Everton added insult to injury as they took advantage of their shaken-up Merseyside rivals, to secure their first win at Liverpool in 22 years.
An early goal from Richarlison gave the visitors a promising third-minute lead, before a controversial penalty awarded to the Toffees with 10 minutes left was converted by Gylfi Sigurdsson to secure the three points.
Everton had not beaten their city rivals in any Merseyside derby prior to this match since 2010 and had not won at Anfield since September 1999.
With Liverpool winless in their previous five games at home, the time was now for the Evertonians to win and they spared no time in capitalising upon their poor form.
After just three minutes a through ball from James Rodriguez unleashed Richarlison into the box, who went past Liverpool’s recent Bundesliga import Ozan Kabak and finished neatly past fellow Brazilian Alisson Becker.
Everton dominated the first half, though Liverpool were not without their own chances as long-range efforts from Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold forced Jordan Pickford to extend to his fullest in order to tip them wide.
Unfortunately for the Reds however, their most significant moment of the first 45 was right around the corner as captain Jordan Henderson suffered an apparent hamstring injury when he fought to keep the ball away from Abdoulaye Doucoure.
Despite efforts to play on Henderson was shortly replaced by Nathaniel Phillips – who alongside Kabak formed Liverpool’s 18th centre back pairing of the season.
Liverpool saw some progress in the second half, switching to a 4-4-2 with a strike partnership of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. However, despite the abundance of opportunities for Liverpool, and their dominance of the possession, the shots did not fall with efforts from Firmino hitting Row Z.
Their best chance of the half came soon after as Mohamed Salah was played in by Xherdan Shaqiri, but Pickford continued to put on a stellar display – coming off his line to meet the Egyptian and denying yet another effort.
Liverpool began showing their desperation late on as Mane picked up a caution, while both he and Salah attempted to draw penalties.
However, the only spot-kick to be awarded by referee Chris Kavanagh was up the other end of the pitch.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who started the game on the bench, competed in a foot race with Alexander-Arnold before receiving the ball from Richarlison in the area. While Becker saw to the shot, a controversial penalty was awarded to Everton as Alexander-Arnold appeared to trip Everton up leading goalscorer.
After a VAR review, the ruling was upheld, and Sigurdsson tucked the ball out of Becker’s reach to secure the win for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
With the win over their rivals, Everton are now level on 40 points with Jurgen Klopp’s side in the table – only below them on goal difference as they sit seventh but have a game in hand. Both teams are currently three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, in the final Champions League qualifying spot, and Everton have a game in hand on them.
The Toffees’ upcoming fixtures sees them face Southampton at Goodison Park before trips to West Brom and Chelsea – which bodes well for them, as they are now unbeaten away from home in eight consecutive games.
As for Liverpool, they face further issues. They take on Sheffield United away, before welcoming Chelsea and Fulham. It means they must overcome their issues at home, as well as their record against bottom three clubs, if they are to pick up maximum points to aid in their fight for Champions league football next season.
