Liverpool extend derby dominance as Everton fall 2-1 at Anfield despite Idrissa Gana Gueye strike

Liverpool maintained their long-standing dominance over Everton in the Merseyside derby, claiming a 2-1 victory at Anfield despite a spirited second-half response from the Toffees.

The win extended Liverpool’s remarkable unbeaten run in this historic fixture to 36 matches, ensuring they remain firmly at the top of the Premier League table with a perfect record of five wins from five.

The match began with the home side asserting their authority almost immediately. Everton’s defensive resolve lasted only ten minutes before Ryan Gravenberch broke the deadlock, calmly finishing a move that highlighted Liverpool’s attacking sharpness.

The early setback rattled the visitors, and just under 20 minutes later, the Reds doubled their advantage. Hugo Ekitike, alert inside the box, pounced in the 29th minute to leave Everton trailing 2-0 and facing an uphill battle.

At that stage, Liverpool looked well on course for another routine derby success. Their movement and pressing pinned Everton deep, with the visitors struggling to impose themselves in midfield.

Yet to their credit, David Moyes’ side refused to capitulate. They regrouped at half-time and emerged with renewed energy after the interval.

The reward for their persistence arrived in the 58th minute. Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye, a consistent figure for Everton, latched onto a clever pass from compatriot Iliman Ndiaye before slotting past Alisson Becker to make it 2-1. The goal not only halved the deficit but also injected belief into the Toffees, who began to apply sustained pressure on the Liverpool back line.

For much of the final half-hour, the match carried an intensity befitting one of English football’s fiercest rivalries. Everton pressed forward in search of an equaliser, forcing Liverpool into several moments of defensive caution.

Ndiaye, operating with determination in attack, combined well with Gueye to unsettle the hosts, while Everton’s late surges repeatedly pushed play into the Liverpool half.

However, despite their spirited effort, the visitors were unable to find a decisive breakthrough. Liverpool’s defensive organisation, coupled with Alisson’s assured presence in goal, ensured the lead was protected until the final whistle.

The Reds, though not at their fluent best in the closing stages, had already done enough in the first half to secure all three points.

For Everton, it marked a second league defeat of the campaign, though Moyes will take encouragement from the resilience his side displayed after a difficult opening period.

Their second-half performance, spearheaded by the Senegalese duo of Gueye and Ndiaye, demonstrated both quality and determination, traits that will be essential as they aim to steady their season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, reinforced their status as the league’s early pacesetters. With five consecutive victories, Jürgen Klopp’s men are setting a relentless standard, and their continued supremacy in the Merseyside derby only underlines the gulf that remains between the two clubs in recent years.

Anfield once again proved to be an unyielding venue for Everton, whose wait for a rare derby success goes on. Despite Gueye’s goal providing a glimmer of hope, the story of the day was Liverpool’s continued dominance — clinical early on, disciplined late, and still untouchable in this famous fixture.

FT. pic.twitter.com/UFN8cGpdTk

— Everton (@Everton) September 20, 2025