20.02.2021 21:21 h

Everton extend Liverpool's losing streak to end 11-year wait for derby win

Everton ended a 22-year wait to win a Merseyside derby at Anfield as goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson earned a 2-0 victory that condemned Liverpool to a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat.

The Toffees had not won a derby on any ground in 23 previous meetings stretching back to 2010, but took full advantage of the English champions' lost invincibility in front of empty stands.

"It's an amazing feeling, after coming here all those years and letting ourselves and more importantly letting the blue side of the city down," said Everton captain Seamus Coleman.

"It's been hard. We can try and brush it off but when you have lived in the city for 10 years it has been difficult to take."

After a club-record 68-game unbeaten run at home in the league came to an end last month, Liverpool have now lost four consecutive home games for the first time since 1923.

Victory takes Carlo Ancelotti's men level on points with their local rivals and with a game in hand to come in the battle for a top-four finish.

Liverpool are in serious danger of missing out on next season's Champions League as Jurgen Klopp's men remain in sixth, three points adrift of the top four.

And the Reds suffered another major injury blow when captain Jordan Henderson limped off midway through the first-half with a muscle problem.

"We gave the game the direction that wasn't necessary," said Klopp as the Reds conceded after just three minutes.

"We had to chase the game and we were not calm in the finishing situations."

The destiny of Liverpool's title defence was irrevocably damaged by the loss of Virgil van Dijk to a knee ligament injury when the sides last met in October.

Van Dijk was in attendance as he continues his rehabilitation, but the gap he has left was exposed inside three minutes.

Season-ending injuries to Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have exacerbated the talismanic Dutchman's absence, forcing Liverpool to recruit two new centre-backs on the final day of the January transfer market.

Ben Davies has still to make his debut, while Ozan Kabak has made a far from promising start.

The Turkish international's lack of pace was exposed in a 3-1 defeat to Leicester last weekend and he was again caught flat-footed when James Rodriguez released Richarlison in behind to fire confidently past Brazilian international teammate Alisson Becker.

Liverpool were furious at the lunge by Jordan Pickford that caused Van Dijk's injury in the previous derby.

The England international has also received plenty of criticism for his performances this season but produced a stunning save to deny Henderson an equaliser from a dipping volley.

Moments later, Henderson, who has deputised at centre-back for the past three months rather than his normal midfield role, added to Liverpool's long list of injuries as he pulled up with a groin injury.

"It is in the groin, adductor region," added Klopp. "We don't know exactly, the rest we will know tomorrow."

Alisson made a string of errors with his feet leading to goals against Manchester City and Leicester, but showed why he is still regarded as one of the world's best stoppers with a reflex save from Seamus Coleman's header.

Liverpool responded at the start of the second-half by penning Everton back, but again the Reds cutting edge was missing at Anfield.

Other than Mohamed Salah's penalty in a 4-1 defeat to City, Klopp's men have failed to score in their last five home games.

Sadio Mane planted a header straight into Pickford's arms before the goalkeeper spread himself well to block from Salah.

Ancelotti introduced top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin for the final half hour on his return from injury.

And the gamble paid off on a rare counter-attack from the visitors as the England international was taken down by Trent Alexander-Arnold after Alisson had saved his first effort.

Referee Chris Kavanagh stood by his original decision despite being asked to review the incident on VAR.

Sigurdsson kept his cool from the penalty spot to double Everton's lead and sap any lasting belief from Liverpool of ending their losing streak.