Liverpool have continued their perfect start to the Premier League season after victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby.
The champions held off a second-half fightback from David Moyes’ side to make it five wins from five to stay top.
Ryan Gravenberch gave Arne Slot’s side the perfect start after 10 minutes, brilliantly latching onto Mohamed Salah’s ball.
From a tight angle, the Dutchman superbly lifted his shot over Jordan Pickford to get the party started at Anfield.
Liverpool continued to create chances at will and doubled their lead after 29 minutes with Gravenberch this time turning provider, picking out Hugo Ekitike.
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The Frenchman was named in the starting XI ahead of £130million signing Alexander Isak who started midweek against Atletico Madrid. He repaid his manager’s faith with a cool finish, his fourth goal since his arrival at the club.
Everton showed signs of life after Liverpool’s second with Jack Grealish threatening to cause havoc.
The on-loan Manchester City gave Conor Bradley a tough afternoon and Everton’s efforts were rewarded just before the hour mark with Idrissa Gueye lashing a superb effort home.
Liverpool have let two-goal leads slip twice already this season against Bournemouth and Newcastle and endured some nervy moments as they hung on.
Liverpool stay top and will now wait to see how Arsenal fare at home to Manchester City on Sunday.
Relive the action with Metro’s LIVE matchday blog.
Live Feed
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-1 Everton
Liverpool hang on! It’s five wins from five for Arne Slot’s men.
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
92 mins | Liverpool run the clock down over on the right. But there’s time for a little bit of panic as van Dijk’s backpass has Alisson scrambling but the hosts get away with it,
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
90 mins | Just three minuted added on here. Feels like there should be a bit more…
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
71 mins | Crucial challenge from Tarkowski! Liverpool surge forward on the counter and Wirtz is primed to score, cutting inside the box and leaving his man for dead. Just as he is about the pull the trigger the Everton skipper slides in to intervene.
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
67 mins | Everton fancy this now. It’s a brilliant run rom Ndiaye across from the right and towards goal with the ball into the box causing havoc. Liverpool cling on and the free kick goes their way.
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
64 mins | Isak is now finishing his warm-up.
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
60 mins | Slot responds with a couple of changes, Florian Wirtz and Curtis Jones come on for Mac Allister and Gakpo. Still no Isak…
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
58 mins | It’s another lovely goal. Gueye is in the right spot in the box latching onto the cross and hammers a superb effort into the left corner.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Everton (Idrissa Gueye, 57 mins)
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
55 mins | Liverpool are sniffing out a third here despite some Everton pressure. They pounce on the counter with Salah brilliantly controlling a lofted through ball in the box. He can’t quite get the venom on the shot however and Pickford saves.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
50 mins | Grealish picks up from where he left off, giving Bradley some grief down the left. His final ball is poor on two occasions in quick succession though.
SECOND-HALF UNDERWAY
One change for Everton as we get back underway – Thierno Barry is on for Beto.
HALF-TIME!
Liverpool have a very healthy lead as we head in for a break.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
41 mins | There’s a little bit more intention in Everton as we approach the end of the half with Grealish again at the heart of it.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
36 mins | Another glimpse of goal for Everton – Ndiaye does brilliantly down the right and swings a fine cross into the box. Beto is waiting but gets his connection all wrong.
Liverpool 2-0 Everton
28 mins | Liverpool are cruising! It’s another lovely finish with Gravenberch involved again, threading the through ball in for Ekitike. The Frenchman makes it look easy, sliding a cool finish through Pickford’s legs.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Everton (Hugo Ekitike, 28 mins)
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
27 mins | An opening for Everton! Grealish is the architect, spinning past Gravenberch and feeding Dewsbury-Hall but he lashes his effort into the side netting.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
23 mins | Liverpool race forward on the counter with a man advantage. Salah’s cross deflects into the path of Gakpo who tries to take it on the volley from 10 yards out but he doesn’t catch it well at all, bouncing an effort into the turf and over the bar.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
18 mins | Everyone is having a pop now – the ball breaks kindly to Bradley who lashes one on goal but Mykolenko dives in to make the block.
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