Striker Daniel Sturridge came off the bench to play a pivotal part in Liverpool snatching a winner in the fifth minute of added time of the 227th Merseyside derby last night.
The England international, making his first appearance since November 19, was a late introduction off the bench and it was his crossfield run and shot against a post which presented Sadio Mane with a tap in.
Sturridge has been sidelined with a calf injury, but having been included in the match-day squad for the first time he proved his match-winning capabilities again with the incisiveness which had been so lacking for long periods.
It ensured Liverpool closed the gap to Premier League leaders Chelsea back to six points and also extended Everton’s woeful run in this encounter to just one win in the last 20 league meetings.
The hosts were by far the better side for 45 minutes, but for all their possession and control lacked a cutting edge.
An out-of-sorts Liverpool found their game after the break, but it seemed they too would be frustrated until Sturridge and Mane’s late intervention deep into eight minutes of added time, mainly as a result of an injury to Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.
“Enjoy wasn’t the right word – it was very intense and a deserved win in a difficult game,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said.
“The best thing you can do on a night like this is win and you saw how happy our fans were.
“I can’t remember one chance for Everton. We needed someone who could shoot and Daniel Sturridge did that. If you only win games when you are brilliant you won’t win many games. It was a battle and we were ready for it.”
On his part, Everton manager Ronald Koeman felt that his team didn’t deserve to lose the match.
“I think it was a very good team performance. It was the best first 45 minutes. We were very aggressive. There was a big chance with the header from a corner kick,” he said.
“In the second half we had it more difficult. The substitutes of Liverpool had a big impact in the final result. We didn’t keep the ball after the break so much. The team didn’t deserve to lose the game.
“If you get the goal then that gives a boost. The eight minutes of extra time even made it more difficult. If I can say something about the referee. Why did he give Seamus Coleman a yellow and not Dejan Lovren (during the ‘pushing’ incidents)? Lovren was already on a yellow.”
Next fixtures
Monday, Dec. 26: 13.30 Watford vs C. Palace. 16.00 Arsenal vs West Brom; Burnley vs M’Boro; Chelsea vs Bourne-mouth; Leicester vs Everton; Man. United vs Sunderland; Swansea vs West Ham. 18.15 Hull vs Manchester City.
Tuesday, Dec. 27: 18.15 Liverpool vs Stoke.
Wednesday, Dec. 28: 20.45 Southampton vs Tottenham.