Reds rout as Liverpool thrash Everton by four in thrilling Merseyside derby

Exciting opening blows

Like any Merseyside derby worth its salt, the first 45 were fast and furious, filled with full-blooded tackles, cautions and goal mouth action galore, though many a chance also went begging.

Everton post protector Joel Robles certainly earned his wage early on, as the stopper halted an onrushing Adam Lallana with his legs.

A carelessly hacked a clearance fell fortuitously to alert Roberto Firmino, and the Brazilian laid the ball off first time with a defence-splitting pass over the top to the Englishman, who galloped through on goal with only Robles in his way.

It was a chance that perfectly summed up the first-half of an end-to-end contest at Anfield, as Kevin Mirallas then picked the ball up outside the Everton box and sprinted the length of the pitch, pouncing as his own pass rebounded off Sakho, though the Belgian could only scoop his subsequent shot over.

It was then crafty Coutinho’s turn to try his hand at dispatching from distance, but the Brazilian similarly blasted his strike over, also lashing a set-piece just wide later in the half.

There were more chances for Everton too, however, as Leighton Baines slipped Romelu Lukaku into the Toffees area, and the Belgium international bullied his way past the backline forcing Sakho to sweep in with a superbly clean tackle.

Origi and Sakho strike set-piece blows

Everton soon showed their weakness at crosses and corners, however, as Nathaniel Clyne pinged a pinpoint ball to Lallana’s head, but the Englishman, who had spurned many a chance already, could not nod home.

The Reds had sensed they were close to a goal, though, and continued to test Robles’ resistance, as the Spaniard was forced to deny a dangerous Origi, who danced through the area ominously before pulling the trigger.

It eventually took 42 minutes, but Klopp’s guys tipped the Merseyside balance in their favour through the bright Belgian, who continued his prolific purple patch with a timely header.

It was James Milner who proved the creative protagonist, sweeping in a cross from the flank, with Robels left stranded as Origi rose highest to beat John Stones in the air and nod into the net simply.

Anfield support were given another reason to roar again just moments later, in added time before the break, as Everton repeated their error. This time it was Sakho, another recent goal hero, who made the extra minutes count. Milner was again the orchestrator, creating the opening before pumping in another cross for the defender to head in heroically, denting the Toffees chances of a comeback.

Funes Mori red mist

If the first 45 went badly for blue half of Merseyside, Everton were to suffer further in the second, as centre back Funes Mori saw straight red from the referee for a lunge on opening scorer Origi.

The striker was forced to leave the pitch on a stretcher, substituted for Daniel Sturridge, with home fans no doubt hoping their man of the moment will be fit for Europa League duty next against Villarreal.

Sturridge was swiftly in the thick of things, however, sliding through Firmino on goal, but Robles again romped off his line to intercept as one of Everton’s most impressive performers of the evening.

Sturridge and Coutinho class shows

A sloppy ball from the back by distracted defender Stones soon let lethal Sturridge flex his scoring muscles. Not long on the pitch, the poacher struck around 60 minutes, after Lucas Leiva snatched Stones’ loose ball and picked out the sharpshooter, who ghosted expertly between the Everton backline to slot home sublimely.

Liverpool (13/8 with Coral to lift the Europa League) were not about to let their neighbours off the hook, however, as wave after wave of attack pinned back the 10-man Toffees, with Coutinho repeatedly going close.

Finally the Samba star got his goal, after Clyne cut in from the right to find Joe Allen, with the anchorman setting up Coutinho near the edge of the area. After taking a touch, the South American sent a swerving low shot past battered Robles before wheeling away to celebrate the rampant Reds’ fourth, though later replays showed Sturridge could claim the strike due to a slight deflection.

And so, Klopp continues to carve out a legend in Liverpool while compounding Martinez’s woe on an embarrassing evening for Evertonians, with the Catalan coach set for a storm of speculation over his future.

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