Liverpool 2-1 Everton
by James Nalton
at Anfield

AN OUTSTANDING first-half display from Ryan Gravenberch helped Liverpool win the 247th edition of the Merseyside derby on Saturday. 

The Dutchman scored an expertly taken goal on the run from a Mohamed Salah pass, looking more like a seasoned centre-forward than a 23-year-old defensive midfielder as he finished the chance.

He then played a perfect through-ball for Hugo Ekitike to make it two, which put Liverpool in the driving seat for the rest of the game. 

Arne Slot’s side have developed a reputation this season for scoring goals in the second half and winning games late on in dramatic fashion, but this performance was much the opposite.

They managed to hold off a spirited second-half display from Everton, who did get one goal back through Idrissa Gana Gueye, but couldn’t find an equaliser.

So much of Everton’s build-up play this season has been good, but in this game it lacked a finishing touch.

The fact that the goal came from their defensive midfielder might be an indication of this issue, especially compared to their opponents’ firepower.

While Gravenberch’s goal was complemented by a strike from centre-forward Ekitike, Everton couldn’t find something similar from either of their own strikers, Beto or Thierno Barry.

Central attacking players seem to be at a premium in today’s game, and there’s a feeling that Everton could really take things to the next level if they managed to find one. Or, more pertinently, managed to find the funds for one.

This is not a slight on Beto, who works hard and can hold up the ball as well as anyone on his day, and Barry could still become the answer for Moyes’ team in this position, but the two didn’t have much joy against Liverpool centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate on this particular day.

It could probably be said for many teams, but there’s a feeling that Everton are a centre-forward upgrade away from really challenging for the European places.

They may still do so as Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye are two next-level talents whose quality is certainly up there with the top Premier League players. 

That such ambitions are even being mentioned for Everton is an indication of their improvement and their new mindset under Moyes, and new outlook since the move to Bramley-Moore Dock.

Derby games are not easy fixtures, and Slot appreciated the all-round performance of his matchwinner, Gravenberch, who worked hard in defence in support of Salah and right-back Conor Bradley.

“I was planning to take him off after 60 minutes, but then we conceded a goal,” Slot said of Gravenberch after the game. 

“I think he has taken the spotlight mainly because of the attacking things he does, but I also see how much he runs off the ball, how many times he is there to help out Conor [Bradley] when he is in a two-v-one situation. 

“He’s now maybe more in the spotlight because of these goals and assists, but even if he didn’t have those, he would have still played really well.”

Liverpool’s game against Southampton at Anfield tomorrow will be their fourth in 10 days, and Slot has said he will choose to rest some of his regular starters as a result, revealing that Van Dijk, Konate, Salah, Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai will not play in the League Cup match.

This cup also offers a chance for Everton to win a trophy, and they’ll hope to continue their own progress when they travel to a struggling Wolves side tomorrow.