A shameless cynical game-plan from the Jose Mourinho playbook adopted by the Everton boss Frank Lampard and instilled into his relegation-threatened team may have frustrated Liverpool in the first half – absurd simulation, time-wasting, feigning injury – but, fortunately, for the integrity of football, it couldn’t be sustained into the second half and Jurgen Klopp’s men secured a 2-0 victory to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the league, only a point behind with five matches each left to play.
Still, it took a bold double substitution from the Liverpool gaffer on 60 minutes – not the first time this season that Klopp has made changes relatively early in the game to clinical effect – bringing on the sparsely-used Divock Origi for Sadio Mané and Luis Diaz for Naby Keita – to decisively turn the scrap in the Reds’ favour.
Within two minutes of the changes, Mo Salah played a clever one-two with Origi in the Everton box before the Egyptian king clipped the ball to the far post, just over Diogo Jota but right onto the head of the onrushing Andy Roberston – Liverpool’s man of the match and player of the season – who bulleted the ball into the back of the net.
Apart from a shot outside of the area from Demarai Gray that whistled past the post, a good run to the byline from Dele Alli, whose cross was superbly intercepted from the retreating and ever-alert Robertson, and another Anthony Gordon dive in the box (the Everton striker was booked for a similar piece of theatricality in the first half), Everton didn’t look like or deserve to get themselves back into the game.
Nevertheless, these nervy moments for Liverpool were only allayed in the 85th minute when another chip to the far post, this time from Jordan Henderson, a sub for Jota, was met acrobatically from the hugely impressive Diaz and his scissors kick bounced into the path of Origi four yards out and he firmly met the ball with his forehead and lodged it into the top of the net.
Another vital and iconic goal for Origi, who it seems will leave for Inter Milan on a free in the summer, but will end his Anfield career as a fans’ favourite, a cult hero, an all-time Liverpool great.
Next up for Liverpool, in what will be two games a week until the end of the season, is the Champions League semi-final first leg tie on Wednesday against Villarreal.
Annoyingly for Klopp – who failed to get the timing of the match changed – Liverpool will then face in-form Newcastle away Saturday lunchtime.
It will be remarkable if Liverpool manage to claim a victory against the transformed Magpies, but a victory is what they will need if they are not to give any advantage to Manchester City, who easily overcame Watford 5-1 yesterday and play another weak opponent in Leeds after Liverpool’s game.
The quadruple remains on for Liverpool but it is the tallest of orders.
Realistically, the Reds’ best chances to add to the League Cup is in the other cup competitions they remain active in – the FA Cup (where they play Chelsea in the final) and the Champions League (where a final against Manchester City is likely).
The Premier League title to all intents and purposes requires not only that Liverpool win all their remaining fixtures but that Man City slip up.
It’s not impossible, but the Blues’ run-in is far more straightforward than Liverpool’s and Pep Guadiola’s side’s ability to steamroller weaker teams is undiminished.
Still, it took a bold double substitution from the Liverpool gaffer on 60 minutes – not the first time this season that Klopp has made changes relatively early in the game to clinical effect – bringing on the sparsely-used Divock Origi for Sadio Mané and Luis Diaz for Naby Keita – to decisively turn the scrap in the Reds’ favour.
Within two minutes of the changes, Mo Salah played a clever one-two with Origi in the Everton box before the Egyptian king clipped the ball to the far post, just over Diogo Jota but right onto the head of the onrushing Andy Roberston – Liverpool’s man of the match and player of the season – who bulleted the ball into the back of the net.
Apart from a shot outside of the area from Demarai Gray that whistled past the post, a good run to the byline from Dele Alli, whose cross was superbly intercepted from the retreating and ever-alert Robertson, and another Anthony Gordon dive in the box (the Everton striker was booked for a similar piece of theatricality in the first half), Everton didn’t look like or deserve to get themselves back into the game.
Nevertheless, these nervy moments for Liverpool were only allayed in the 85th minute when another chip to the far post, this time from Jordan Henderson, a sub for Jota, was met acrobatically from the hugely impressive Diaz and his scissors kick bounced into the path of Origi four yards out and he firmly met the ball with his forehead and lodged it into the top of the net.
Another vital and iconic goal for Origi, who it seems will leave for Inter Milan on a free in the summer, but will end his Anfield career as a fans’ favourite, a cult hero, an all-time Liverpool great.
Next up for Liverpool, in what will be two games a week until the end of the season, is the Champions League semi-final first leg tie on Wednesday against Villarreal.
Annoyingly for Klopp – who failed to get the timing of the match changed – Liverpool will then face in-form Newcastle away Saturday lunchtime.
It will be remarkable if Liverpool manage to claim a victory against the transformed Magpies, but a victory is what they will need if they are not to give any advantage to Manchester City, who easily overcame Watford 5-1 yesterday and play another weak opponent in Leeds after Liverpool’s game.
The quadruple remains on for Liverpool but it is the tallest of orders.
Realistically, the Reds’ best chances to add to the League Cup is in the other cup competitions they remain active in – the FA Cup (where they play Chelsea in the final) and the Champions League (where a final against Manchester City is likely).
The Premier League title to all intents and purposes requires not only that Liverpool win all their remaining fixtures but that Man City slip up.
It’s not impossible, but the Blues’ run-in is far more straightforward than Liverpool’s and Pep Guadiola’s side’s ability to steamroller weaker teams is undiminished.
