Published Oct 21, 2023
LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool needed two late goals by Mohamed Salah to get past 10-man Everton 2-0 in the Premier League in a Merseyside derby dominated by refereeing decisions on Saturday.
Ashley Young picked up what appeared to be a soft yellow card in the 18th minute then was sent off in the 37th for another foul on Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, handing the hosts a numerical advantage at Anfield.
That was the 23rd red card handed out in a Merseyside derby in the Premier League era — more than in any other fixture — and it could easily have been 24 when Ibrahima Konate, already on a yellow, avoided another after pulling back Everton striker Beto.
"Ibrahima could have gone, yes," Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said.
Konate was immediately substituted by Klopp, Everton manager Sean Dyche raged on the sidelines and he endured more frustration when Diaz's cross struck the outstretched right arm of substitute Michael Keane in the area.
Salah dispatched the penalty in front of The Kop in the 75th minute for his sixth league goal and added another following a counterattack the eighth minute of stoppage time as Liverpool claimed a sixth win in nine matches this campaign.
"I liked a lot of moments and then the red card was pretty influential in the game," Klopp said. "I wanted us to be calm and ignore that we were one man up. It is difficult in the stands because it's like now you have to create with each possession and it took a while until we got chances."
Dyche said he was stunned that Konate stayed on the field.
"It's the bizarre nature of the modern game," he said. "How they, at 0-0, have 11 men on the pitch, I don't think anyone in the stands knows why — their manager certainly didn't because he took the player off straightaway."
Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (6), Alexander-Arnold (6), Konate (5), Van Dijk (6), Tsimikas (5), Mac Allister (6), Gravenberch (7), Szoboszlai (8), Salah (8), Jota (7), Diaz (8).
Subs: Nunez (7), Elliott (7), Matip (6), Gomez (6).
Everton: Pickford (6), Young (3), Tarkowski (7), Branthwaite (6), Mykolenko (6), Garner (5), Onana (6), Harrison (5), Doucoure (6), McNeil (5), Calvert-Lewin (5).
Subs: Keane (5), Patterson (5), Beto (6), Danjuma (6), Chermiti (n/a).
Player of the match: Luis Diaz.
Team news
Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp made four changes to the team that drew at Brighton with one of them enforced as Kostas Tsimikas replaced Andy Robertson. The other three to come in were Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota.
Everton: Sean Dyche decided to stick with the team that beat Bournemouth at home last time out with Dominic Calvert-Lewin starting up front for the Toffees.
Player of the match: Luis Diaz
Salah's two goals were the difference between the teams but the player of the match was Diaz. It was his purposeful run that drew the foul by Young that even Klopp acknowledged changed the game and it was he whose cross led to the breakthrough penalty.
The key refereeing decisions may have gone in Liverpool's favour but Klopp was not a passive figure in this game - his decision to withdraw Kostas Tsimikas on the hour mark was the right one. The Greece left-back was finding space as Everton dropped deeper and deeper.
Asking the more skilful Diaz to use that space from a little deeper on the left was a brave call but it was a brilliant one as he was able to start his runs from slightly further back, soon exposing the Everton flank. Credit to Klopp and credit to the impressive Diaz.
What's next?
Liverpool are in Europa League action in midweek, hosting Toulouse on Thursday; kick-off 8pm.
Their next Premier League match is a trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday October 29; kick-off 2pm.
Meanwhile, Everton's next assignment is a Premier League clash with West Ham, also on Sunday October 29, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 1pm.
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