Liverpool hold on against Everton after Gravenberch stunner opened derby

With a 2-1 win over Everton and a six-point lead at the top of the table, Liverpool extended their perfect Premier League start to keep their grip on the Merseyside derby.

The defending champions’ reward for a strong first half on Saturday was two goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, making it their fifth Premier League victory in a row.

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After the break, however, Everton’s goal was saved by Idrissa Gana Gueye, who had given them no more room to breathe.

To win all four of their previous four Premier League games and their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid in midweek, Arne Slot’s men needed late goals.

The Reds’ main focus was on their excellent work inside the first 30 minutes, leaving Everton with no win in front of a home crowd in the twenty-first century.

With the return of Alexis MacAllister along with Dominik Szoboszlai and the impressive Gravenberch in midfield, Slot left both his 100 million pounds ($135 million) plus signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak on the bench.

Just nine minutes into the game, the Dutch midfielder deftly completed Mohamed Salah’s cross on the half-volley.

A powerfully struck effort on Salah’s trusted left foot, which flew just wide, came close to a second moments later.

The resurrected Jack Grealish, who had led Everton for four games, had been instrumental in that success.

Unsurprisingly, the loanee from Manchester City was at the heart of the team’s best first-half move when he sent a pass through to Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, who fired wide from a close angle.

Ekiti rolling Gravenberch’s pass through Jordan Pickford’s legs marked Liverpool’s fine team play as he scored his third goal in five Premier League games since joining Eintracht Frankfurt.

However, after being pegged by Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Atletico earlier this season, Liverpool almost lost control of the second half.

Just over 60 hours after Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time winner against Atletico on Wednesday, the intensity of the kickoff seemed to be a factor.

Just before the hour mark, when Grealish’s deep cross was reversed into Gueye’s path, who blasted past Alisson Becker, Everton found a lifeline.

With little success, Slot turned to Wirtz and Isak off the bench to try to regain control.

However, Liverpool did manage to watch a sleazy finale that gave Everton manager David Moyes an unwelcome reputation.