Merseyside Derby: Liverpool Coast To 3-1 Victory Over Everton But Lose Sadio Mane To Serious Knee Injury (Photos & Video)

Chris Wright

1st, April 2017

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Liverpool comfortably saw off beloved neighbours Everton in the Premier League’s early kick-off to bolster their top-four aspirations by drawing level, at least temporarily, with Tottenham in second place.

Of course, the afternoon’s entertainment began with an emotional Anfield chorus of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ in tribute to Liverpool legend Ronnie ‘Bugsy’ Moran, who passed away on 22nd March.

Ronald Koeman chose to field an odd starting XI studded with unfamiliar names plucked from the youth team – a fairly ballsy plea for transfer funds, perhaps?

As for the derby itself, Sadio Mane again proved to be the catalyst, taking just eight minutes to open the scoring by yomping through the Everton defence before steering an elegant angled finish past the wandering Joel Robles…

Shortly after clearing a Philippe Coutinho effort off the line at one end, Phil Jagielka played an integral part in snaffling an equaliser for Everton up at t’other.

Indeed, the centre-back flicked a corner across the Liverpool penalty area that was eventually stabbed home by 22-year-old Matthew Pennington to notch his first ever senior goal on his first ever senior appearance…

However, the parity lasted all of two minutes – Coutinho quickly restoring Liverpool’s lead by darting into the Toffees’ box and curling home a really rather superb finish…

When he’s good (roughly one game in five), he’s bloody exquisite!

Being a local derby, there was a light smattering of naughty-ish challenges for referee Anthony Taylor to deal with, with Ross Barkley lucky to escape with just a yellow card for planting his studs into Dejan Lovren’s calf…

Unfortunately, Liverpool were dealt a major blow in the early stages of the second half when Sadio Mane suffered what looked suspiciously like a season-ending injury.

Attempting to block a Leighton Baines clearance, Mane’s foot caught awkwardly in the turf, buckling his knee and leaving the forward writhing in pain on the floor…

Ouch.

Mane managed to limp off, though Jurgen Klopp’s post-match prognosis didn’t seem overly positive.

“I’ve met him in the dressing room,” the German coach said with an air of resignation. “It doesn’t look too good.”

That said, Divock Origi, the man who replaced Mane in the 57th minute, didn’t take long to prove himself an adequate replacement, scoring just three minutes after entering the fray with Robles on the meander once again.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how it finished.

At time of writing, Liverpool are joint-second with Spurs on 59 points while Everton stay in seventh, on 50.

Posted in Everton, Liverpool, Newsnow, Photos, Videos

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  1. Lucas says:

    Amaizing goal by Coutinho. What a ball control, peace and technique. Just outstanding. Wish him best. Hope that if LFC doesn’t play in UCL in 2 years he’s gonna move to another club. I’d love to see him playing in Primera División.

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