Liverpool beat 10-man Everton 2-0 at Anfield thanks to a second half double from Mohamed Salah.
WATCH LIVERPOOL v EVERTON REPLAY
Ashley Young was sent off after picking up two yellow cards for two rash challenges but Everton remained resolute and it looked like they would hold on for a valuable point.
However, with 15 minutes to go a cross into the box hit the outstretched arm of Michael Keane and after VAR asked referee Craig Pawson to look at the pitch-side monitor, a penalty kick was awarded and Salah slammed home his sixth Premier League goal of the season.
There was a point of contention in the second half as Everton felt Ibrahima Konate should have picked up a second yellow and been sent off, but referee Pawson decided not to brandish a second yellow.
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Salah then finished off a counter led by substitute Darwin Nunez in stoppage time as he made it 2-0 and sealed the win.
With the win Liverpool have 20 points and momentarily went top of the Premier League table on goal difference. Everton remain on seven points but will take plenty of heart from that performance.
Liverpool get a little lucky
This was not vintage Liverpool but they got the job done. Ashley Young should have been sent off, no question at all, but Everton defended extremely well and were unlucky with the penalty kick awarded against them. It was a penalty but Michael Keane didn’t move his arm towards the ball. Liverpool labored, as they often do in the early games that Jurgen Klopp so despises, but they eventually prevailed but Everton were not happy with Liverpool not going down to 10 men. Rightly so. Konate should have received a second yellow card for a foul on Beto, he was away and running towards goal one on one, but he didn’t. Everton wanted consistency. They didn’t get it. Sean Dyche was fuming and rightly so as the no red card decision was a pivotal moment in the game. Liverpool were lucky not to go down to 10 men and even things out and if that would have happened, Everton would have probably held on for a point.
Liverpool vs Everton player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com, you can see Liverpool’s attacking players struggled but Everton’s defenders stood tall and impressed.
What’s next?
Liverpool host Toulouse in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, Oct. 26. Then then host Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Oct. 29. Everton
How to watch Liverpool vs Everton live, stream link, start time
Kick off: 7:30am ET, Saturday (Nov. 21)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch online via NBCSports.com
GOALLL! Liverpool 2-0 Everton - Mohamed Salah, 97th minute
That is that. Nunez races clear on the counter and finds Salah who slots home. Game. Set. Match.
Penalty kick + GOAL to Liverpool! - Mohamed Salah, 75th minute
VAR asks the ref to go to the monitor and he gives it. Keane with the handball. Salah slams home the spot kick. 1-0 to Liverpool and relief at Anfield. That is harsh on Everton.
Everton standing firm
A couple of brilliant blocks from Everton with Tarkowski denying Salah. They will need a lot more defending like that if they’re going to hold on for at least a point. Konate is also lucky to not have picked up a second yellow after his yellow earlier in the second half.
Half time - Liverpool 0-0 Everton
Young being sent off for two yellow cards is the major talking point from the first half. He made two rash challenges and can have no complaints. But before that Everton were playing pretty well and had frustrated Liverpool. We will surely see all-out attack from Liverpool in the second half but they have to be careful not to leave themselves vulnerable on the counter.
Ashley Young sent off for Everton!
Red card for Ashley Young! Two yellow cards for Young, the second for a cynical swipe at Luis Diaz, and Everton are down to 10 men about 10 minutes before half time. Nightmare for Everton, while this is a great opportunity for Liverpool. Can they strike before the break? Everton did go close as McNeil had a shot tipped over. Surely the Toffees won’t win this, right?
Everton will be very happy with the first 30 minutes
Dyche looks very happy on the sidelines, and rightly so. Liverpool have struggled to get going in this first half and Everton look a threat on the counter. They’re doing really well and snapping into tackles just when Liverpool play in to their central midfielders.
Everton are enticing Liverpool to play in to their central midfielders and then snapping into tackles and providing pressure at the perfect moments. Causing a lot of problems for #LFC in the build up phase. Sean Dyche will be very happy with this first 30 minutes from #EFC.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) October 21, 2023
Lively start!
At one end Everton have a chance after McNeil whips in a great cross but Calvert-Lewin heads straight at Alisson, while at the other Liverpool’s midfielders are buzzing around and create a chance for Salah, but the offside flag is up. This bodes well...
Liverpool lineup
As expected, Kostas Tsimikas comes in at left back for the injured Andy Robertson. Ryan Gravenberch is handed his first Premier League start as he will add more defensive balance in midfield. Salah, Jota and Diaz start in attack.
Everton lineup
Sean Dyche has named an unchanged team from before the international break with Harrison, Garner, Doucoure and McNeil supporting Calvert-Lewin.
Focus on Liverpool, injury news
The Reds have found their form in attack but the balance still isn’t quite right in midfield. Still, Dominik Szoboszlai is having a fine start to life at Liverpool as the Hungarian playmaker has oozed class from central midfield. Alexis Mac Allister has taken a little more time to slot in but playing in a deeper role has more to do with that than his quality. Injury wise, Klopp will be without Andy Robertson as he suffered a shoulder injury while on international duty with Scotland and Liverpool’s star left back will be out for quite some time as he is set for surgery. Thiago Alcantara and Caoimhin Kelleher remain out with injuries, while Curtis Jones is still suspended after his red card at Tottenham.
OUT: Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Curtis Jones (suspension), Thiago Alcantara (groin), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Caoimhin Kelleher (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Cody Gakpo (knee)
Focus on Everton, injury news
Everton have looked solid in recent weeks with James Garner and Abdoulaye Doucoure providing plenty of support for Dominic Calvert-Lewin up top with their driving midfield runs. Dyche’s injury woes have calmed down as Dele Alli is the only player in the Toffees squad who will definitely miss out. Seamus Coleman and Andre Gomes are close to a return from respective knee and calf issues.
OUT: Seamus Coleman (knee), Dele Alli (groin) | QUESTIONABLE: Andre Gomes (calf)
