First half goals from Gravenberch and new signing Hugo Etikite were enough to seal the win for Liverpool in the 247th Merseyside derby. It was a Liverpool game from the get go as the Reds pushed Everton round the pitch.
Salah’s through ball, though difficult was met by Gravenberch’s karate move at the right side of the box. The ball went beyond Pickford’s stretch for the first goal of the game. Six minutes from the goal, it was Mo Salah ready to pounce on what seemed like an open goal but his effort missed the top left corner but Liverpool weren’t done at this point. They came close to doubling their lead but a block on Alexis Mac Allister’s left-footed shot.
Gravenberch proved how great and in form he is when he found Hugo Etikite in the box. Everton’s defense and Pickford could not react to the Frenchman as he slotted it into the bottom left corner.
It seemed Liverpool took their foot off the gas as Everton kept knocking, attempt after attempt. The breakthrough came for them when Ndiaye laid off a Grealish cross to Idrissa Gueye whose right-footed shot was too powerful for Allisson to stop.
Everton truly deserved to at least get a point from this game for all their effort but it was going to be a Reds day in this Derby fixture. Several positives for Everton and David Moyes.
For Liverpool, Arne Slot could have a problem choosing between Isak and Ekitike. The record signing seems to be the choice for the number 9 position but then it is looking like Ekitike hasn’t joined to just be one of the players at Liverpool but to be the main man despite Isak’s presence.
With three goals in five PL games, Ekitike would look like everyone’s pick when it comes to starting in the number 9 role but it does not seem like Liverpool signed Isak to be a replacement for the French striker.
