**Liverpool 1-0 Everton
by James Nalton
at Anfield**
FOLLOWING his side’s Merseyside derby win on Wednesday night, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was keen to point out how good Everton have been since David Moyes took over in January.
The Dutchman was speaking after the second derby in two months, this time hosted at Anfield, in which Liverpool had to work hard to get anything from their revitalised opponents.
Slot would certainly have preferred to face Everton earlier in the season when they were struggling, but under Moyes, this team has become difficult to beat.
“It was hard-fought, definitely,” said Slot. “But that was no surprise.
“Everton were nine games in a row unbeaten. They hardly ever concede a goal and hardly ever concede a chance.
“They defend with ten players around the 18-yard box, and with players like [James] Tarkowski and [Jarrad] Branthwaite, it’s almost no use crossing because they head every ball away.
“They're also a threat on the counter-attack with Beto, and every throw-in and every free kick they get. And against us, they get quite a lot of free kicks… that was a joke… you have to defend that.”
There were some standout incidents amid what was often a scrappy game, in which Liverpool’s first-half build-up play was too slow to break Everton down.
Tarkowski was lucky not to see red for a dangerous challenge on Alexis Mac Allister early on, with the referee and VAR deciding a yellow was enough.
Beto had a great chance to give the visitors the lead in the first half but hit the post due in part to good positioning from Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who narrowed the angle.
Diogo Jota scored the only goal of the game, jinking through the Everton defence and before firing past Jordan Pickford in front of the Kop.
Luis Diaz was in an offside position as the ball was played in during the build-up to the goal, but he was deemed not to be interfering with play despite causing Tarkowski to intervene just before Liverpool found a way through.
Though Slot says he was happy the rule was applied correctly in this instance, he spoke of his dislike of such situations, even though it went in his side’s favour.
“It was not offside according to the rules,” added Slot. “I hate that rule, but the execution of the rule was, fortunately for us today, well done in that situation.”
Liverpool reinforced that they are the best team in the Premier League this season, while Everton showed why they are one of the best teams in the form table since Moyes took over.
Slot’s side now need a maximum of 13 points to lift the title, likely 12 given their goal difference edge on Arsenal, and likely fewer given Arsenal would need to win every game in this scenario.
Four wins and a draw, or three wins and four draws, from their remaining eight games would do it.