PREMIER League, APRIL 2 2025
Liverpool 1Everton 0
Liverpool returned to winning ways as they edged past Everton to record their 100th victory in the 131-year history of the Merseyside derby. More importantly for Arne Slot’s team, it extended their lead to 12 points in the Premier League, with just eight games remaining this season. Having lost on their last two outings, to exit the Champions League and lose the League Cup final, the pressure was on for the champions-elect to take three points. Especially against an Everton side boosted by a nine-game unbeaten run under David Moyes, which included a Goodison Park draw with Liverpool just seven weeks ago.
And Moyes’ side could and probably should have been ahead at half-time in this return fixture. Beto put the ball past Liverpool’s stand-in goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher after 20 minutes, only for it to be ruled out for a marginal offside. The Everton forward then had a glorious opportunity to score when 1v1 against Kelleher, but hit the post. Although, the visitors were fortunate to be playing with 11, with centre-back James Tarkowski somehow avoiding a red card for a dangerous challenge on Alexis Mac Allister in the 11th minute.
As it was, Liverpool improved in the second half and took the lead thanks to a composed dribble and finish from Diogo Jota. Everton managed to stay in the game, but offered little attacking threat as their local rivals saw out the victory. Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches highlight the key tactical points from the 246th Merseyside derby.
How the managers saw it
“Everton were nine games in a row unbeaten, hardly ever concede a goal, hardly ever concede a chance, defend with 10 players – apart from Beto – in and around their 18-yard box,” said Slot. “If I say 10 or 15 times that Lucho Díaz was 1v1 against Jake O'Brien, I don't even think I exaggerate, but to have that is one thing and to create a chance is another thing. That's why we have to be there so many times, so many times, so many times and you're hoping that one time can then be enough – and it was with Diogo's goal.”
“We had one or two good opportunities” said Moyes. “The players have done an awful lot of good stuff tonight. They've tried to stick up against a side who are a top side at the moment. Liverpool played much better tonight [than the reverse fixture at Goodison], much more aggressive, tougher than the first game.”
Starting line-ups
LiverpoolEverton
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Liverpool4-2-3-1
Everton4-2-3-1
62Caoimhín Kelleher
1Jordan Pickford
26Andy Robertson
15Jake O'Brien
4Virgil van Dijk
6James Tarkowski
5Ibrahima Konaté
32Jarrad Branthwaite
17Curtis Jones
19Vitaliy Mykolenko
10Alexis Mac Allister
27Idrissa Gueye
38Ryan Gravenberch
37James Garner
7Luis Díaz
11Jack Harrison
8Dominik Szoboszlai
16Abdoulaye Doucouré
11Mohamed Salah
24Carlos Alcaraz
20Diogo Jota
14Beto
Match stats
LiverpoolEverton
17/3
SHOTS / ON TARGET
5/0
71%
POSSESSION
29%
38
ATTACKS INTO AREA
17
1.98
EXPECTED GOALS (XG)
0.35
Facing Everton’s block and counters
With right-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Bradley injured, Arne Slot chose midfielder Curtis Jones to start in Liverpool’s initial 4-2-3-1. Although playing as a right-back, Jones often moved into an advanced midfield role, usually within the right inside channel. Dominik Szoboszlai supported close by, with Mohamed Salah holding the width on this side. The back line converted into a three, with the double pivot of Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch linking the defensive and forward units. Jota peeled away in certain moments, but often allowed Luis Díaz space to attack Everton’s right-back O’Brien, 1v1 (below).
With Everton in a low block, Andy Robertson soon ventured forward from left-back. Indeed, both Robertson and Jones moved high up the pitch, adding to the significant presence placed around Everton’s central midfield. But Liverpool’s players on their right side found it tough to create, often lacking the space or time to progress into dangerous areas. On their left, however, Díaz stayed wide, pulling O’Brien well away from the back line. Jack Harrison was then forced to recover back for Everton, taking up very deep, defensive positions (below). As such, Liverpool were most dangerous on their left, thanks to the space afforded to Díaz and their combinations on this side.
With so many Everton players consistently defending deep, Liverpool got bodies forward – including both full-backs being regularly positioned ahead of the ball. This left centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté to defend the space underneath. This became a problem for Liverpool when Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucouré managed to support long balls into Beto, or found spaces to run into and receive on the move. Further support came from Harrison, wide right, and Carlos Alcaraz narrowing from the left (below). At this point, Everton looked the more likely to score.
It was Beto, though, who was most responsible for disrupting Liverpool’s centre-backs, being combative and aggressive in battling for direct balls. He was unfortunate to have an effort disallowed for offside, before hitting the post after an incisive breakaway. Despite having less than 30 per cent possession in the first half, Moyes’ game plan worked well in the earlier stages of the game.
Liverpool’s tweaked attack
In the second half, Robertson and Jones still attacked Everton’s block, but did so with delayed runs from deep, as opposed to being positioned well ahead of the teammate in possession. Liverpool’s more direct passing into the front line also limited how high both of their full-backs were able to reposition.
Meanwhile, Gravenberch became more of a single pivot, with Mac Allister making central runs forward, dragging Doucouré back to defend. Liverpool still had plenty of numbers to attack the central spaces and in between, with the wingers holding the width. Jota and Szoboszlai made narrowed runs either side of Mac Allister, targeting the spaces between Everton’s full-backs and centre-backs (below). And it was Jota whose quick feet and calm finish put the home side ahead, slotting past Jordan Pickford after some impressive central combinations.
Although Everton had the odd moment on the counter in the second half, they were nowhere near as potent after a deep regain. Doucouré’s increased defensive responsibilities meant he was limited in how often and early he could support balls in Beto. The altered attacking positions of both Jones and Robertson also helped the hosts better defend wide transitions, quickly covering space to limit Everton’s progression out of their defensive half (below). Gravenberch as the single pivot in the attack also covered these spaces well, supporting the delaying of counter-attacks before the halfway line. His positioning also helped cover access into Beto’s feet, giving Liverpool attackers ahead of the ball the time to counter-press, or back press the Everton ball carrier.
The 1-0 scoreline was, in the end, a fair reflection of a derby that Everton made Liverpool work hard to win. Although the teams occupy very different positions in the table – with Everton 15th, 39 points behind Liverpool – the visitors have made good progress since Moyes returned to the club in January. Liverpool, meanwhile, were delighted to take another significant step towards a Premier League title in Arne Slot’s first season in charge.
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