Forgotten man Divock Origi seals Merseyside derby for Liverpool

Liverpool 1 : 0 Everton

A dreadful error from Jordan Pickford allowed Divock Origi to score a dramatic injury-time winner as Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 at Anfield in an intriguing Merseyside derby. Manchester City had laid down the challenge the day before when they dispatched Bournemouth.

It was the 100th clash between the pair at Anfield. The last time Everton won at Liverpool’s home was in 1999. Kevin Campbell scored the only goal on that day in a game which saw three red cards.

The match was played at a fantastic pace with both sides having several clear cut opportunities to break the deadlock.

Everton fashioned the first chance when Yerry Mina got on the end of a Lucas Digne free-kick but the towering Colombian centre-back headed well wide when he really should have scored.

Liverpool responded with a chance of their own courtesy of Sadio Mane, who was superb throughout. Mohamed Salah clipped a delightful ball over the top of Mina but Mane’s volley flew well over the crossbar.

The sides exchanged chances – both clear and half – with Richarlison and Walcott having opportunities for the visitors while Roberto Firmino, Salah and Mane all had chances for the home side.

A win for the hosts would see them stay of the coattails of Manchester City at the summit of the table. Everton could not move any further up the table with a victory but would pull three points clear of Manchester United in seventh.

Reds winger Xherdan Shaqiri wasted a huge opportunity when the Swiss forward hesitated inside the box allowing Pickford to rush out and close down the shooting angle. Shaqiri perhaps uncomfortable taking on the shot with his less favoured right foot.

Up at the other end  the excellent Andre Gomes almost gave Marco Silva’s side the advantage but was denied by a great point blank save from Allisson. It was the Barcelona loanee who started the move when he drove at the heart of the Liverpool defence before laying the ball off to Digne.

Sadio Mane was Liverpool’s best player in an entertaining Merseyside derby (photo credit: Premier League).

His clipped cross found Theo Walcott at the far post and the England winger cushioned a header back into the path of the Portuguese whose effort was saved by the Liverpool shot-stopper.

The second half picked up from where the first left off. Salah curled a wicked effort just wide while Mane was again presented with another golden opportunity to open the scoring. The Senegal international lashed wide after Firmino flicked a ball round the corner for him to chase. Michael Keane misjudged the ball allowing Mane to ghost in but the eventual shot was off target.

Jurgen Klopp’s men continued to press with Mane at the heart of everything good about the home side’s attack. Yet Everton remained dangerous without creating anything clear cut. Richarlison, Walcott and Brazilian Bernard all caused the Reds back four some discomfort but could not test Allisson.

Silva introduced Ademola Lookman just after the hour in a bid find a way through what had been a stingy Liverpool defence.

As the game ticked into its final ten minutes, both teams became more considered with their approach wary that a late goal either way would have been damaging, particularly for the hosts who could ill afford to fall further behind Pep Guardiola’s men.

Firmino streaked away on a counter attack after Everton were caught high up the pitch following a free-kick but the Brazilian front man dragged his shot wide.

It was the hosts who pushed harder for the winner. A flurry of corners bombarded Everton in the final stages. Substitute Divock Origi rattled the crossbar from two yards out. Unable to sort out his feet, the forgotten Belgian forward would not add his name to the long list of derby day heroes just yet.

Deep into the fifth minute of added time Trent Alexander-Arnold sent in a hopeful long ball. The ball pinballed around in the penalty area and a looping  van Dijk effort just needed Pickford to see the ball out.

Instead England’s number one tipped the ball back in play off the crossbar and Origi nodded home from a yard out to emphatically work his way back into Klopp’s thoughts and fans’ hearts.

Klopp ran onto the pitch to celebrate and that may incur the displeasure of the authorities but it’d doubtful that will be at the forefront of his thoughts tonight.