Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp deserves to celebrate excessively during the Merseyside Derby against Everton at Anfield Stadium on Sunday (2/12). Statistically Everton deserved better results than defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
A late Divock Origi goal in the 90th minute ensured Liverpool’s victory over Everton. Starting from the mistake of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who wrongly anticipated Virgil van Dijk’s volley, the ball hit the crossbar and then headed by Origi.
Klopp immediately ran into the field. The German coach shouted, jumped for joy, and embraced goalkeeper Alisson Becker who became one of the heroes of Liverpool’s victory over Everton. Statistically Liverpool were a little ahead of Everton, especially from possession (58 percent) and the aggressiveness of shots (16). However, overall Everton did not deserve to lose in the Merseyside Derby.
Apart from Pickford’s mistake, Everton played quite nicely and deserved at least to steal a point at Liverpool headquarters. Even Everton has a number of golden opportunities to score goals, one of which is Andre Gomes’s header which is brilliantly blocked by Alisson.
Based on Premier League statistics, Liverpool and Everton both have three shots on target, even though the Reds (16) have more shots than the Toffees (9).
Liverpool also played more aggressive against Everton. The presence of Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum in the midfield made the flow of Liverpool’s ball very good to the front lines. Roberto Firmino, Mane, Mohamed Salah and Xherdan Shaqiri’s collaboration on the front lines also played impressively despite a poor final settlement.
The first edition of the Merseyside Derby this season was a showcase for Alisson and Pickford. The two goalkeepers played very well before Pickford’s mistake which ended in Origi’s goal.
Klopp’s celebration after Origi’s goal is understandable. Because, the former Borussia Dortmund coach realized how expensive luckily Liverpool had at the end of the Merseyside Derby match. A victory that keeps the Reds unbeaten and competes with Manchester City at the top of the English Premier League.
Klopp deserves to be excited because Liverpool’s front line looks blunt before goals scored by Origi. A total of 13 Liverpool shots failed on target, with two of them going through the golden opportunity of Sadio Mane who was left facing Pickford.
The results of the Merseyside Derby are very important for Liverpool in an effort to win the English Premier League title this season. Moreover, defending champion Man City showed no signs of loosening performance under Pep Guardiola’s care.
