The start of the Premier League put all the attention on the bad moment of Manchester United, not only because of the controversy generated around Cristiano Ronaldo but also because of the two defeats in the first two games. However, when Liverpool went to Old Trafford, the logic was reversed: your Red Devils won, they have won three in a row since then and the shadow of bad timing has turned towards Anfield.
However, as with Erik ten Hag, Jürgen Klopp managed to reverse this bad moment. Shortly after the defeat against Manchester United, Liverpool thrashed Bournemouth with nine goals scored against zero conceded and beat Newcastle at home thanks to a Fábio Carvalho goal in added time. — an obviously motivating moment for a team that needs to walk on wins. This Saturday, at Goodison Park, was the day to face Everton in the Merseyside derby and confirm that change of course with the third consecutive victory, also against a historic rival.
Back in the team????#EVELIV pic.twitter.com/zaDKfTQYXu
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 3, 2022
“These have been close games with Everton, even the games we’ve won. It’s a big fight, we can’t ignore any of that but we also have to play football. That is the challenge. From that point of view, I really think the game against Newcastle was the perfect preparation because it was super intense. In recent years I have been involved in these battles with Everton, with many draws, and the games were all different, very intense, with many fights. The more we manage to put football in the middle of these moments of struggle, the more we can get out of the game. But it is obvious that this is the real challenge”, said the German coach, who on the last day of the market received the Brazilian Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus.
This Sunday, Klopp returned with Darwin, who was returning from suspension after three games of suspension after being sent off against Crystal Palace, and also with Diogo Jota, who has been injured. The Uruguayan striker was a starter in Liverpool’s attack, with Salah and Luis Díaz and Roberto Firmino as starters on the bench, and the surprise in the starting eleven was Fábio Carvalho, who seemed rewarded for the good impressions he has left every time he has been an option. On the other hand, Rúben Vinagre was a substitute, as was reinforcement Gueye, and central defender Coady, formerly of Wolverhampton, was a starter in the defensive axis.
Darwin on derby day. #EVELIV pic.twitter.com/mzTahm4dtv
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 3, 2022
The first half lived up to Jürgen Klopp’s expectations, goalless and with many battles, although it was clear that Liverpool had ascendancy over Everton and that the candy they only create danger through quick transitions. You reds had a great opportunity to open the scoring on the edge of the break, with Darwin and Díaz hitting the bars on the same play (43′), but the two teams even retreated to the changing rooms with the result still zero.
Klopp made a move at halftime, swapping a faded Fábio Carvalho for Roberto Firmino, and made another substitution near game time by releasing Robertson and Milner in place of Tsimikas and Alexander-Arnold. The moment of departure came shortly after: With seconds to spare, Pickford made a monstrous save on a shot from Fabinho (65′) and Alisson responded on the other side after a shot from Maupay (65′).
Coady still scored but the VAR annulled the goal for offside (69 ‘), Jota returned to competition in the last 10 minutes and made his debut this season in the Premier League, Salah hit the post in added time (90+5’) but the result did not change, with the Merseyside derby ending goalless and Liverpool stumbling again, without achieving the three consecutive victories that would confirm the change of direction.
darwin and diaz to see who hits the post harder????
???????????????????????????????????? @premierleague | @Everton 0x0 @LFC#PremierELEVEN #NowSSeriously pic.twitter.com/qXQGuaQ63H
– ONCE Portugal (@ElevenSports_PT) September 3, 2022
In the space of 1 minute Pickford and Alisson making monster saves ???? What game????
???????????????????????????????????? @premierleague | @Everton 0x0 @LFC#PremierELEVEN #NowSSeriously pic.twitter.com/ISMMubuPLQ
– ONCE Portugal (@ElevenSports_PT) September 3, 2022
Source: Observadora
