Premier League 2019-20: Liverpool 5-2 Everton – 4 Talking points from the Merseyside derby

There were no fewer than seven goals scored in the 234th edition of the Merseyside derby, with Liverpool running out comfortable 5-2 winners in front of a packed Anfield.

Both sides have experienced contrasting fortunes so far. While Liverpool have been the standard-bearers for the rest of the league to follow, Everton have been one of the more disappointing teams of the campaign to this point,

Given the difference in their form, it was widely expected that Liverpool would pick up all three points and they wasted little time to get going, as Divock Origi put them 1-0 up inside the first six minutes after coolly slotting home after a brilliant Sadio Mane pass found him at the edge of the box.

Ten minutes later, the hosts went two up and the scorer was none other than Xherdan Shaqiri - making his first league start of the season - who put Liverpool comfortably ahead.

Clean sheets have been difficult to come by for the Reds, who are yet to keep one this term at Anfield and just four minutes after going 2-0 up, they saw their lead reduced when Micheal Keane pulled one back for Everton.

Divock Origi grabbed his brace with an excellent finish from a Dejan Lovren diagonal and Mane put the home side 4-1 up soon after. Richarlison then scored for the third straight game with a well-taken header in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.

It seemed the players had exhausted their energy tanks with the high tempo first half and the second half was nowhere near matching the thrills and excitement from the first 45 minutes.

Some profligate finishing from both sides suggested the game would not see a goal in the second half but Gini Wjnaldum was on hand to make sure Liverpool scored five against their local rivals for the first time since 1982.

The win would have been pleasing for Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool fans, especially in light of the fact that their recent home games have all been nerve-wracking close encounters.

In this piece, we shall be highlighting four talking points from the enthralling encounter.

#4 Liverpool send a statement of intent

Liverpool FC v Everton FC - Premier League

It's been 30 years since Liverpool last won the league and for all of their continental prowess since then, this drought is a blip on their record and a constant source of jibes from rival fans.

There have been near-misses, none more so than last season that saw the Merseysiders lose out on the league title by just a solitary point and given how close they came, Jurgen Klopp promised that it would be more of the same this season.

So far, they have fulfilled their end of the bargain but rather surprisingly, Manchester City have fallen off the pace and have not matched the illustrious stands set by Liverpool.

The Mancunians' 4-1 victory over Burnley on Tuesday temporarily reduced the points gap to eight and while still significant, Klopp would have been eager to return to the status quo by picking all three points against Everton.

That proved to be exactly the case, with the win propelling The Reds back to an 11-point advantage over City and eight over Leicester City.

The win means that Liverpool still remain the only unbeaten side in the league this season, while it also stretched their unbeaten run to 32 games, a club record.

It also marked Jurgen Klopp's 100th Premier League victory, with the feat achieved in just 159 matches. Only Jose Mourinho (142) achieved it faster and with this form, Liverpool have sent a statement of their intent to end their league title drought.

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#3 More derby misery for Everton

The Merseyside derby is currently the longest-running top-flight derby in England, having been played continuously since the 1962-63 season and given the pedigree of both clubs, it is one of the most followed.

Once upon a time, this used to be an evenly matched contest and results were too close to call, but the blue half of Merseyside has been on a downward spiral in recent years while their red neighbours have been on an upward trajectory.

Coming into the fixture at Anfield, Everton were without a victory in the Merseyside derby in 20 matches, while they had not won at Anfield since 1999.

The defeat makes it 21 games without a win for Everton over Liverpool and fans who can remember the good old times would undoubtedly be longing for the period when they held bragging rights in the city.

#2 Divock Origi proving to be Klopp's go-to man

The effectiveness of Liverpool's front three, both in tandem and as individuals means that it is an almost impossible task to dislodge them from the starting lineup, but one man has always made the most of the opportunities afforded him.

Mo Salah was dropped from the starting XI in favour Xherdan Shaqiri against Everton but there were even more eyebrows raised when Divock Origi was handed a start in place of the ever-dependable Robert Firmino.

Origi has not been a particularly lethal striker, evidenced by the fact that he has scored just 18 goals in 75 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, but while he might not be that regular a goalscorer, he is a scorer of great and important goals.

Last season, he scored just three goals in the league but one of those was a last-gasp stoppage-time winner against Everton at Anfield that prompted wild celebrations and saw Klopp fined for running onto the field to embrace Alisson.

There was also a brace in the comeback over Barcelona as well as a trophy-clinching goal in the final against Tottenham. It would not be an exaggeration to state that Origi's goals have granted him cult status at Anfield.

His two goals in the game brought his total against Everton to five, placing him only behind the legendary duo of Robbie Fowler (6) and Steven Gerrard (9) as the players with the most Premier League goals for Liverpool against Everton.

When he was brought off the field by Jurgen Klopp, the Kop end was united in chanting his name in full force and you can be sure that Everton fans are sick of the sight of the Belgian international.

#1 The pressure mounts on Marco Silva

Marco Silva earned rave reviews for his work at Sporting Lisbon and Watford, with his attractive and expansive style of play winning him many admirers.

When Everton got fed up with Sam Allardyce, they turned to Silva as his replacement and were so unabashed in their courting of the Portuguese that Watford had to report the Merseysiders for an illegal approach for their employee while he was still under contract.

The termination of Silva's contract at Vicarage Road paved the way for Everton to get their man and while he might have somewhat underperformed in his first season by finishing in 8th place, the current campaign has been nothing short of shambolic.

Following the loss against Liverpool, Everton have now lost their last three matches in the league and are currently in the relegation zone which is an aberration considering how much money the club has spent and the quality of players within their ranks.

Don't be surprised if Marco Silva gets the axe in the next few hours.

Edited by Raunak J