MATCH REPORT : LIVERPOOL 5-2 EVERTON

Everton arrived at Anfield shy on confidence, trying break a 21 year old hoodoo and with a manager who is on borrowed time it seems. Beleagured boss Marco Silva insists he wasn’t feeling the pressure, even after Sunday’s injury time defeat at Leicester, after this one the heat is definitely on and it’s hard to believe this won’t be Silva’s last game as Everton manager.

Liverpool were dominant from the start and looked to try and get Sadio Mané in behind the Everton defence at every opportunity. Everton were uncertain, visibly slow defensively and generally looked all at sea as Divock Origi’s and Adam Lallana’s movement between the lines bamboozled them.

Despite the game being only 6 minutes old nobody was surprised when Liverpool took the lead. Lallana launched a counter-attack after an Everton had given the ball away, he played a great pass to Mané who curled the perfect pass behind both Mason Holgate and Michael Keane. It released Origi through on goal but Jordan Pickford’s poor positioning allowed Origi to touch it beyond him and score his fourth Anfield derby goal.

Everton’s response was exactly what was required. Michael Keane produced an excellent finish at the Kop end when he pounced on Iwobi’s low cross to lift the ball over Adrián and half the deficit.

Everton were suddenly dangerous but their lack of quality in attack was telling. Iwobi released Dominic Calvert-Lewin through on goal but the striker showed no conviction or pace and was bundled into a miscued shot by Virgil van Dijk. It was an important miss but the England Under 21 striker could point to the fact that van Dijk shoved him in the back, it looked a penalty. Not surprisingly the way VAR has worked for Everton this season VAR disagreed and Anfield breathed a sigh of relief.

Instead of Everton continuing to build on their momentum they allowed Liverpool to restore their two-goal cushion with criminal ease. A long ball down the centre from Dejan Lovren released Origi clear of the static Keane. The striker killed the pass with a tremendous first touch and sent his second arching over the advancing Pickford.

Mané made it four when Everton were again undone by a Liverpool counter-attack. Alexander-Arnold led the charge against Davies and squared for Mané to score with a precise finish from 18 yards.

Silva, who cut a forlorn figure on the Anfield touchline, had introduced Bernard for Sidibé on 35 minutes as Everton reverted to a 4-4-2. It paid off in first-half stoppage time when the Brazilian crossed for Richarlison to beat Adrián with a header.

How they lined up : 

Barry Cass