Super Mane wins it for Liverpool
Barkley’s bad tackle on Henderson sparked angry scuffles
SADIO Mane struck four minutes into stoppage time to give Liverpool a last-gasp 1-0 win over derby rivals Everton that lifted them into second place in the Premier League yesterday.
Substitute Daniel Sturridge hit the post with a low, left-footed drive from 20m and Senegal forward Mane was quickest to the rebound, sliding in to convert from close range.
The victory pushed Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side within six points of leaders Chelsea which won 1-0 at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
“We didn’t give one chance away and that’s very important against an opponent that only wants to disturb your game,” said Klopp.
“The plan of Everton was wild football. They were chasing us everywhere, it is really difficult to play against this… we couldn’t handle it at first. We will be better at reacting against this in a few months. It’s a wonderful feeling to win.
“The best thing you can do on a night like this is win and you saw how happy our fans were,” said Klopp. Everton 0 Liverpool 1 Chelsea .................... 17 14 1 2 35 11 43 Liverpool................... 17 11 4 2 41 20 37 Manchester City....... 17 11 3 3 36 20 36 Arsenal ..................... 17 10 4 3 38 19 34 Tottenham Hotspur .. 17 9 6 2 29 12 33 Manchester United .. 17 8 6 3 24 17 30 Southampton ........... 17 6 6 5 17 16 24 West Bromwich........ 17 6 5 6 23 21 23 Everton..................... 17 6 5 6 21 21 23 Bournemouth ........... 17 6 3 8 23 28 21 Stoke City................. 17 5 6 6 19 24 21 Watford ..................... 17 6 3 8 21 29 21 West Ham United .... 17 5 4 8 19 31 19 Middlesbrough ......... 17 4 6 7 16 19 18 Leicester City ........... 17 4 5 8 23 29 17 Burnley ..................... 17 5 2 10 16 28 17 Crystal Palace.......... 17 4 3 10 28 32 15 Sunderland .............. 17 4 2 11 15 2 14 Swansea City ........... 17 3 3 11 20 37 12 Hull City .................... 17 3 3 11 14 36 12
“We were much better in the second half, we could have scored earlier. If you only win games when you are brilliant, you won’t win many games, it was a battle and we were ready for it.”
Everton manager Ronald Koeman said: “We are really disappointed to concede in extra time.
“The eight minutes killed us.
“We have to wait to see about Stekelenburg’s injury, we will know more tomorrow, and (midfielder) James McCarthy has a hamstring injury.
“In the second half, we had problems to stop Liverpool,” added Koeman.
Everton’s defeat left them ninth in the table with 23 points from 17 matches.
Everton lost goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg because of a leg injury after an hour and understudy Joel Robles had to make a fine, diving save from Roberto Firmino with 10 minutes to go.
Stekelenburg had denied Firmino in the 50th minute as Liverpool dominated, palming the ball away while Nathaniel Clyne’s effort from the rebound was blocked.
Firmino also attempted a scissors kick from a Clyne cross, but his effort sailed over.
Tempers flared when Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson was caught on the ankle by a late tackle from Ross Bark- ley in the second half.
There was scuffling among players from both sides before Barkley and teammate Seamus Coleman were booked by referee Mike Dean.
Earlier, the first half turned into a stalemate with both keepers seriously under-employed.
Divock Origi missed a chance in front of Everton’s goal after a Clyne cross, and Ramiro Funes Mori headed narrowly wide at the other end.
Liverpool then pushed back Everton, which have now gone 12 Merseyside derbies without a win and 20 with only one victory, in the second half and were ultimately worthy winners. – Reuters