Liverpool reasserted their Premier League dominance with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton in the 246th Merseyside derby, extending their lead at the top to 12 points. Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute strike proved decisive as he skillfully sidestepped James Tarkowski before firing past Jordan Pickford in front of The Kop.
The win came at a crucial time for Arne Slot’s men, who had faced questions about their momentum following exits from both the Champions League and Carabao Cup before the international break. Those setbacks against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle had prompted speculation about Liverpool potentially faltering in the season’s final stretch.
However, the Reds responded emphatically against their local rivals, with several standout performances across the pitch. Jota ended his 10-game goal drought while Curtis Jones admirably filled in at right-back despite minimal preparation time. The victory leaves Liverpool needing just 13 more points to secure the Premier League title.
For Everton, the defeat ended their impressive nine-game unbeaten run under David Moyes. While the Blues matched their neighbors for significant portions of the match, they lacked the clinical edge required at crucial moments. Beto squandered a golden opportunity after capitalizing on a rare Virgil van Dijk error, striking the post when one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
According Soccertv365, the derby wasn’t without its share of controversy. Tarkowski was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card for a dangerous early challenge on Alexis Mac Allister despite a VAR review. Later, the Everton defender found himself on the wrong end of a contentious decision when Luis Diaz, appearing to be in an offside position during the build-up to Jota’s goal, was deemed not to have interfered with play.
Moyes has instilled a strong identity in his Everton side since his return, but the gap in technical quality between the teams was evident despite their competitive showing. As Liverpool march toward another title, Everton’s focus shifts to securing their Premier League status before their anticipated move to Bramley-Moore Dock.