Cruel On Everton: Origi Strikes To Steal Victory For Liverpool

LIVERPOOL, England- Everton lost the Merseyside derby in the cruellest fashion imaginable when Divock Origi scored from close range deep into stoppage time. 

Substitute Origi pounced after Trent Alexander-Arnold's free-kick into the box had been kept alive and turned goalwards. Jordan Pickford could not claim the high ball and Origi turned in.

Andre Gomes came closest for Everton when his first-half effort was smuggled off the line by defender Joe Gomez.

Origi hit the woodwork for Liverpool in the game's closing minutes. That scare aside, Silva's team had looked comfortable negotiating a heated finish to the match before being hit by a late sucker punch. 

Gomes was a sliver of white paint from marking his Merseyside derby debut with a goal midway through the opening half. 

The midfielder’s diving header caused all manner of panic in Liverpool’s rearguard, Alisson Becker making the initial save and centre-back Gomez hooking the ball from the line after the follow up was nudged on target.

Gomes had started the move, striding through midfield, the ball glued to his feet, before passing left to Bernard. 

His lofted cross picked out Theo Walcott, who nodded back across the box for Gomes, hurling himself through the air now, to power his effort on target.

Home pressure

Everton had withstood a flurry of home pressure by this stage – but not been without a chance or two of their own. 

Yerry Mina, for instance, met Lucas Digne’s left-wing free-kick on four minutes but sent the ball past Alisson’s right post.

For Liverpool, Sadio Mane’s composure deserted him as he addressed a bouncing ball around the penalty spot, the forward walloping his shot over. 

And not long after the same attacker was unable to rein in a pass over the top from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Roberto Firmino was the next Liverpool player to have back-to-back attempts at breaking the deadlock – the Brazilian’s first short squirting wide following Mohamed Salah’s run and cut-back, his next strike, a hit from distance, easily fielded by Pickford.

Richarlison split his countryman’s efforts with an incisive run and one-two with Gomes but the forward lost his balance after escaping Virgil van Dijk in the box.

Liverpool striker, Mo Salah thwarted by the Everton defence in the Merseyside Derby on December 2, 2018. PHOTO/Everton FC

A splendid back heel on the volley by Walcott was indicative of Everton’s steadily growing assurance. 

Bernard outmuscling Xherdan Shaqiri and luring the Swiss into a foul for which he was booked just past the half hour a measure of how the visitors were establishing a foothold in the contest.

Walcott was the recipient of a brilliant reverse pass from Gylfi Sigurdsson 10 minutes before the break. 

The Englishman’s first touch took him beyond Alisson but was marginally overcooked and sent the ball hurrying over the by line.

Walcott burst through the middle immediately after the restart but saw his left-footed blast crash into a cluster of defensive bodies.

Liverpool’s retort came via Salah, spinning 20 yards out to curl past the post with Pickford scampering across his goal and probably relieved to be rendered redundant on this occasion.

Mane had a chance to atone for his earlier miss when the Senegalese was released in the area by Firmino’s cushioned pass. 

Distinctive brand

With Mina and Seamus Coleman breathing down his neck, however, Mane’s composure deserted him and his finish was skewed wide of the near post.

Everton, now, were spending more time camped in their own half than they would have wished. Digne repelled a blast from Shaqiri, while Mane, back for more, thundered a drive narrowly off target.

On came Ademola Lookman for Walcott to add his distinctive brand of thrust and ambition to Everton’s offensive play.

And within minutes the fearless 21-year-old was progressing through the middle of the pitch, resisting all-comers, before feeding Bernard. 

The slight winger had come in off his left flank but, aiming to bend his finish inside the far post, needed a bit more curl to succeed.

Andrew Robertson’s cross flew across the face of goal and out of Mane’s reach, the trigger for a passage of play when the sides traded set-pieces without being able to manufacture an end product.

The excellent Michael Keane deftly hooked out a dangerous ball from Alexander-Arnold and Coleman defended magnificently at the back post to prevent Mane from reaching substitute Origi's low cross. 

Origi clattered the bar from close range at the subsequent corner but would have the final say when he prodded in from close range. 

Everton FC forward Theo Walcott goes round Liverpool FC keeper, Allison in the Merseyside Derby on December 2, 2018. PHOTO/Everton FC