Liverpool break down 10-man Everton’s resistance with Mohamed Salah double
Liverpool broke down 10-man Everton's resistance with a 2-0 victory at Anfield on Saturday, thanks to a brace from Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a neat finish from inside the box, after being set up by Sadio Mane. He then doubled his tally in the 83rd minute with a clinical strike from outside the area.
Everton had been reduced to 10 men in the 62nd minute when Mason Holgate was sent off for a second bookable offence. The Toffees had put up a brave fight until then, but they were unable to hold on for a point against a superior Liverpool side.
The victory was Liverpool's third in a row in all competitions and took them back to the top of the Premier League table. Everton, meanwhile, remained in 17th place, just two points above the relegation zone.
Here is a more detailed account of the match:
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
Saturday, 21 October 2023
Anfield
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Firmino
Subs: Kelleher, Tsimikas, Gomez, Konate, Milner, Keita, Jones, Diaz, Nunez
Everton: Pickford, Coleman, Holgate, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Iwobi, Doucoure, Onana, Gordon, Gray, Maupay
Subs: Begovic, Godfrey, Keane, Mina, Vinagre, Garner, Davies, Rondon, McNeil
Referee: Michael Oliver**
Attendance: 53,394**\
Match Report
Liverpool started the match brightly and created a number of early chances. Salah came close to scoring in the 10th minute when he fired just wide from inside the box. Firmino then had a chance in the 15th minute, but he headed straight at Pickford.
Everton gradually grew into the game and had their own chances. Gordon came close to scoring in the 25th minute when he fired just wide from outside the area. Gray then had a chance in the 30th minute, but he headed straight at Alisson.
Liverpool broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. Mane played a through ball to Salah, who finished neatly from inside the box. The goal was Salah's 12th of the season in all competitions.
Everton had a chance to equalize in the 40th minute when Gordon played a through ball to Maupay, who fired straight at Alisson.
The second half started slowly, with neither team creating any clear-cut chances. Liverpool had a chance in the 60th minute when Salah fired just wide from outside the area. Everton then had a chance in the 65th minute when Gray fired just wide from outside the area.
Everton were reduced to 10 men in the 62nd minute when Holgate was sent off for a second bookable offence. Holgate had picked up his first yellow card in the 42nd minute for a foul on Mane.
Liverpool made the most of their extra man and doubled their lead in the 83rd minute. Salah received the ball outside the area and fired a clinical strike into the top corner. The goal was Salah's 13th of the season in all competitions.
Everton tried to get back into the game in the final stages, but they were unable to create any clear-cut chances. Liverpool held on for a comfortable victory.
Post-Match Reaction
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was pleased with his team's performance. He said: "We played a very good game. We created a lot of chances and we scored two good goals. We were also very solid defensively. I am very happy with the performance."
Everton manager Frank Lampard was disappointed with his team's performance. He said: "We didn't play well enough. We gave away two soft goals and we didn't create enough chances. We need to improve our performance if we want to win games."
Analysis
Liverpool were the better team throughout the match and deserved their victory. They created a number of chances and were solid defensively. Everton put up a brave fight, but they were unable to cope with Liverpool's attacking quality.
Salah was the star of the show for Liverpool. He scored two excellent goals and was a constant threat to the Everton defence. Mane and Firmino also played well, as did the
