Liverpool 5-2 Everton: 5 Hits and Flops | Premier League 2019-20
Divock Origi netted a brace, while there were goals for Xherdan Shaqiri, Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum as Premier League leaders Liverpool cruised to a record-breaking 5-2 win over Merseyside rivals Everton, placing more pressure on beleaguered boss Marco Silva.
It took Jurgen Klopp's men just six minutes to break the deadlock, courtesy of Origi - who netted a stoppage-time winner against Everton in this fixture last season. Teed up by an excellent Mane pass, he breached the visitors' backline and sped beyond the onrushing Jordan Pickford before slotting into an open goal.
Shaqiri applied the finishing touch after a well-worked move, where Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mane combined in transition before the Senegalese forward teed up Shaqiri from close-range - on his first league start of 2019-20. Michael Keane netted his first goal since August last year to halve the deficit, profiting after Alex Iwobi's delivery was poorly defended by a sloppy Dejan Lovren.
However, Lovren atoned for his error ten minutes later with a fantastic over-the-top long ball into Origi, who showed great technique to unleash a side-foot finish past Pickford and restore the Reds' two-goal cushion. Mane made it 4-1 just before half-time, curling an effort into the far corner to complete a devastating counter-attack with aplomb after Alexander-Arnold's pass.
Richarlison netted his seventh goal of the campaign to reduce the deficit in first-half stoppage-time, as the Brazilian timed his movement in the box to perfection before heading past Adrian from close-range. After a frantic six-goal thriller, proceedings petered out after half-time - but chances were still flowing.
Mane, Richarlison and Everton sub Moise Kean squandered promising opportunities before Georginio Wijnaldum combined with substitute Roberto Firmino to hammer home Liverpool's fifth of the evening - in the most prolific Merseyside Derby since 1933. Without further ado, here's a look at five hits and flops from Liverpool's latest win:
#5 Flop: Tom Davies
After promising displays in November both with Everton and England under-21's, it has been a rude awakening upon his return for Tom Davies. The 21-year-old has started the last seven league games but this frustrating display and his subsequent substitution midway through the second-half suggests opportunities to usurp him could await both Morgan Schneiderlin and a returning Fabian Delph (thigh).
He completed 20 passes with 71.4% accuracy, won five of 10 duels contested and was fouled on three occasions. However, he crucially struggled to make his presence felt in midfield enough and often found himself on the periphery - when the opportunity to combine with Gylfi Sigurdsson was needed most.
Having conceded early on, Everton struggled to keep sustained periods and that was largely through Davies' inability to complete risky forward passes or take players on in possession.
Klopp made five changes to the Liverpool side who were 2-1 winners over Brighton last time out, with James Milner and Adam Lallana among them. He didn't do enough to bypass either player - both known for their workmanlike efforts - while making Wijnaldum's job easier in a holding midfield role.
He lost possession on nine occasions, was booked after committing two fouls and didn't do enough defensively (two interceptions, one tackle) to justify such an ineffective display, especially as Liverpool scored four with ease while he was on the pitch.
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