He lacks cover for super Sadio
PHILIPPE COUTINHO and Sadio Mane dazzled as Liverpool ensured another Merseyside derby nightmare for Everton.
But there was still a sense of ‘what if ’ after Liverpool extended Everton’s wait for a win at Anfield into an 18th season. Would the Reds have fallen off the title pace and crashed out of the FA Cup and EFL Cup had Mane not been away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal? And would so many vital points have been dropped in December and January had Coutinho not been sidelined with an ankle injury? “If you don’t have injuries, you will be in the place of Chelsea,” said Dejan Lovren after returning to Liverpool’s defence after two months out with a knee injury. “Chelsea have not had one injury, I do not think. “Sometimes you need to be lucky in football. We also played today without Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana, who are massive players for us, but we showed we can play against everyone with other players.” Rather than pushing Chelsea for the title, Liverpool find themselves 10 points behind the league leaders having played a game more. Ensuring Champions League qualification is the only task that is left for Jurgen Klopp’s side. It remains to be seen how much of that task will need to be accomplished without the services of Mane, the scan results on the knee injury that forced him off early in the second half are expected today.
His departure from Anfield unaided and smiling gives cause for optimism. But whatever the outcome, Klopp believes they have learned from Mane’s absence.
“We can cope but we don’t have a one-for-one replacement,” said Klopp.
“That is the truth and hopefully Daniel Sturridge can be available. Trent (Alexander-Arnold) was brought in today, Ben Woodburn (is available).
Coasted
“If he is injured, that it is not cool and that is why I don’t feel 100 per cent happy.”
Mane opened the scoring with his 13th of the season as he coasted past the challenge of Everton’s Tom Davies before firing through the legs of Matthew Pennington.
Everton were on terms in the 28th minute, Pennington prodding home his first Blues goal.
They were not level for long, however, after Coutinho wrapped his right boot around the ball and curled it into the top corner. It was a chastening experience for Pennington in his first derby as well as fellow youngsters Mason Holgate and Dominic CalvertLewin, who were drafted into Ronald Koeman’s injury-depleted squad.
“To get back at 1-1, we could have calmed things down, but we were always chasing the game,” said Everton skipper Phil Jagielka.
“Hopefully it is something those lads can learn from. It is a bit of a cauldron coming here, but we have to learn from mistakes.”
Ross Barkley escaped with a booking for a wild lunge on Lovren and the Toffees were given hope when Mane hobbled off with his knee injury.
But replacement Divock Origi was the man who secured the win for Liverpool, the Belgian striker firing home after more clever play from Coutinho, who was soon subbed. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mignolet 6; Clyne 6, Lovren 7, Matip 7, Milner 7; Can 7, Lucas 7, Wijnaldum 6; Mane 8 (Origi 57, 7), Firmino 7 (Klavan 90), COUTINHO 8 (Alexander-Arnold 74). Subs: Karius, Grujic, Moreno, Woodburn. UP NEXT: Bournemouth (h), Premier League, Wednesday. EVERTON (3-4-1-2): Robles 4, Pennington 5 (Barry 6, 67), Williams 5, Jagielka 5; Holgate 5, Gueye 5, Davies 5 (Valencia 6, 66), Baines 6; Barkley 5; Calvert-Lewin 5 (Mirallas 82), Lukaku 4. Subs: Stekelenburg, Kone, Lookman, Kenny. UP NEXT: Manchester United (a), Premier League, tomorrow. Referee: Anthony Taylor 5. YOUR TURN: Which Everton defender was sent off in their 4-0 defeat at Anfield last season?