STICKY HEND FOR RAFA

Everton fans leave after 20 minutes as ruthless Reds make Toffees run for cover

AFTER the seventh-best player in the world had opened up his body, ready for the inevitable clipped far-corner finish, a few Evertonians headed down the aisles.

Maybe for a pie, or for a Bovril, but more likely – after 20 painful minutes – they thought they had seen enough.

That opening quarter of the contest seemed to confirm everyone’s suspicions.

By foot, these two clubs are separated by a local park. By football, they are separated by a yawning canyon.

The gap, particularly in those opening exchanges. looked frightening. Inevitably,

Rafa Benitez was regularly serenaded by the away fans but while he was an unimaginative, uninspired appointment, Everton’s problems go way beyond whoever happens to be standing, normally helpless, in the technical area.

Those problems go to a dysfunctional executive hierarchy. That, though, is for another time.

Because when Liverpool are in the groove – as they were in the early spell of a suitably fractious derby – they can dismantle far better teams than Everton.

When Mohamed Salah curled in the goal that sent one or two Blues away from their seats, it doubled Liverpool’s lead.

But they should have been out of sight, Salah himself – showing no signs of sulking over his lowly Ballon D’OR ranking – causing havoc but missing a couple of early opportunities.

In truth, the danger came from a variety of sources and the opening goal from a slightly unlikely one. But when Jordan Henderson scores, they tend to be wellstruck pearlers, this one with his left-foot after an assist from left-back

Andy Robertson.

After Salah’s first of the night it was all too easy for Liverpool and they paid for their complacency, leaving an avenue for Demarai Gray to run down and convert Richarlison’s pass via Alisson’s body a few minutes before half-time.

It would be harsh to single out one of the Liverpool defenders but communication between Trent Alexanderarnold and Joel Matip seemed non-existent. He is world-class, Trent, but not at defending.

Going in at half-time, Jurgen Klopp (below) looked suitably livid, obviously wondering how on earth his team had allowed Everton the platform for a grandstand second half. And while Liverpool had the odd half-chance early in the second period, their early fluency had disappeared and a fighting Everton had them occasionally rattled. Richarlison snatched at one from just outside the area and Matip headed perilously close to his own top corner.

Liverpool attacked with frequent menace, obviously, and there is a reason why they are the Premier League’s

top scorers. No side is more directly potent, emitting danger from every angle.

But, defensively, this Liverpool team has issues and Robertson’s rashness, cutting Anthony Gordon in half, gave Andros Townsend a great setpiece opportunity from just outside the penalty area.

The former England winger fluffed his lines and the punishment was severe, Salah scurrying half the length of the field to dispel any Liverpool anxiety.

Not bad for the seventhbest player in the world.

Diogo Jota rounded off the scoring with a left-foot finish from a tight angle after bamboozling Allan, though Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford won’t look back on it with any fondness.