Cody Gakpo scored his first goal for Liverpool and Mohamed Salah was on target as Everton were consigned to a 2-0 Merseyside derby defeat at Anfield.

The Reds' hopes of securing a top-four finish had been rocked by a run of four top-flight games without a win, but they got their first Premier League victory of 2023 on Monday.

Salah rounded off a blistering counter-attack 13 seconds after James Tarkowski had struck the post with his 18th goal of the season, having failed to find the back of the net in his previous five matches, late in the first half.

Gakpo got off the mark early in the second half as Liverpool moved up a spot to ninth and kept their neighbours in the relegation zone by consigning boss Sean Dyche to a first defeat, with substitute appearances for the fit-again Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino also providing boosts for Jurgen Klopp.

Netherlands forward Gakpo spurned a good chance to open the scoring when he headed wide from close range early in a frantic start.

Tarkowski came agonisingly close to scoring a second goal in as many games after his winner against Arsenal when he rose to meet Alex Iwobi's corner with a header that struck the post, and Liverpool were in front moments later.

Everton were badly caught out on the break as Darwin Nunez darted forward and picked out Salah, who tucked into an empty net with Jordan Pickford in no man's land nine minutes before the break.

The Toffees were once again caught on the break four minutes into the second half, when Conor Cody failed to deal with Trent Alexander-Arnold's dangerous cross and Gakpo opened his account with a tap-in.

Nunez was denied by Pickford from a tight angle and bent an effort just wide after being set up by Gakpo as Everton continued to be opened up all too easily.

Ellis Simms was withdrawn after being handed a start with Dominic Calvert-Lewin unfit, before Jota and Firmino were given great ovations when they came off the bench, and Tom Davies' glaring miss with a header from close range summed up Everton's day.

 

What does it mean? Relief for Reds

After such a poor start to 2023, Liverpool could ill afford to slip up again and this was much more like it from Klopp's side.

They moved nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle United and can cut that gap to six by beating the Magpies next weekend. The return from injury of Jota and Firmino were also big positives, while Virgil van Dijk was back on the bench.

Everton missed the chance to move out of the bottom three after beating leaders Arsenal in Dyche's first match in charge.

Gakpo up and running

There had been no dream start to his Liverpool career for Gakpo, but he deserved a first Reds goal in his seventh match for the club.

He also created two chances in a lively display, which was timely given Jota's return.

Salah back in business

Forward Salah had not scored a Premier League goal since Boxing Day and had failed to find the back of the net in five games in all competitions.

He marked a landmark top-flight appearance for the Reds by taking his tally of league goal involvements at Anfield to 100, with 71 goals and 29 assists in his 104th match at the home of the Reds. Only Alan Shearer at Ewood Park (74 games) and Thierry Henry at Highbury (92 games) have done so in fewer games at a specific ground.

Key Opta Facts:

- This was Klopp's 250th win as Liverpool manager in all competitions. It was his 414th game in charge of the Reds, reaching the milestone victory quicker than any previous three managers to do so for the club (Bob Paisley 448, Bill Shankly 472 and Tom Watson 539).

- Since the start of last season, Everton have lost more Premier League away games than any other side (19), while they have also won fewer games (3) and points (17) on the road than any of the 17 sides to have played across both campaigns.

- Salah has now been involved in 100 Premier League goals in 104 games at Anfield (71 goals, 29 assists). Only Alan Shearer (74 at Ewood Park) and Thierry Henry (92 at Highbury) have reached a century of goal involvements at a ground in fewer appearances.

- Gakpo became the sixth different player to score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool in a Merseyside derby, and the first since Raul Meireles in January 2011.

- At 18 years and 114 days, Stefan Bajcetic became the third-youngest player to start a Premier League Merseyside derby for Liverpool, after Raheem Sterling in October 2012 (17y 325d) and Michael Owen in February 1998 (18y 71d).

What's next?

Liverpool travel to Newcastle United on Saturday, when Everton take on fellow strugglers Leeds United at Goodison Park.