Liverpool 2-1 Everton: Reds survive late scare to stay perfect in Premier League
Gravenberch and Ekitike strike as the Merseyside derby ends 2-1; Everton push late but cannot deny Liverpool’s perfect start
Liverpool moved to five wins from five in the Premier League after a 2-1 victory over Everton at Anfield, keeping their perfect start and returning to the top of the table. The result came amid a tense finale as Everton pushed for an equaliser, but Liverpool held firm in the closing stages. The win extended Arne Slot's early-season sequence and left Liverpool as the only side with a 100 percent record this season through the early weeks of the campaign.
Liverpool got off to a bright start as they took the lead inside 10 minutes. Cody Gakpo won a crucial tackle on Ndiaye near the edge of the area, and Salah lofted a precise pass over Michael Keane to set up Ryan Gravenberch, who turned his first-time shot across Jordan Pickford and into the net. The home supporters revelled in the atmosphere as banners and songs greeted the derby, but the lead did not dissolve Everton's early ambition. The Toffees grew into the half and carved out chances of their own, with Jack Grealish causing problems for the Liverpool defence as he sought to influence the flow from midfield and wide positions.
Hugo Ekitike doubled the advantage for Liverpool in the 29th minute, finishing clinically after a swift move from midfield. Mac Allister moved the ball quickly to Gravenberch, who fed Ekitike with a crisp touch and a shot that found the corner of the net past Pickford. It was a sharp, clinical sequence that demonstrated Liverpool's pace and finishing in the final third. At that point, Liverpool looked on course to serene control, but Everton had not come to simply be rolled over and they responded after the break with renewed energy and a more aggressive approach.
Midway through the second half, Everton finally found a route back into the match when Grealish, who had been stifled for much of the first period, escaped the attention of Conor Bradley and delivered a cross to the back post. Idrissa Gueye arrived to lash a rising drive high into the net for his side's first goal of the afternoon. For Liverpool, though, the lead remained precarious as Everton pressed to level, leaving Anfield on edge and the home fans nervy as stoppage-time approached.
Slot reacted by shoring up the midfield and attack, bringing on Florian Wirtz and Isak in quick succession to inject freshness into the system. The changes added impetus but did not alter the result as Liverpool held firm in the closing stages. Isak, making his Premier League debut, and Wirtz, who had been introduced earlier, searched for ways to extend the hosts' advantage or provide a late cushion, while Salah and Szoboszlai tried to keep hold of the ball in the final corners to deny Everton's late surges.
The match reinforced a familiar pattern for Liverpool this season: strong in the first half, then a period of vulnerability after the break. Yet the result stood, with Liverpool preserving their 2-1 lead and their clean sheet hopes for a much-needed victory over a familiar rival. The performance underlined the challenge ahead for Everton, who visit Anfield hoping for a better return in the league in the weeks to come but left with a point or more as a distant prospect.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1) lined up with Alisson in goal, a back four of Bradley, Konate, van Dijk and Kerkez, and a double pivot of Gravenberch and Mac Allister. In front of them, Salah supported by Szoboszlai and Gakpo, with Ekitike bearing the central striker's role and Isak coming on for him at 61 minutes. Everton (4-2-3-1) started with Pickford, a back line of O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane and Mykolenko, and a midfield trio anchored by Gueye and Garner, with Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall and Grealish providing the creative thrust behind Beto. The tactical battle underlined the depth of both squads as the clock wound down and the teams prepared for a late onslaught that never fully materialised.
The final whistle confirmed Liverpool’s position at the top of the table after five rounds, with the sense that there is room for improvement as Slot continues to integrate new signings and build the squad into a cohesive unit capable of maintaining the progress seen in recent seasons. Everton, meanwhile, will regroup with work to do as they assess how to translate bursts of pressure into meaningful points at Anfield in the years ahead.