Ryan Gravenberch was the star of the show for Liverpool, as they recorded a fifth straight league win of the season against Everton on Saturday.
In the first Merseyside derby of the 2025/26 season, the 2025 PFA Young Player of the season award winner, netted the opener and laid on the assist for the second as the Premier League champions defeated their rivals 2-1 at Anfield.
Liverpool headed into the encounter after securing another late win in midweek, this time a 3-2 victory Spanish side Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Everton, meanwhile, headed into the clash having lost on their last four visits to Anfield in all competitions.
Arne Slot made some bold calls with his starting lineup, dropping record arrivals Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, with Hugo Ekitike coming back into the attack.
Jeremy Frimpong also started on the bench, with Conor Bradley preferred to start at the right back position.
Despite these changes, they scored their earliest home goal in two years when Gravenberch got on the end of a brilliant ball from Mohamed Salah, before finishing past Jordan Pickford.
One became two moments later, when the Dutchman turned provider for summer signing Hugo Ekitike to score his third league goal of the season.
The visitors improved after the break and halved the deficit through Idrissa Gueye, to send the game into a tense finish.
Alexander Isak came on later in the second half for his Anfield debut, but was unable to add to the scoreline.
The match ended 2-1 in favor of the home side, as their perfect start to the 2025/26 season continues with a sixth consecutive win in all competitions.
Gravenberch also earned the player of the match award for his impressive display, winning the award for a third straight league match.
The defeat also means Everton manager David Moyes remains winless in 21 visits to Anfield in the English Premier League.
The defending champions top the standings with 15 points, six ahead of Arsenal who occupy second-place, ahead of other weekend matches.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
