- Liverpool beat Everton 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday
- Veterans Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were on the scoresheet
- David Moyes and Co. feel they were hard done by
Everton’s Jake O’Brien was left ‘lost for words’ after Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Reds faithful have not had much to celebrate this season, but that was not the case at the weekend, as Arne Slot’s men earned a victory over their arch-rivals Everton to reinforce their place in fifth position of the Premier League table.
In truth, it was another lacklustre performance from the Anfield outfit, but that was enough to claim all three points against the Toffees on their home turf.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring for the visitors just after Iliman Ndiaye had a goal chalked off for offside.
However, Beto drew the game level for David Moyes’ side nine minutes into the second half, and it appeared that the rivals would be sharing the spoils on this occasion.
Virgil van Dijk, though, had other plans, as he rose above everyone else to get on the end of a Dominik Szoboszlai corner and head the ball into the back of the net in the 100th minute.
The goal was a carbon copy of the Dutchman’s late winner on his debut in the 2-1 FA Cup win against Everton in January 2018.
Jake O’Brien “lost for words” after loss v Liverpool
David Moyes side feel they were hard done by with the Scot insisting that his side should have received a penalty for an apparent foul on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall by Curtis Jones.
Meanwhile, Jake O’Brien has claimed that the result does not reflect the game, suggesting that Everton were the better side for the most part.
The defender admitted that he was “lost for words” after Van Dijk’s late winner earned the Reds the win, confessing that his side only had themselves to blame.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he said: “[I’m] lost for words really, I thought we played well for the majority of the game and had the better chances… Then let ourselves down with a poor goal at the end. It’s not a result that reflects the game, I don’t think.
“Coming into a game like this is huge. Moments in a game can go for or against you but we stayed in it. Moments can be capitalised on and they scored a goal at the end that was really poor.
“I think we played well and the atmosphere was really good. It was a small moment that let us down, I think we were the better team on the day.”
Reds on course to qualify for Champions League
It is always fun to dunk on the Toffees, but more importantly, the win puts Liverpool in the driving seat to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season.
This campaign has been a total failure from the Reds’ perspective, but it remains imperative that they qualify for Europe’s elite competition.
With Chelsea losing to Manchester United at the weekend, Slot’s side are now seven points clear off the Blues in fifth position.
They are also only three points behind Aston Villa and Manchester United.
With only five games left to play, the Merseyside-based club are on course to earn Champions League qualification.
It is evident that Liverpool need to strengthen their squad in a few areas to be back at their best next season.
Therefore, they will will be relying on the cash inflow from qualifying for the Champions League ahead of the summer.
