Liverpool dominate Everton with goals from Gravenberch and Ekitiké in the first half of the derby at Anfield in the Premier League Por Luís Henrique Costa
11 min de leitura
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The opening whistle echoed at Anfield, and Liverpool wasted no time imposing their rhythm in the derby against Everton. With firm ball possession from the first touches, Arne Slot’s team exchanged quick passes through the middle, testing the visitors’ defense early on. Mohamed Salah, always dangerous on the right, received the ball at two minutes and attempted a cross into the box, but Everton’s defense cleared with precision. The packed stadium, with over 54,000 fans, buzzed with anticipation for an intense derby, where every move carried the weight of a century-old rivalry.
Virgil van Dijk, the Reds’ captain, started a move with a long ball to Cody Gakpo at one minute, but the pass went out over the end line with too much force. Everton, under David Moyes, responded with tight marking, forcing errors in Liverpool’s buildup. At four minutes, Salah tried to cut inside from the right but was dispossessed by James Tarkowski, who cleared the danger. The match already showed signs of balance, with fierce battles in midfield.
- Electric start: Liverpool control 62% of possession in the first five minutes.
- Constant pressure: Three shots attempted by the Reds, none on target yet.
- Everton defensive: Focus on counterattacks, with Jack Grealish isolated on the left.
- Alert refereeing: No cards yet, but tactical fouls set the pace.
The game gained pace at six minutes when a cross to the far post fell to Gakpo, who tried to finish, but Michael Keane blocked at the right moment. The Dutchman, positioned as an attacking midfielder, showed mobility, but Everton stayed compact. At eight minutes, Liverpool pressed without creating clear chances, while Everton relied on long balls to Beto, who still lacked clean service.
Decisive moments in the early stages
At nine minutes, Milos Kerkez surged through the middle and passed to Gakpo, who lost the ball attempting a dribble in the box. The mistake didn’t cost much, as Liverpool quickly recovered and kept dictating the tempo. At 10 minutes, the stadium erupted: Szoboszlai found Salah on the right, and the Egyptian delivered a stunning deep pass to Ryan Gravenberch. The Dutch midfielder arrived behind the defense and struck first-time, precise and accurate, beating Jordan Pickford. Gravenberch’s goal at 10 minutes opened the score at 1-0, shifting the match’s tone as the Reds gained confidence.
At 12 minutes, Grealish was launched on the left for Everton but failed to control, letting the ball go out for a throw-in. Liverpool responded with swift passing at 14 minutes, keeping Everton pinned back with no outlet options. At 15 minutes, Salah reached the edge of the box and tried a curled shot, but it went over the bar. Soon after, Salah jinked past the defense and passed to Szoboszlai, whose shot was blocked by Everton’s backline, wasting a good chance.
The dominance continued at 18 minutes, with Liverpool exchanging passes and preventing Everton from crossing the halfway line. At 20 minutes, the fans paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota, a former Reds player, chanting his name in reference to his number 20. The Portuguese had scored in the last derby, and his memory still resonated. At 22 minutes, Beto was launched behind Van Dijk, but Ibrahima Konaté made a strong clearance. Tarkowski took a corner soon after, and Alisson punched clear with authority.
- Gravenberch’s goal (10’): Salah’s brilliant pass sets up the opener.
- Salah’s chance (15’): Shot over the bar after an individual run.
- Jota tribute (20’): Fans honor the idol with passionate chants.
- Konaté’s clearance (22’): Precise cut-out avoids danger in the box.
- Corner cleared (22’): Alisson intervenes confidently.
At 23 minutes, a swift counterattack down the right saw Salah receive from Szoboszlai and attempt a cross, but it was blocked, falling to Gakpo in the box. The midfielder mishit a first-time shot and sent it wide, missing a chance to extend the lead. At 25 minutes, Alexis Mac Allister escaped Iliman Ndiaye’s marking, who committed a foul and received a yellow card at 27 minutes. Everton tried to react, but Liverpool stayed in control.
Timeline of key moments up to 47 minutes
The match continued with intensity, and at 26 minutes, Everton nearly equalized: Grealish made a good move on the left, got past Gravenberch, and passed to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who shot wide with danger. At 27 minutes, Kerkez tried to spark a counterattack, but Ndiaye stopped the move with another foul. Liverpool didn’t falter and, at 28 minutes, scored their second: Gravenberch exchanged passes through the middle and found Ekitiké with a deep pass. The Frenchman controlled in the box and struck quickly past Pickford, making it 2-0. The crowd filled the air with chants, while Everton looked stunned.
At 31 minutes, Vitaliy Mykolenko battled for the ball on the left with Conor Bradley and committed a foul in attack. Everton gained a spell of possession at 34 minutes but lacked creativity, relying on ineffective crosses. At 36 minutes, Alisson’s poor distribution led to an Everton cross from the right; Beto finished in the box but sent it wide. At 37 minutes, the visitors pressed more, but Liverpool’s defense blocked shots effectively.
At 38 minutes, a scuffle in the box: Tarkowski and Van Dijk pushed each other before a throw-in, and the referee called both captains for a talk. At 39 minutes, Tarkowski tried to capitalize on a loose ball in the box, but Van Dijk shielded until Alisson claimed it, taunting his rival afterward. At 42 minutes, Everton pushed forward, but the hosts’ defense held firm. At 45 minutes, Grealish crossed from the left to Gueye, who shot weakly, and Alisson saved easily. One minute of stoppage time was announced.
- 10’: Gravenberch scores the first after Salah’s assist.
- 15’: Salah shoots over in a clear chance.
- 23’: Gakpo mishits in a promising counterattack.
- 28’: Ekitiké extends the lead with a composed finish.
- 26’: Dewsbury-Hall nearly equalizes for Everton.
- 45’: Gueye shoots weakly in a good opportunity.
The whistle blew at 46 minutes, ending the first half with Liverpool leading 2-0. The match, broadcast to millions worldwide, highlighted the Reds’ strong start to the 2025/26 season.
Lineups and tactics on display
Arne Slot opted for a classic 4-2-3-1 for Liverpool, with Alisson in goal, Bradley at right-back, Konaté and Van Dijk at center-back, and Kerkez on the left. In midfield, Mac Allister and Gravenberch anchored, while Szoboszlai, Salah, and Gakpo formed the attacking trio behind Ekitiké. This setup allowed quick transitions, exploiting the wings with Salah and Gakpo, and Szoboszlai’s creative midfield play. Gravenberch, in top form, played box-to-box, contributing in defense and attack, proving decisive in the goals.
David Moyes mirrored the 4-2-3-1 for Everton, with Pickford protected by O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, and Mykolenko. Gueye and Garner held the midfield, with Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall, and Grealish creating for Beto. The visitors’ strategy prioritized defensive compactness, with crosses from the flanks via Grealish and Mykolenko, but lacked depth in midfield. Beto, isolated, received few clean balls, and Dewsbury-Hall showed flashes but missed the target.
The Anfield clash, part of the fifth round of the Premier League, featured two teams in contrasting moments. Liverpool, top with 12 points from four games, maintained a 100% record with wins over Bournemouth (4-2), Newcastle (3-2), Arsenal (1-0), and Burnley (1-0), plus a Champions League victory against Atlético Madrid (3-2). These results underscored Slot’s tactical solidity, with an average of 8.3 shots and 5.8 corners per game.
Everton, sixth with seven points, had mixed results: 3-2 over Wolves, 2-0 against Brighton, but stumbles against Leeds (0-1) and Aston Villa (0-0). With an average of five shots and 3.4 corners, Moyes’ side showed balance but struggled with injuries and relied on Grealish, named August’s best player after his move from Manchester City. The rivalry, with 246 official matches, saw Liverpool ahead historically, with 100 wins to Everton’s 68 and 78 draws.
In the round’s context, the derby drew global attention, especially as Liverpool defended their English title with an unbeaten start. Everton aimed to surprise, as in their 2021 2-0 win at Anfield, but the current 2-0 scoreline complicated their plans. The crowd, known for its unique atmosphere, sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before kickoff, raising the stakes.
Tributes and atmosphere at the stadium
Before the game, players took the field amid deafening applause, with blue and red flags and banners splitting the air. The tribute to Jota at 20 minutes paused the match briefly, with fans raising scarves and chanting his name, recalling his decisive goal in the April 2025 derby (1-0 to Liverpool). Jota, who wore number 20, became a symbol of grit, and the tribute moved even the substitutes.
The atmosphere in Liverpool, the Beatles’ city, was electric, with packed pubs and decorated streets. Rival families shared the day, but respect prevailed despite light-hearted taunts. In the stadium, the rivalry manifested in alternating chants, with the Reds dominating the noise after the goals. Enhanced security, with over 200 stewards, ensured order for an event drawing tourists from dozens of countries.
At 38 minutes, the clash between Tarkowski and Van Dijk exemplified the tension: the captains exchanged glares before the referee intervened. Van Dijk, with his commanding presence, taunted his rival verbally after shielding the ball, but the referee calmed things without cards. Such incidents, common in the derby, added spice without escalating to violence.
The first half ended with Liverpool leading the stats: 12 shots to Everton’s 5, 58% possession, and three more corners. Gravenberch, with a goal and assist, emerged as the standout, while Ekitiké, a recent signing, celebrated his first derby goal. Everton, despite pressing at 42 minutes, lacked creativity, with Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall’s crosses cut out by Konaté and Bradley.
Performance of the goalscorers in focus
Mohamed Salah, with his vision, set the early tempo, assisting the first goal and creating two chances. At 15 minutes, his curled shot nearly doubled the lead, and at 23 minutes, he sparked the counterattack for Gakpo. The Egyptian, averaging a goal every two games this season, pressured Keane and Tarkowski, forcing errors. His partnership with Szoboszlai, who provided three key passes, bolstered the attack.
Hugo Ekitiké, the spearhead, justified Slot’s trust by scoring at 28 minutes. The 22-year-old Frenchman calmly controlled Gravenberch’s pass and finished past the keeper, showing composure under pressure. In his Premier League debut season, he already had one goal, complementing Salah’s four in the scoring charts. At two minutes, he recovered the ball at the box’s edge and set up Salah, signaling versatility.
For Everton, Beto had a chance at 36 minutes, finishing a cross but sending it wide. The Portuguese, with two goals this season, was too isolated, relying on Grealish, who created Dewsbury-Hall’s chance at 26 minutes. Grealish, ex-City, dribbled well on the left but lacked precision in crosses. Dewsbury-Hall, with a dangerous shot, was the most active in midfield but missed the target.
Gueye, at 45 minutes, wasted Everton’s best chance, shooting weakly after Grealish’s cross. The Senegalese midfielder, averaging two tackles per game, contributed defensively but was limited offensively to rare arrivals. Ndiaye, with a card at 27 minutes, disrupted the flow with fouls, while Garner anchored without shining.
The halftime whistle came with Liverpool on top, and the second half promised more drama. Anfield pulsed, and the 2-0 scoreline kept the Reds in command, but Everton, known for comebacks, still had a chance. The match, part of a round with games like Arsenal vs Tottenham, showcased the Premier League at its peak.
