Liverpool vs Everton. Premier League.
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Report and highlights as Mohamed Salah's goals won the Merseyside derby for Liverpool against Everton at Anfield; Ashley Young was sent off for the away side, while Ibrahima Konate was fortunate to escape the same punishment for the Reds
Saturday 21 October 2023 23:21, UK
Mohamed Salah scored two late goals to help Liverpool to a 2-0 win over Everton, who saw Ashley Young sent off in a controversial Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Ashley Young's red card for two bookable offences inside the first half left Sean Dyche's side up against it and Liverpool finally found the breakthrough goal in the 74th minute when Salah converted from the spot following Michael Keane's handball.
The Egyptian's second in stoppage time better reflected Liverpool's dominance but it was tough on Everton given the resolve that they showed, particularly once down to 10. They could point to a debatable moment just before the goal when Ibrahima Konate was fortunate to escape a red card.
Dyche was booked for his complaints, the only comfort being the way that his team battled against the odds. For Klopp, this hard-fought victory ends a run of two games without a win.
Although Liverpool controlled possession throughout, their best opportunities in the first half came on the counter-attack. Their speed on transition when Everton had committed bodies forward for their own attacking set plays looked particularly threatening.
The contrast in pace was never more obvious than when the ball gravitated towards the 38-year-old Young. The veteran could have been spared a caution for his first offence but diving in on Luis Diaz late in the half was a rash move that warranted the second yellow.
It put increased pressure on an Everton team trying to win back-to-back away games in the Premier League for the first time since Carlo Ancelotti was in charge and after making it to the half-time interval, dogged resistance was the focus in trying to cling to a point.
Dyche removed both wingers and opted for a 5-3-1 formation that succeeded in frustrating Liverpool early in the second period as the game played out within 40 yards of Jordan Pickford's goal. James Tarkowski's brave block denied Salah. Liverpool probed.
Controversy came when Konate, having already been booked for preventing one counter-attack, was adjudged to have fouled Beto on another break. Craig Pawson kept the yellow card in his pocket this time, leaving Everton supporters, and their manager, fuming.
Klopp, having already removed his left-back in an attacking move, substituted Konate for Joel Matip immediately, recognising the defender had been fortunate. The decisive moment came soon after - as a result of the superb Diaz now operating as an auxiliary left-back.
The Colombia forward had almost won a penalty seconds before following a challenge by Nathan Patterson but there was little debate about the award of the spot-kick when Keane blocked the winger's cross with his outstretched arm. Salah beat Pickford in front of the Kop.
There was a surprisingly nervy finale once the board went up to show nine minutes of added time given how little Everton had offered in attack - their best chance coming for Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the very first minute. But when the second goal came, it was Salah's again.
Darwin Nunez ran through and had the presence of mind to pick out his team-mate who slotted home his second of the game and seventh Premier League goal of the season. Emphatic in the end. One-sided throughout. But another typically feisty Merseyside derby.
"How they didn't have [a red card] is an impossibility of football," Dyche said to beIN Sport after the game, referring to Liverpool defender Konate not being given a second yellow card for bringing down Beto just minutes after he had been booked.
"I don't think it's rocket science today. The fact their manager took off their centre-back straight away afterwards was a clear sign of what he thought. Everybody in the stadium and at home thought the same thing. But the people who count didn't think that.
"It was a bizarre game for officiating the game, it was very bizarre."
While watching the Konate incident on Soccer Saturday, former Premier League referee Mike Dean said: "I think it's a second yellow, for consistency. You have sent off a player for two fouls in the first half. He has done two in 10 minutes."
Dyche later said in his press conference: "I have seen the footage and within a second he is saying, 'No chance.' He did not even give himself thinking time. If he gives himself 10 seconds, I bet he gives a yellow. Especially in the modern game. It is just bizarre to me."
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Klopp added: "When he didn't get the yellow I took him off. I can understand the frustration of Sean in this moment, absolutely."
The Liverpool boss is not convinced it would have changed the result. "We were the better side. Would we have won? I don't know but it is not like we wouldn't have had a chance to win the game. It was 2-0 and we deserved the three points, I think there is no doubt."
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.
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.
