Liverpool’s win over Everton one that could go down in folklore… if they can keep pace with Man City

On such moments do seasons turn. There were times when beating Everton at Anfield would hardly have been considered an achievement for Liverpool, at least not outside local bragging rights. But when the winner comes so late, so against the mood and so against all logic, a stadium is permitted to go into meltdown. So too was Liverpool’s manager, although we can assume that a Football Association charge will come. See if he cares. See if the red half of Merseyside cares.

Divock Origi may well have assumed that his chance would never again come at Anfield, left out in the cold so long that he has required several weeks in the airing cupboard upon his return from loan. But when Virgil van Dijk’s shanked volley looped up and over Jordan Pickford’s bar, Everton’s goalkeeper inexplicably managed not to tip it over. There was Origi, the unlikeliest hero of all. They will remember this day. It will become folklore, should Liverpool keep pace with Manchester City.

Read more: Liverpool goal vs Everton: Was the ball going out and could Jordan Pickford have left it?

The last time the blue half of Merseyside left enemy lines with songs of joy in their hearts was September 1999, and many of the intervening seasons have been spent with the two clubs moving in different directions. After the last league game between these two sides, Sam Allardyce said that “the object of the exercise was to frustrate the opposition”.

Having had 21 per cent of possession and ceded 23 shots but gained a draw, Allardyce was right. But he had also placed a glass ceiling on Everton’s expectation. Supporters demanded more. Even it if took moving several steps backwards, their club had to dream bigger.

Everton transformed

And dream they could, when Andre Gomes was protecting the ball so ably in midfield, Bernard was scheming from the left and Gylfi Sigurdsson supported Richarlison up front. Even the Premier League’s best defence will be unnerved. Liverpool may have a smorgasbord of central midfield options, but Gomes might just be better than them all.

The Merseyside derby has taken on added incentive in 2018, following the arrival of Marco Silva at Goodison. In the space of six months, Silva has transformed one of the oldest starting XIs in the Premier League into the youngest and the top-flight’s least creative – they were bottom of a table for chances created under Allardyce – into one of the most attacking.

For Liverpool, the opportunity to reinforce the argument that they are serious title challengers to Manchester City’s dominance. City’s imperious form has persuaded most Premier League observers that the title is remaining at the Etihad, but Jurgen Klopp had been keen to point out that Liverpool are hardly struggling. Liverpool had dropped six points in 13 league games, and two of those against City. If a run of two wins in five matches in all competitions sparked mini-panic, their problems have come away from home. Liverpool were unbeaten in 27 league games at Anfield. Make that 28.

Liverpool’s attacking issues

Read more: To understand Liverpool’s midfield ‘problem’ you must look forward – and back

Liverpool are not firing. In an interview with Sky Sports this week, Klopp refuted suggestions that his team was also struggling to find fluency in the final third, despite his team scoring far fewer than last season. Liverpool are playing differently, because opposition managers are less keen to push players forward and be caught on a lightning-quick counter attack. But Liverpool are still creating chances. The problem lies in their finishing.

At Anfield on Sunday, we witnessed the evidence for the prosecution. There has been a tendency from each of the front three to snatch at chances. Sadio Mane was guilty in the game’s early stages when sent clear on goal, while Mohamed Salah also thrashed at a shot and Xherdan Shaqiri hit a shot straight at Pickford. Origi himself hit the bar from point-blank range.

Not that Liverpool had a monopoly on spurned opportunities. Gomes headed straight at Alisson from four yards out and in the middle of the goal, while Theo Walcott rounded Liverpool’s goalkeeper before his heavy touch sent the ball behind goal. On the touchline, Klopp and Silva’s gestures became increasingly frantic.

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But not quite as frantic as Klopp’s dash onto the pitch to embrace Alisson, the only Liverpool player not involved in the celebrations in front of the Kop. Everton may well be improving as they search for Silva linings after cloudy days, but there’s one familiar that they just can’t shift. They came to Anfield and played as equals, but he who laughs last laughs longest. The giggles of giddy Liverpool supporters drifted across Stanley Park after one of the most astonishing finishes in the history of this great fixture.