Football

Liverpool 2-0 Everton player ratings: Reds win the derby following refereeing controversy

October 21, 2023 2:34 pm

Liverpool have temporarily moved to the top of the Premier League table after defeating Everton at Anfield to extend their head-to-head dominance over their local rivals. A penalty from Mo Salah with 15 minutes to go at Anfield was enough to secure the victory in what was a game once again marred by refereeing decisions.

The first half was a fairly even affair with both teams having openings throughout. However, as the half was drawing to a close, the game was flipped on its head when Ashley Young was sent off for the visitors. The experienced fullback fouled Luis Diaz on the edge of the Everton box which earned him his second booking of the match.

Sean Dyche made changes at half time which resulted in Everton moving to a 5-3-1 formation to try and cling on to the 0-0 draw and they did well for the most part. However, with 15 minutes to go the ball struck Michael Keane in the Everton which gave Liverpool a golden chance to win the game from the penalty spot.

Salah finished the penalty calmly and then added a second on the counterattack in the dying minutes. Jurgen Klopp went home happy while Sean Dyche was left reeling after Craig Pawson failed to send Ibrahima Konate off in the second half for a second bookable offence.

alexis mac allister
Photo by Icon sport

Liverpool 2-0 Everton player ratings

Match timeline

1′ – A whipped delivery from Dwight McNeil is met by Dominic Calvert-Lewin who heads the ball straight at Alisson.

13′ – Luis Diaz appears to be one-on-one with Pickford but a last-ditch tackle from Ashley Young denies Liverpool the lead.

18′ – Ashley Young is booked for a late challenge on Luis Diaz.

34′ – Alexis Mac Allister hits a rocket from distance but it goes straight at Jordan Pickford.

37′ – Ashley young is sent off for a second bookable offence after bringing down Diaz.

45′ – Dominik Szobszlai has an effort from distance that grazes the crossbar.

65′ – Ibrahima Konate escapes a second booking after bringing down Beto on the halfway line.

75′ – GOAL: Liverpool take the lead thanks to a Mo Salah penalty after a Luis Diaz cross hit Michael Kean on the arm.

88′- Harvey Elliott sends a wicked effort from distance towards the top corner but Pickford pulls off a stunning save to deny him.

90+8′ – GOAL: Mo Salah scores his second goal of the game.

Star man – Alexis Mac Allister – 8/10

Alexis Mac Allister has had an up-and-down start to life at Liverpool but he put in his best performance in a red shirt on Saturday in the middle of the park. The Argentinian kept things moving in the middle of the park with quick, precise passing and also offered some bite in the tackle.

In the second half, when Liverpool were up against ten men, Mac Allister ensured they didn’t panic or rush things which helped the Reds to sustain pressure on the Everton box. If he can keep this level up, then Liverpool will be more than happy about the money they spent on him.

Liverpool player ratings

Alisson 7/10 – Dealt with everything with ease and was a passenger in the second half.

Trent Alexander-Arnold 7/10 – Enjoyed himself high up the pitch.

Ibrahima Konate – 6/10 – Lucky to escape a red card.

Virgil van Dijk – 7/10 – A dominant display at the back.

Kostas Tsmikas 5/10 – Lacked quality with his delivery.

Alexis Mac Allister 8/10 – Kept things moving in midfield and his passing was pinpoint.

Dominik Szoboszlai 6/10 – A quiet game from the Hungarian.

Ryan Gravenberch 5/10 – Sloppy in possession and was the first man to be taken off.

Mo Salah 7/10 – Took his goals well but aside from that, he was frustrating.

Diogo Jota 5/10 – Had a few sniffs but his final decision was lacking.

Luis Diaz 7/10 – Got Ashley Young sent off and put in the ball that resulted in the penalty.

Substitutes

Darwin Nunez 6/10 – Assisted Salah late on.

Harvey Elliott 7/10 – Added more intent and purpose into Liverpool’s attacking.

Joel Matip 6/10 – Slotted in comfortably.

Joe Gomez N/A

Everton Player Ratings

Jordan Pickford 7/10 – Made some good saves and high claims.

Ashley Young 4/10 – Was naive to get sent off in the way he was.

James Tarkowski 7/10 – Made some huge blocks and was unlucky to be on the losing side.

Jarrad Branthwaite 6/10 – Did okay but was caught a few times.

Vitali Mykolenko 7/10 – Had Salah in his pocket for the most part.

Amadou Onana 7/10 – Did well in midfield and made some good recovery takcles.

James Garner 5/10 – Sloppy and slow in possession.

Abdoulaye Doucoure 7/10 – Bullied Liverpool at time and would have been a handful if the game had stayed at 11v11.

Jack Harrison 5/10 – Wasteful in the first half and was taken off at the break.

Dwight McNeil 6/10 – Put in a few decent deliveries.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin  4/10 – A nothing performance from the big man.

Substitutes

Michael Keane 5/10 – Conceded the penalty.

Nathan Patterson 5/10 – Was run ragged by Diaz.

Beto 6/10 – Was more of a threat than Calvert-Lewin.

Arnaut Danjuma N/A

Chermiti N/A

Liverpool 2-0 Everton player ratings
Photo by Icon sport

Liverpool 1-0 Everton player ratings: The final word

While Sean Dyche can have no complaints about Ashley Young’s sending off, he can be rightfully furious with Craig Pawson’s decision to keep Ibrahima Konate on the pitch when he too made a couple of clear yellow card-worthy challenges. Regardless, Liverpool take home the three points and can now sit back and watch how the other teams around them get on this weekend.

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