Tue | Dec 31, 2024

Everton claim rare Anfield win

Published:Sunday | February 21, 2021 | 12:22 AM
Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri (left) vies for the ball with Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure during the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, England, yesterday. Everton won 2-0.
AP
Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri (left) vies for the ball with Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure during the English Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield in Liverpool, England, yesterday. Everton won 2-0.

LIVERPOOL, England (AP):

Everton deepened Liverpool’s Premier League title defense woes by winning at Anfield for the first time since 1999 yesterday, a 2-0 triumph that consigned the champions to a fourth successive home loss.

It’s Liverpool’s worst run at home since 1923 and leaves Jürgen Klopp’s side 16 points behind leaders Manchester City and with Everton only behind on goal difference with a game in hand.

Everton hadn’t even beaten Liverpool anywhere since 2010. The only disappointment for Carlo Ancelotti’s side will have been not having any fans allowed into the home of their greatest rivals, due to the pandemic, to see the landmark triumph.

Everton’s intention was clear from the start to get the ball forward and put the inexperienced Liverpool central defensive partnership of Jordan Henderson and Ozan Kabak under pressure.

It paid off after just 2 minutes, 25 seconds as Kabak’s weak headed clearance fell to James Rodriguez who slipped in a pass behind the on-loan Schalke centre back. Richarlison ran on to fire an angled drive across goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Liverpool then lost Henderson to injury and struggled to properly test goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

Hopes of a comeback were thwarted by Trent Alexander-Arnold bringing down substitute Calvert-Lewin and Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring from a penalty in the 83rd minute.