Everton vs Liverpool match report: Sadio Mane strikes late to seal victory in fierce Merseyside derby

A night when it looked like Robbie Savage, of all the people, had summed it up on radio. “If you’re not playing well…” he told Five Live listeners, “…just run around.”

There was plenty of that here. Running around when passes were miscontrolled. Running around when clearances were chased. Running in straight lines to meet headers and belting them away.

Everton had not won a Merseyside derby of any kind since 2010. Liverpool had not won at Goodison Park since 2011. Until right at the end, it felt appropriate that neither side would alter these dubious records.

And then sensationally, everything changed. Eight minutes of injury time were awarded, largely because of injuries to Maarten Stekelenburg and Jordan Henderson and subsequent delays.

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From just outside the box, Daniel Sturridge struck a shot, which bobbled against a post. From there, Sadio Mané was placed to score.

Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool had won. Their supporters were delirious, celebrating in the haze of a red smoke bomb released onto the pitch. For them, there cannot be a better way to win a derby.

Ronald Koeman’s Everton had lost. Their supporters everywhere else were crestfallen, leaving the stadium with their chins nuzzled into their winter coats. There cannot be a worse way to lose a derby.

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Ultimately, it means Chelsea have a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table on Christmas day rather than eight, as Liverpool move above Manchester City into second position.

“I think it was deserved,” Klopp said. Just about – in cold analysis - Liverpool probably did deserve it. Everton were the better team in the first half but had just one shot on target in the entire game. In the second the roles reversed, with Liverpool establishing a more fluent rhythm to their play: prising open Everton’s defence with greater regularity. A victory may have been established before it was.

“It was great, intense, how a derby should be…” Klopp enthused. “…not the best football in the world, but take it like it is. Second half, we took it.”

In big blue lettering on page seven of the match day programme, Phil Jagielka, the Everton captain suspended here, left a message for home supporters. ‘Don’t underestimate the part you can play on nights like this,’ he wrote.

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For that to happen, Everton needed to start fast: getting into Liverpool faces like they did against Arsenal last Tuesday in the second half. The opening 25 was just as Koeman wanted it. The first sliding tackle came from Ashley Willliams on Divock Origi after 11 seconds. Everton hoofed it forward three times in the first minute, testing Liverpool’s defence, Dejan Lovren thundering away Seamus Coleman’s enticing cross. The number eight on Ross Barkley’s was ripped by minute two and by minute five, Roberto Firmino ducked out of a 50/50 challenge with Idrissa Gueye.

The home crowd was encouraged. Klopp was unhappy, barking orders at Ragnar Klavan, the Estonian deputising for Joel Matip for the second game running. He was competing but not always convincing. When Aaron Lennon fizzed a delivery towards Romelu Lukaku, his toe-end stopped him from scoring. Lovren was castigated too for knocking too many long clearances.

And yet, Liverpool’s reluctance in midfield to receive the ball was of equal significance. Everton’s three in that department were highly motivated and fleshy in appearance; Barkley, particularly, charging around with plenty of enthusiasm but with composure of a bus without breaks when it came to making the right decisions.

There was a sense that Liverpool simply had to get better in the second half because they could not have been any worse than they were in the first. And so, they began a lot more convincingly. A chance to lead came when Firmino was released by Milner’s lofted pass but the Brazilian, so ruthless usually, struggled to convince that he was in control of the bouncing ball and his tame flick enabled Stekelenburg to make the save.

Everton’s problems were mounting. James McCarthy was already substituted for Gareth Barry with a hamstring injury by the time Stekelenburg had to be taken off as well. His exit was a consequence of Leighton Baines’s efforts to stop Mané from scoring, the left back crunching into his own goalkeeper in a challenge that needed to be made.

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It was only when Barkley applied his studs to Henderson’s ankle that the crowd really got going again. Barkley was fortunate to remain involved but Mike Dean, the referee, was some distance from the incident when it happened and he did not have the benefit of replays to analyse just how dangerous Barkley’s tackle was.

Liverpool were pushing harder than Everton by the end and but for Joel Robles’s reflexes following Firmino’s turn and volley, the visiting team would have led.

When Sturridge was sent on by Klopp it was his first appearance in almost a month. The decision proved to be crucial because Everton’s defenders backed off as Sturridge prepared to strike, reluctant to be beaten by the potential speed of his turn.

And suddenly, it was 1-0 to Liverpool. Suddenly, indeed, Everton had lost.

TEAMS

Everton (4-1-4-1): Stekelenburg; Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines; Gueye; Valencia, McCarthy, Barkley, Lennon; Lukaku. Subs: Robles, Mirallas, Cleverley, Barry, Calvert-Lewin, Holgate, Kenny.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Milner; Lallana, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Mané, Origi, Firmino. Subs: Karius, Sturridge, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Woodburn.