By Opta Analyst | Created at 2025-04-02 21:18:09 | Updated at 2025-04-04 05:47:07
1 day ago
It was a nervy Merseyside derby again, but Diogo Jota‘s goal sealed three points for Liverpool. Check out the best facts and Opta data in our Liverpool vs Everton stats page.
Diogo Jota scored the only goal of the Merseyside derby as Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 at Anfield to restore their 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Typically, it was far from a cultured performance from either team in a derby, but Jota’s strike just before the hour was enough for Arne Slot’s side on Wednesday.
Both teams could consider themselves lucky to have ended the game with 11 men, while Everton gave Liverpool scares in the first half especially, but the Reds took another big step on their march to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
It was a quiet start to the game on a windy night on Merseyside, but the temperature ramped up as the home fans bayed for a red card.
After being responsible for the dramatic ending in the draw at Goodison Park in February, James Tarkowski was very lucky he lasted more than 11 minutes in this one after he connected nastily with Alexis Mac Allister following a challenge with his studs showing, but the former Burnley centre-back was only booked by referee Samuel Barrott, with the VAR Paul Tierney deciding there was no need for an on-field review. Tarkowski now has the joint most yellow cards without ever being sent off in Premier League history (63, level with Oriol Romeu).
Beto, who scored the first goal in that 2-2 draw earlier in the season, had the ball in the net again here in the 21st minute after chasing a long ball and finishing well past Caoimhín Kelleher, but the Everton striker had just gone too early and was given offside.
Mohamed Salah came into the game looking to add to his 27 league goals but had to wait until the 28th minute for his first chance, heading a Luis Díaz cross straight at Jordan Pickford.
Beto could and should probably have put the visitors ahead shortly after that when he got the better of Virgil van Dijk and went through one-on-one with Kelleher, but he could only strike the right-hand post.
The second half continued in a similar nervy fashion from the hosts, until Jota broke the deadlock in the 57th minute. Ryan Gravenberch’s ball to Díaz was intercepted, but Jota won it back and Díaz then laid it into his path as he cut inside and finished calmly past Pickford.
Díaz created six chances on the night – Andy Robertson (2) was the only other player on the pitch to create more than one – and the most by a Liverpool player against Everton in a Premier League match since Salah in December 2017 (also 6).
Jota could have seen red when he was booked for dissent after disagreeing with the assistant referee awarding a free-kick against him, and the striker then sarcastically applauded the decision, but Barrott did not show a second yellow.
Liverpool had 73.8% possession and 17 shots to Everton’s five, with the Toffees not having a single attempt on target, but the game was still finely balanced heading into the latter stages.
Everton pushed for an equaliser late on as they won a number of set pieces, but Liverpool held form to take the local bragging rights and another crucial three points towards the title with just eight games remaining.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Liverpool vs Everton stats from their Premier League meeting at Anfield.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own post-match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
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