Liverpool 2-0 Everton: Mohamed Salah scores twice as Reds defeat 10-man Toffees in Merseyside derby

Mohamed Salah once again came to Liverpool's rescue, scoring two late goals in a 2-0 Premier League victory over a tenacious Everton in Saturday's Merseyside derby at Anfield, after Ashley Young was sent off for the visitors in the first half.

Salah slotted home a penalty past Everton keeper Jordan Pickford in the 75th minute after Michael Keane was penalized for a handball, then doubled Liverpool's lead deep in stoppage time.

It had been a frustrating afternoon for Liverpool up until Salah's goal, as they struggled to break down a dogged Everton defense after Young was sent off for a second booking in the 37th minute.

Only Alan Shearer (18) and Thierry Henry (17) have a longer home streak than Salah's 13 consecutive Premier League games with a goal or an assist.

Juergen Klopp's side provisionally climbed top of the standings on 20 points in the Premier League's first game of the weekend, while Everton are 16th.

After his team's first victory in three league games, Klopp was visibly ecstatic and raised a victorious fist to the cheering Liverpool supporters.

After Young received his second yellow card for an ill-timed tackle on Luis Diaz, Sean Dyche's team—which has only triumphed in one of their previous 29 meetings with Liverpool—did well to contain their adversaries for the majority of the game.

Young's ejection marked the 23rd Premier League red card in the impassioned Merseyside derby.

"Sending off happens," Dyche said. "I think the first (yellow) is touch and go, the second yellow is a yellow, that's the way it goes. And then second half, we wanted to change the shape and I thought that went really well, we wanted to take the sting out of the game.

"And then of course, the penalty changes it. The penalties, I don't like the modern rule but I'm aware of it, it hits your arm it's a penalty. I preferred it when it had to be a deliberate act."

Everton's frustrations were compounded when Liverpool centre back Ibrahima Konate escaped a second yellow card for pulling down Beto in the second half.

"We got lucky with that one!" Klopp admitted.

Liverpool dominated but were mostly limited to long-range shots, including Salah's blistering first-half effort that sailed inches over. A few minutes before the break, Trent Alexander-Arnold launched a rocket that spun just over the bar.

The breakthrough came when Keane's outstretched arm blocked Diaz's cross. Salah thumped the resulting penalty into the corner, leaving Pickford with no chance.

They then put the game out of reach when sub Darwin Nunez broke free and played a perfectly timed pass to Salah, who calmly slotted home.

SportsLigue