hand able to boast of the fact that he has only become Everton’s second manager after Carlo Ancelotti celebrating victory in the city derby.

The match

The Merseyside derby took on a very fast pace in the early going and by the time the first 10 minutes were completed each team had flirted once with a goal.

First Everton, when the referee awarded a penalty when Calvert-Lewin was brought down by Alisson but overturned after VAR intervened (Ducoure was exposed early in the period) and then Liverpool, with Godfrey’s life-saving tackle inside from the small area in the direction of Salah.

The rest of the game saw the home side winning most of the 50-50 duels and threatening their opponents more, with Calvert-Lewin getting a warning in the 17th minute, his header saved from contact by Alisson, and the goal for the candies coming – rightfully so – ten minutes later.

This was done through stoppage time in the Reds’ box, with Klopp’s men scrambling to clear the ball out of their area and Branthwaite punishing them with a close range shot.

It took half an hour for Liverpool to wake up and get into the spirit of the match, with the visitors turning up the heat and coming close to equalizing three times through open play but falling to… the invincible Pickford.

In the 35th minute, the English keeper made a huge intervention in a unique four-four that Núñez had with him, in the 44th minute he said no to Diaz’s direct-dial place, while in the 45+5′ he also stopped Robertson’s shot, to send the candies with an advantage in the locker room ahead of the second part.

Jurgen Klopp didn’t want to make any changes at the start of the second half hoping that the starting XI would improve its performance, but nobody justified him, with Everton locking down the Reds’ attacking assets and “hitting” the misspellings in defense of her fellow citizen.

In the 57th minute, Alisson saved McNeill’s powerful shot from outside the area for a corner and from his execution it was 2-0, with Calvert-Lewin getting an almost unperturbed header at the far post to finish off the helpless Alisson.

The entry of Elliott and Edo were the first moves from the red bench, but the situation did not change dramatically and we reach the 69th minute for Liverpool’s first clean chance, Dias’ cross shot where the ball did not favor him and stopped at the left post of Pickford’s goal.

Somewhere in there, any hopes of the Reds for an epic upset ended, with Everton defending their lead perfectly and achieving a huge victory, which effectively keeps them in the Premier League and knocks out their compatriots from the battle of title.

EVERTON: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mikolenko (46′ Young), Harrison, Geig, Garner, McNeill, Ducoure, Calvert-Lewin
LIVERPOOL: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (84′ Gomez), Konate (64′ Kwanza), van Dijk, Robertson (84′ Tsimikas), Somboslay (63′ Edo), Jones (63′ Elliott), McAllister, Salah, Nunes, Zeus

The results of the 29th matchday

Burnley – Brentford 2-1 (10′ pen. Larsen, 62′ Fofana / 83 Ager)
Luton – Nottingham 1-1 (89′ Berry / 34′ Wood)
Fulham – Tottenham 3-0 (42′ 61′ Munith, 49′ Lukic)
West Ham – Aston Villa 1-1 (29′ Antonio / 79′ Zaniolo)
Arsenal – Chelsea 5-0 (4′ Trossard, 52′, 70′ White, 57′, 65′ Havertz)
Wolves – Bournemouth 0-1 (37′ Semino)
Crystal Palace – Newcastle 2-0 (55′ 88′ Mateta)
Manchester United – Sheffield United 4-2 (42′ Maguire, 61′ pen. 81′ Fernandes, 85′ Heilund / 35′ Bogle, 50′ Dias)
Everton – Liverpool 2-0 (27′ Branthwaite, 58′ Calvert-Lewin)
25/04 22:00 Brighton – Manchester City