Liverpool knocks off Everton with dramatic goal by Origi
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk turned away in disgust. The Kop fell silent in disappointment. Everton soccer fans likely breathed a sigh of relief at the other end of Anfield.
A tense and hard-fought Merseyside derby looked destined to finish in a goalless stalemate Sunday after Van Dijk skied a speculative, mis-hit shot high into the air in the sixth minute of injury time.
Then came the most dramatic ending imaginable.
The ball bounced on top of the crossbar not just once but twice, first off the fingertips of Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Time seemed to stand still as the ball dropped down to Liverpool striker Divock Origi to nod into the net from a metre out to secure a 1-0 win.
“For me, the situation was finished when the ball left (Van Dijk’s) foot,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said.
Klopp had reacted to the goal by running onto the field and punching the air, before jumping into the arms of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
“I didn’t want to be disrespectful,” Klopp said, “but I couldn’t stop myself. It just happened.”
By losing in the cruellest of ways, Everton remained without a win at Anfield since 1999.
Arsenal powers on
Arsenal moved above Tottenham, on goal difference, into fourth place thanks to a 4-2 win over its fierce north London rival in a game that had it all: Penalties, a red card, clashes between players and fans lighting flares in the stands.
The victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 19 matches, underscoring the excellent work done by manager Unai Emery in his first season at the club.
Fans lit flares in the stands after the last two goals.
Tottenham had centre back Jan Vertonghen sent off in the second half.
Arsenal achieved the win without playmaker Mesut Ozil, with the club citing “back spasms” as the reason for his latest nonappearance.
Kante makes amends
Days after being on the end of some rare criticism, N’Golo Kante showed just why he is such an important player for Chelsea.
The France midfielder set up the first goal in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham by breaking up play near halfway, driving forward at pace, and then laying the ball off for Pedro Rodriguez to score in the fourth minute.
It was typical scavenging work by Kante, who was called out publicly in midweek by his coach Maurizio Sarri for his poor performance in Chelsea’s 3-1 loss to Tottenham last weekend.