In a thunderous atmosphere at Goodison Park, Everton secured a historic victory over Liverpool, denting their rivals’ Premier League title challenge and boosting their own bid for survival.
Jarrad Branthwaite opened the scoring for Everton in the first half, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s towering header after the break sealed the win, marking Everton’s first home Merseyside derby victory since 2010.
Liverpool, aiming to close the gap on league leaders Arsenal, struggled to recover from Everton’s dominant first-half display. Despite having plenty of possession, Liverpool couldn’t break through Everton’s resolute defense, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford making crucial saves to keep them at bay.
For Everton, the victory holds immense significance, not only in terms of their Premier League survival but also in ending their long wait for a derby win at Goodison Park. The win comes on the back of another home victory, indicating a potential turnaround in their form.
Manager Oliver Glasner’s game plan, which involved pressuring Liverpool and solid defending, worked to perfection, with heroes emerging across the pitch, including goalscorers Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin, as well as standout performer Idrissa Gueye.
As Everton fans celebrated wildly, Liverpool’s title hopes took a significant blow. Manager Jurgen Klopp and his side now face an uphill battle to close the gap on Arsenal, with their energy and ideas appearing to wane in recent matches.