"The Reds are back", "In Klopp we trust" - Twitter explodes as Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah spearhead Liverpool to 2-0 win against Everton
Liverpool won the battle on Merseyside with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Everton at Anfield on Monday (February 13). The Reds may have just got their season back on track as they moved above Chelsea into ninth place.
Jurgen Klopp's side started with attacking intentions, quick in their press and moving the ball smoothly. An audacious acrobatic attempt from Darwin Nunez fell into Cody Gakpo's path, but the Dutchman placed his 17th-minute headed effort off target.
Everton were despairingly close to taking the lead in the 36th minute when James Tarkowski placed a header on Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker's crossbar. However, Klopp's men raced forward with lightning speed, Nunez pacing down the left flank. He sent a perfect cross to Mohamed Salah, which confused Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The Egyptian lifted the ball into the back of the net to give Liverpool a vital lead in a chaotic 10-second spell.
A similarly impressive counter-attacking goal secured the Reds' second and Cody Gakpo's first goal for the club in the 48th minute. Salah found Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right flank, and the English right-back sent a low-driven cross into Gakpo at the far post. The Dutch attacker slotted home from close range to open his account for Klopp's side.
Nunez was threatening throughout and nearly got his name on the scoresheet in the 61st minute. However, his bending shot flew past Pickford's goal. It was a good outing for the Uruguayan, who was withdrawn in the 69th minute with Saturday's trip to Newcastle United in mind.
Everton lacked the fire they showed in their previous outing, which was a brilliant 1-0 victory over league leaders Arsenal. They struggled to deal with the speed at which Klopp's men broke forward. They did have a chance to make things interesting in the 79th minute when Alex Iwobi sent a floating cross toward Tom Davies, but the midfielder's head was way off target.
Liverpool have moved above Chelsea into 9th with their win over their Merseyside rivals. They face fourth-placed Newcastle on Saturday (February 18), who they trail by nine points.
One Reds fan reckons his side are back, tweeting:
"The Reds are back."
Another is urging the Anfield faithful to keep faith in their manager:
"In Klopp we trust."
Here's how Twitter reacted to the Reds taking the spoils in the Merseyside derby:
A first Reds goal for Cody 😍 https://t.co/V5TE8UU6Br
@LFC Letsssss goooo! Now to kick on from here. Perfect result with Gakpo getting his first too. 💪
100 - Mo Salah has become the 13th player to be involved in 100 Premier League goals at a single stadium (71 goals, 29 assists at Anfield). He's done so in 104 appearances, with only Alan Shearer (74 at Ewood Park) and Thierry Henry (92 at Highbury) doing so in fewer. Kopite.
Nunez to Salah. Absolute perfection
beat Newcastle on Saturday (easier said than done but hear me out) and suddenly we’re a game in hand and 6 points off 4th? 😭😭😭
@AnfieldWatch The build up was crazy, unreal from Nunez
Mohammed Salah has scored his first Premier League goal since Boxing Day, when he scored away to Aston Villa. That was 50 days ago.
Deadly on the counter. 🔥 https://t.co/mlQEsoL7Dx
Pickford’s Google - map was not working twitter.com/janaagefjortof…
If Jordan Pickford was a dog…
https://t.co/N2kXOydNnW
Fairly sound of Jordan Pickford to run out of the way and let Salah tap it into an open goal.
Pickford England No 1???? Rubbish positioning
The Reds are back.
We are so back #LFC #Klopp #YNWA #InKloppWeTrust https://t.co/FlXXt5kMeH
In Klopp we trust
Honestly pleased for Gakpo, he needed one there.
Gakpo finally scores 😭😭 twitter.com/LFC/status/162… https://t.co/kXSdX5Ityv
Cody Gakpo remember the name https://t.co/FDuOxDcVhP
Thiago not in the squad and Liverpool win for the first time in 2023… makes you wonder https://t.co/p1NpqysYKG
Liverpool seem to be controlling the midfield, that’s so weird. Thiago isn’t playing, I thought that’s what he was there for 🤔
Darwin Nunez’s first half by numbers vs. Everton:
21 touches
3 ground duels won
3 ball recoveries
2 dribbles completed
2 key passes
2 big chances created
1 assist
Making life hard for Everton so far. 💪 https://t.co/ArpPLf7I32
The Boy Bajcetic looks a real player... Nunez is top class also
I absolutely love Darwin Nunez, his attitude is next level, that Salah goal was nearly all him.
Will be brilliant for Liverpool if we can surround him with good players.
Has all the tools to be a top class premier league striker 👍
🏾Liverpool scrapping again, the dog in us back 🙏🏾
UP THE REDS ✊ https://t.co/W6REYXUYdQ
Andy Robertson just remembered what Pickford did for the first goal. https://t.co/GtBvsXG0Jv
Liverpool boss Klopp vowed to turn things around before Merseyside Derby win
There have been murmurs around Anfield about Klopp potentially being under pressure amid the Reds' struggles this season. Their seventh league defeat of the season was a 3-0 thrashing away at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Questions have been asked about whether the Liverpool manager is feeling the heat.
However, Klopp gave a rousing speech stating his determination to weather the storm with his Merseyside club. He said (via Fabrizio Romano):
“If people believe in me, then we will go through this together. We will have great times again. I will not and I cannot go. I’ve too much responsibility. It's difficult times but this club is special because we believe."
Klopp was appointed Reds manager in 2015 and has overseen 254 wins from 411 matches. Liverpool have won the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League, the FA cup, and the Carabao Cup during his tenure at Anfield.