Liverpool beat Everton in thrilling game after tough start to 2023
Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 last night and appeared to return to form after a difficult start Premier League season so far. It’s Liverpool’s first PL win in 2023.
Boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking on the game, said “it felt like us, it looked like us.”
Everton had dominated for the first 15 minutes of the game, being able to keep Liverpool at arm’s length.
The club’s new boss Sean Dyche got off to an incredible start with a win over league leaders Arsenal, so hopes were high when the toffees headed to Anfield. But failure to win sees the club rooted in the bottom three.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton – ‘spectacular counterattack’
The first Liverpool goal came from a spectacular counterattack.
Everton’s James Tarkowski headed the ball at Liverpool’s goal, bouncing off the post, before Darwin Nunez and Liverpool raced down the other end and Nunez squared the ball for Salah to slot the ball past Everton keeper Jordan Pickford.
Four minutes into the second half, Liverpool scored again.
A sharp cross from Trent Alexander Arnold to the far post was met by Cody Gakpo, who tapped the ball in. It was Gakpo’s first goal for the Reds’ after singing in January for £45m.
“The result is a massive relief,” Klopp said to BBC’s Match of the Day.
“The better you play the more likely you will score. The whole performance was extremely important for us because we needed to make a statement.”
Liverpool returning to form, morale-boosting game
It’s not been an easy start to 2023 for Liverpool, who have suffered heavy away defeats at Brentord, Brighton and Wolverhampton Wanders, but last night’s win has offered up some optimism.
The club are showing signs of life, and a return to form.
Virgil van Dijk, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota were on the bench, returning to the squad after injury.
Gakpo’s first goal will be a huge morale booster for the club as well. The new signing’s confidence was on display after his goal, with confident touches of the ball and looking more at ease as the game went on.
The great performance put in from 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic will also boost confidence for boss Klopp and the Reds, who showed maturity in the midfield.
Liverpool are currently ninth in the Premier League, nine points off of the Champions League places.
The Reds have not been anywhere near their best but the sight of Mo Salah on the scoresheet, the trademark Liverpool counter-attacks and a clean sheet will boost confidence for Liverpool and their fans.
