Everton win at Anfield for the first time since 1999

Everton produced an outstanding Merseyside derby performance to beat Liverpool at Anfield for the first time since 1999.

Everton finally rid themselves of their Anfield bogey with a brilliantly drilled performance in which goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Michael Keane were excellent, while Richarlison led the line tirelessly.

Richarlison put Everton in front after three minutes when he latched on to a superb pass from James Rodriguez to beat Allison.

Liverpool responded and Pickford saved well from Jordan Henderson, who went off injured in the first half, while Everton captain Seamus Coleman should have added to Richarlison’s strike only to head straight at Alisson from six yards.

Sadio Mane wasted two headed chances for Liverpool in the second half while Pickford saved superbly from Salah, leaving Everton to wrap up their first Anfield win in 24 attempts when substitute Gylfi Sigurdsson scored from the spot with seven minutes left after Dominic Calvert-Lewin tangled with Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti was all smiles at the final whistle but this was more abject Anfield misery for his Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp, as his team’s flimsy Premier League title defence crumbles.

Everton finally end the hoodoo

This Anfield means more than just three points for Everton. It means the end of a miserable sequence stretching back to 27 September, 1999 when Kevin Campbell gave Walter Smith’s side a 1-0 win.

Since then, Everton and their fans have endured unrelenting gloom when crossing Stanley Park – so it was no surprise this win was greeted with such joy by manager Ancelotti and his team.

This will be a huge psychological lift for Everton, who have now won eight of their past 12 away games and demonstrated here exactly why they are so good on their travels.

Ancelotti’s smart game plan worked to perfection as he achieved the feat that eluded David Moyes in 11 years in charge as well as his successors, Roberto Martinez, Ronaldo Koeman, Sam Allardyce and Marco Silva.

Everton struck early, then defended magnificently while always carrying a threat on the break, although it took heroics from keeper Pickford, the villain when Virgil van Dijk was injured in the derby at Goodison Park last October, in the vital moments to keep listless Liverpool at bay.

Keane and Ben Godfrey were faultless in defence and once they had blunted Liverpool, Ancelotti’s Everton added the second goal that ended the contest.

Ancelotti beamed as he embraced his players on the Anfield turf after the final whistle – and no-one can begrudge them their deserved celebrations.

Liverpool hit a new low

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gathered his players in a huddle at the start of the second half to try to galvanise a title defence that has fallen apart – and rescue a league season that is now about finding a way into the top four.

Klopp’s frustrated body language on the touchline as Everton went ahead and then defended with calm organisation and resilience, while still posing a threat, was symbolic of a Liverpool team who have lost their way.

If it was intended to inspire, it did not work as Liverpool failed to breach Everton and were beaten at Anfield once again.

It is almost unfathomable how Liverpool have declined to such an extent that after Burnley ended a 68-game unbeaten league run at Anfield, three more teams – Brighton, Manchester City and now Everton – have all arrived and gone home with the points.

And to make matters worse, Henderson appears to be facing a lengthy lay-off with an injury that forced Klopp to employ his 18th central defensive pairing of the season in Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips.

Liverpool impressed with a 2-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig in Budapest last Tuesday, as they did in away victories at Tottenham and West Ham in late January, but at Anfield they looked lost and for all their possession Everton were never truly shaken out of their stride.

Klopp’s side are now in sixth place, three points off the top four, with Everton level on points in seventh but having played a game fewer.

This is as close to a crisis that Klopp has had to deal with since becoming Liverpool manager and it will hurt even more that arch-rivals Everton have inflicted the latest blow. – bbc.com