Liverpool ended their dismal run of form to pick up a first league win of 2023 against struggling city rivals Everton on Monday night.
It is Jürgen Klopp’s side’s first victory in the Premier League since beating Leicester in the final game of 2022, as Sean Dyche’s side failed to build on their shock win over Arsenal.
The first big chance fell the way of Liverpool on 18 minutes when Darwin Núñez steered an acrobatic volley across the area for Cody Gakpo but he headed wide of the target from a good position as his wait for his first Reds goal went on.
But on 36 minutes, the game roared into life when James Tarkowski hit the post with a header for Everton from a corner and from the resulting counter-attack, Liverpool tore upfield and Mo Salah poked home from a Núñez cross, although Jordan Pickford’s bizarre positioning had to be called into question.
There were just 13 seconds between the post being struck and the ball hitting the net as Salah ended his long drought by reaching 100 goal involvements at Anfield in the Premier League with his 71st goal, in addition to 29 assists.
Four minutes after half-time, Liverpool doubled their lead as Cody Gakpo finally got off the mark with his first goal for the club when he tapped in from three yards out after being picked out by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low cross.
In the final 10 minutes, Tom Davies missed a huge chance to set up a grandstand finish when he headed over the bar at the back post with the goal gaping before Tarkowski pulled off a vital last gasp block to deny Salah his second.
The win moves Liverpool up to ninth, while the Toffees remain in the relegation zone, albeit just one point behind Leeds.