Diogo Jota scored the one purpose of the sport in a heated Merseyside derby to revive Liverpool’s 12-point lead on the high of the desk.
Liverpool continued their march in the direction of the Premier League title with a 1-0 victory over Everton in a scrappy, however feisty, Merseyside derby as Diogo Jota slotted dwelling the winner within the second half.
The champions elect, with 73 factors after 30 video games, restored their 12-point lead over second-placed Arsenal on Wednesday, whereas Everton, whose nine-game league unbeaten streak was ended, are fifteenth on 34 factors.
The groups had met in an explosive derby in February that ended 2-2, with Everton captain James Tarkowski equalising deep in stoppage time in a chaotic sport that featured 4 pink playing cards, together with one to Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot.
The heated temper in Anfield was cranked up one other notch after a contentious early sort out on Wednesday.
Liverpool followers thought Everton ought to have been lowered to 10 males after 11 minutes following a fierce foul by Tarkowski on Alexis Mac Allister.
The centre-back lunged in to clear and caught Mac Allister excessive on the ankle together with his studs, however was solely proven a yellow card by referee Samuel Barrott, who was not instructed by VAR to assessment his unique choice.
Quickly afterwards, Beto had the ball within the internet for Everton however had strayed simply offside earlier than latching onto a ball excessive. The Guinea-Bissau worldwide then charged by way of on purpose after Virgil van Dijk mistimed his clearance and hit the put up.
Liverpool, who suffered back-to-back defeats of their earlier two video games to Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle to finish their hopes of lifting the Champions League and League Cup, regarded flat within the first half.
However Slot’s males upped their depth within the second half to forestall the title from additionally slipping away.
There was extra controversy when the opening purpose arrived: Luis Diaz appeared to have strayed offside when Tarkowski reduce out a move aimed in the direction of the Colombian.
Diaz pounced on the unfastened ball and flicked it on into Jota’s path, who saved his cool to slice inside Idrissa Gueye and Tarkowski and smashed dwelling his first purpose since January.
Diaz had one of the best likelihood to double Liverpool’s lead when he fired a strong effort, however it was too near Jordan Pickford.
The Everton keeper was concerned in one other flashpoint late on when he chopped down Darwin Nunez inside the realm, however solely after Barrott had already blown for a foul earlier within the transfer.
Liverpool held on, returning to their successful methods and taking one other massive step in the direction of what can be only a second league title in 35 years.
“Everton make it very troublesome for you,” Liverpool’s captain, Virgil van Dijk, stated after the match. “They’ve a sure approach of enjoying. You must be prepared for it. They’re very direct.”
In the meantime, Jota was delighted together with his strike.
“Hopefully, this provides us a little bit of momentum,” he stated. “I would like this sport to begin an excellent run for me that may very well be useful for the workforce. The one approach is to begin successful video games.”
Everton boss David Moyes took difficulty with the purpose, however stated Liverpool had performed higher.
“Liverpool had been the higher workforce, however we confirmed nice resilience, made some possibilities. It’s simply gut-wrenching that we now have misplaced to a purpose that we don’t really feel is deserved,” he stated.
“That is our first defeat in 10 video games. Liverpool are one of the best workforce within the league. Possibly sooner or later, we’ll be a bit nearer to them.”
Elsewhere within the Premier League, fourth-placed Manchester Metropolis had been with out the injured Erling Haaland, however nonetheless beat Leicester 2-0 to remain one level forward of Newcastle, who beat Brentford 2-1.
Marcus Rashford scored once more for Aston Villa in a 3-0 win at Brighton.
Backside-club Southampton had been denied solely their third league win of the season when Matheus Franca scored within the second minute of stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw for Crystal Palace.
Ipswich did decide up a uncommon win – beating Bournemouth 2-1.
