Despite their lacklustre form in recent months, Liverpool made sure to turn up for the all-important Merseyside Derby, as they picked up a 2-0 victory against Everton.
After a nightmare display against Wolves last week, the Reds needed to deliver a resurgent performance, and they certainly didn’t disappoint.
While a number of key players were unavailable for selection, their XI on the night still managed to deliver a cohesive performance which earned Liverpool’s first Premier League win in 2023.
All the standard qualities fans have come to expect from Jurgen Klopp’s side were visibly present, be it the stifling press to hamper opposition build-up or the suffocating counter-press to win back possession.
Counter Attacking, another one of Liverpool’s signature traits was also present in their performance and it ultimately made all the difference.
In recent years, the sight of Liverpool’s front three swiftly combining on the break has been fairly common, but this season, their counter-attacking nous seemed to have disappeared entirely.
This has been a result of their shakeup in terms of attacking personnel, alongside key injuries which have also played a major role.
Nevertheless, their counter-attacking gene definitely turned up last night, as Liverpool was electric in transition.
In fact, the opening goal itself came through a stunning counter-attack, which kicked off right after Everton rattled the post from a corner.
The ball came out to Darwin Nunez on the edge of the box, who proceeded to execute a quick 1-2 with Mo Salah before embarking on a rampant run down Everton’s left.
The Uruguayan covered almost the length of the pitch before calmly scooping the ball into the path of an onrushing Mo Salah, who made no mistake with the finish.
Liverpool went from back to front in just 13 seconds, a figure which really sums up the breathtaking pace of the counter.
The goal helped release the palpable tension present at Anfield, and after gaining the lead, the Reds began to firmly take charge of the game.
They secured all 3 points through a second goal during the 49th minute, scored after another sweeping counter from within their own half.
While it wasn’t as quick as the 13-second opener, it was still a fantastic goal, very reminiscent of the Liverpool from last season.
Fans will be hoping that the win finally sets Liverpool on their way to turning the season around, and getting at least within touching distance of the European berths.
3 points on the night meant that the Reds climbed to 9th place, but more importantly, it made sure that the bragging rights remained in the Red half of Merseyside.