Ryan Gravenberch scored and set up another as Liverpool rode first-half attack and second-half defending to a 2-1 win over Everton in a Merseyside derby at Anfield early Saturday.
WATCH — Liverpool v Everton full match replay
The Reds navigate a Champions League midweek to improve their perfect record to 5-0-0, while Everton slips to 2-1-2 after their second loss of the season.
MORE — Arne Slot reaction
Hugo Ekitike’s third goal of the Premier League season proved the deciding goal after Idrissa Gana Gueye scored to deliver a tense ending for Arne Slot’s unbeaten leaders.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool: The perfect imperfect and selection headaches
It’s possible that Everton boss David Moyes was a little slow to make the changes that allowed the Toffees back into this game, but the way the Reds seized control in the first half was a real show of power. Florian Wirtz was fantastic at midweek against Atletico Madrid and Alexander Isak is one of the top players in the world but Slot chose neither to start the game and the team was a powerhouse. The midfield was strong enough that Wirtz’s eventual entry was at left wing for Cody Gakpo instead of as an attacking midfielder. Hugo Ekitike’s goal was very good, and his three in five matches will put a pressure on Isak to unseat the Frenchman or Slot to find a way to play both players. Liverpool are a perfect 5-0-0 but we’ve yet to see them look excellent over 90 minutes, as 2-0 leads have not been safe on multiple occasions. There’s a looming question at right back beyond Jeremie Frimpong, as Conor Bradley’s yet to find his form, but the Reds are powerful.
What’s next?
Everton go to Wolves on Tuesday in the League Cup, then host West Ham United at 3pm ET Monday, September 29.
Liverpool’s League Cup third-round date is also Tuesday, home to Southampton. They’ll then put their unbeaten PL record on the line at Crystal Palace for a 10am Saturday kickoff.
How to watch Liverpool vs Everton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Friday
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Stream online via NBC.com
Liverpool vs Everton final score: 2-1
Ryan Gravenberch 10', Hugo Ekitike 29', Idrissa Gana Gueye 58'
Liverpool vs Everton live updates
Full time — Liverpool 2-1 Everton
Toffees keep pushing
This doesn’t look set to be a comfortable ending for Liverpool.
Everton send in attackers
Ex-Southampton men Carlos ‘Charly’ Alcaraz and Tyler Dibling take the places of Ndiaye and Vitaliy Mykolenko.
Into the 86th minute.
Isak joins the fray
Out goes Ekitike, in comes Isak. Not a bad luxury if you have it.
2-1 Liverpool in the 67th minute.
Liverpool subs
Mac Allister and Gakpo exit in favor of Curtis Jones and Florian Wirtz, who will begin his shift at left wing.
Idrissa Gana Gueye goal — Liverpool 2-1 Everton
The Toffees strike back!
Jack Grealish beats Conor Bradley and swings a cross to the back post. Milos Kerkez is pre-occupied by Barry and falls, giving Ndiaye a good view of the box.
The Senegalese lays it back for Idrissa Gana Gueye, who smashes home in the 58th minute.
Everton sub
Thierno Barry enters the game in place of Beto, who had been a bit cumbersome up top.
Halftime — Liverpool 2-0 Everton
We supposed Everton will have hope in a bright-enough end to the half as well as Liverpool’s poor record with the lead this season but it’s fairly-grim viewing for the blue part of Merseyside even after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall cued up a stoppage-time chance for Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Liverpool held about 60% of the ball and are enjoying advantages in shot attempts (6-5), shots on target (2-1), and expected goals (0.73-0.35).
Oh, and there’s about a bajillion dollars of attackers on Liverpool’s bench.
James Tarkowski tangles with Virgil van Dijk
The Liverpool captain is taking some jabs at the Everton back prior to a long throw effort and referee Darren England wants to have a word.
Tarkowski takes a swipe at Van Dijk after Alisson gets the ball. Van Dijk celebrates his side’s success with a wagging tongue.
The play with get some praise from Moyes, who has seen his side on the losing end of the physical battle.
Alisson error
Milos Kerkez is unable to corral the Brazil goalkeeper’s outlet pass and Ndiaye is past him on the right.
Ndiaye’s cross goes central but is imperfect and Beto is a storm of limbs as the ball rockets out of play.
Reds lead 2-0 into the 38th minute.
Hugo Ekitike goal — Liverpool 2-0 Everton
Isak who?
The Frenchman has run onto a pretty pass from Gravenberch and nutmegged Pickford.
At this point, David Moyes may just want to skip Anfield on the fixture list.
Toffees alive
James Garner and Jack Grealish move the ball up the left, the latter cueing up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for an acute-angled shot that can’t find the goal.
A nice moment for Everton in a half which has otherwise been under duress.
1-0 Liverpool into the 28th minute.
One-way traffic
The very early minutes were bright for David Moyes’ men but Liverpool quickly asserted control prior to the goal.
The Reds are moving the ball like a well-oiled machine and a second goal feels inevitable as Pickford tries to take some cool the fire with a delayed restart in the 20th minute.
Ryan Gravenberch goal — Liverpool 1-0 Everton
Everton will be fuming after Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye both appealed for fouls moments before the Reds take the lead.
Mohamed Salah’s passes traces the head of Michael Keane and Ryan Gravenberch is in front of James Tarkowski to volley over Jordan Pickford.
Underway (with neither Florian Wirtz nor Alexander Isak)
A lot of money left on the bench after Liverpool’s midweek UEFA Champions League match, as English record signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak wait for their introductions to the Merseyside derby. Alexis Mac Allister and Hugo Ekitike start,
Liverpool lineup
Alisson, Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konate, Bradley, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Salah, Ekitike
Everton lineup
Pickford, Mykolenko, Keane, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Garner, Gana Gueye, Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Beto
Liverpool vs Everton preview
Liverpool are top of the Premier League through four matches and they’ve taken their late heroics to the continent where the Reds scored in stoppage time to shock Atletico Madrid 3-2 in their UEFA Champions League season opener on Wednesday.
Is the fact that Liverpool have needed late drama in all five of their matches a problem? Time will tell, but it’s definitely excellent and a sign of their belief that they’ve won all five of those matches.
Everton had a long dry spell in this derby but things have been much better over the last 17 months. The Toffees are 1-1-1 against Liverpool after a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park and a 1-0 loss at Anfield last season. Everton ended a six-match wait for a win prior to that when they got goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Goodison on April 24, 2024.
David Moyes’ Toffees are on a four-match unbeaten run that includes three wins and a Week 4 draw with Aston Villa. Everton haven’t lost since Week 1 at Leeds United, as the duo of Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye has been fantastic for the upwardly-mobile Toffees.
Liverpool team news, focus
There are no known injury issues for Liverpool.
Everton team news, focus
QUESTIONABLE: Vitalii Mykolenko (unspecified), Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring)
Liverpool vs Everton prediction
There’s no reason to think this game won’t be tight given both the derby stakes and Liverpool’s taxing midweek versus Atleti. We’re not going to wager that the Reds walk into Anfield and pick up their first loss but it’s reasonable to suggest the Toffees are up for something. Liverpool 1-1 Everton.
