April 25, (THEWILL) – Everton allayed some of their English Premier League relegation fears and dealt a devastating blow to Liverpool’s title aspirations with a 2-0 victory in the Merseyside derby. Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin handed the Toffees a deserved win at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
The hosts started strongest, with Abdoulaye Doucoure wasting an early chance before a penalty call against Alisson Becker was overturned for offside. Branthwaite then capitalised on defensive disarray to break the deadlock, squeezing home from close range amid chaotic scenes in the Liverpool box.
Despite chances for Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah before half-time, Liverpool could not find an equaliser. Their hopes looked lost when Virgil van Dijk’s header was saved before Calvert-Lewin headed in a corner early in the second period.
Diaz struck the post as Liverpool pushed, however they had no answer to Everton’s relentless intensity. The victory moves the Toffees eight points clear of the drop zone with four matches remaining, while leaving Liverpool’s faint title hopes hanging by a thread.
Merseyside erupted at full-time, with Everton’s players revelling in a famous derby win that all but confirms their EPL status for another season while inflicting severe psychological damage on their rivals’ title bid.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
