Liverpool beat Everton to maintain perfect Premier League start

First-half brilliance secures Advantage

Manager Arne Slot praised his team’s mental strength and fast start, as goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike gave Liverpool full control in the opening 30 minutes. Gravenberch opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a composed half-volley from a Mohamed Salah cross, while Ekitike added a second with a clever finish through Jordan Pickford's legs, marking his third goal in five Premier League appearances.

Squad rotation and midfield Balance

Despite leaving big-money signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak on the bench, Slot found the right balance in midfield with the return of Alexis Mac Allister, alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and the standout performer Gravenberch. The trio controlled the tempo in the first half and dictated play effectively.

Everton’s fightback falls short

Everton, who came into the match on a four-game unbeaten run, found hope in the second half. After a subdued first 45 minutes, they pulled one back through Idrissa Gana Gueye, who smashed home following a deep cross from Jack Grealish. Grealish, on loan from Manchester City, had earlier helped carve out Everton’s best first-half chance for Kieran Dewsbury-Hall.

Liverpool show signs of fatigue

Playing their third match in seven days, Liverpool looked tired in the second half, especially after their dramatic midweek win over Atletico Madrid. The Reds had previously relied on late goals to secure wins, but this time their strong early performance allowed them to hold on despite waning energy levels.

Slot admitted fatigue was a factor but praised his team’s resilience, saying, "We ran out a bit of energy but we didn't run out of mentality."

Late substitutions fail to regain control

Slot introduced Wirtz and Isak off the bench in the closing stages to regain control, but their impact was limited. Liverpool were forced to withstand sustained pressure from Everton in a nervy finale but managed to hold on for the win.

Moyes' Anfield misery continues

The defeat also marked an unwanted record for Everton manager David Moyes, who has now gone 23 visits to Anfield without a win as a Premier League coach—the most any manager has managed at a stadium without victory.