Jurgen Klopp had had enough after one hour. He didn’t need a crowded midfield to beat an Everton side out to spoil the party.
He was in desperate need of goal scorers. He was in desperate need of matchmakers. Divock Origi and Luis Diaz entered the fray. Origi completely transformed the game.
And, potentially, the history of two Merseyside clubs in the process. Everton fell into the bottom three for the first time this season as April gives way to May. Liverpool remain on target for the first quadruple in English football.
I was a part of the first and scored on the second. Origi has an excellent record against Everton, but these goals could be the most important of his career.
Both were greeted with jubilant chants from the home crowd.
They no longer use the fact that they haven’t won a trophy since 1995 to taunt Evertonians. This is a larger version. They’re now singing about Everton’s impending relegation.
Next season’s derby, if there is one, could be against Wigan. It’s a frightening prospect.
And some could argue that it was well-deserved. Everton had the lowest amount of completed passes in the first half since Watford had 30 against Portsmouth in November 2006. Time-wasting and theatrics were a big element of their strategy here.
Anthony Gordon should have had a penalty in the second half, according to Everton. He didn’t get a second look from the VAR, most likely because he’d already been scheduled for a blatant dive.
As a result, the best team triumphed, and their talisman helped them win. Only Steven Gerrard has scored six goals in nine Merseyside derbies in the Premier League era, so when he came on at 60 minutes, there was a tremor of expectancy around Anield.
They didn’t have to hold their breath for long. Mo Salah produced a superb one-two with Origi after 62 minutes, before crossing to Andy Robertson at the far post.
It was his first goal at Anfield since September 2020. It was well worth the wait because of the occasion.
Similar to Origi’s second. This time, three substitutions were merged. Jordan Henderson’s cross, Diaz’s overhead kick that ricocheted across the area, and Origi’s close-range header.
Richarlison should have been sent out for a vicious kick at Henderson late in the game, but referee Stuart Attwell only gave him a yellow card.
