Andrew Robertson and Divock Origi score to keep Liverpool's title contention strong
As a result of a 2-0 victory at home to Everton in a fiery Merseyside derby, Liverpool moved one point behind leaders Manchester City. In the first half, Everton adopted a defensive approach and did an excellent job keeping Liverpool at bay. But in the second half, Liverpool stepped up their game.
Liverpool's Andrew Robertson (right) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with team-mate Luis Diaz during the Premier League match at Anfield, LiverpoolAfter a tense first half, Andy Robertson's header gave Liverpool the breakthrough, and Divock Origi's close-range header secured the victory for the reds in the Merseyside derby.
Divock Origi and Luis Diaz change Liverpool's fate
Jurgen Klopp has found Liverpool's increased squad depth extremely helpful in recent times, and it was the case again today.
The title-chasers were far from successful in the first half as Everton's resistance lasted over an hour, and Sadio mane was fortunate to remain on the pitch after a first-half altercation.
Everton was an oppressive force in the match, with Jordan Pickford taking his sweet time on every kick. The delaying tactics seemed to be causing a stir among the home players and fans.
Richarlison suffered minor injuries three times. Anthony Gordon was charged for taking a tumble, and Abdoulaye Doucouré was booked for a late tackle.
Although Liverpool increased the pace in the second period, there were still gaps. Anthony Gordon appealed for a penalty after tangling with Joel Matip and then dragging another shot wide. However, to no avail.
Just after the hour mark, Klopp made a change to his bench and brought in Luis Diaz and Divock Origi. This was the breakthrough that changed the pace of the match.
Origi's lay-off to Mohamed Salah allowed the Egyptian player to cross to the far post. Andrew Robertson was on the spot and was able to score Liverpool's first goal.
Origi scored the second goal himself, as he headed in to score the goal after Diaz's overhead kick. Jurgen Klopp's team has now won 12 consecutive Premier League home wins thanks to Origi, who seemed to be tormenting Everton with his sixth derby goal.
The day ended with local rivals separated at 50 points. Liverpool had 82.7% possession, which was the second-highest total in any game.
Frank Lampard says Everton denied a penalty
Under what appeared to be a push from Joël Matip, Gordon went down in the Liverpool penalty area in the 53rd minute. Stuart Attwell, the referee, who had booked Gordon for diving in the first half, did not award a spot-kick or a second yellow card for the push.
Frank Lampard, who has lost all 7 of his matches as Everton's manager, believed it was a penalty. He then compared their situation with Liverpool and stressed that if it were Mo Salah on the other end, the referee would have given him a penalty.
Lampard then clarified that he was not trying to create a conflict but repeated that it was a penalty after a clear foul.
Due to Burnley's win earlier in the afternoon, Everton is now two points from safety. Everton slipped into the relegation zone for the first time since December 2019, following a 2-0 defeat.
They narrowed Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League chart to just one point. Jürgen Klopp's squad is set to play against Villareal in the first leg of a Champions League semifinal match at Anfield