Joy and pain for Mane as Liverpool win

LIVERPOOL, England -- Three quick thoughts from Liverpool 3-1 Everton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

1. Liverpool's derby delight, but worry over Mane

Liverpool took a step toward to cementing their place in the top four with a 3-1 victory over Everton at Anfield on Saturday. Goals from Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi gave the home side the edge in this Merseyside derby and although Ronald Koeman's side briefly levelled through Matthew Pennington, Liverpool were always the better team.

The bad news for Jurgen Klopp was that Mane limped off heavily after 55 minutes after falling awkwardly. The Senegal forward gives Liverpool a different dimension with his direct running and power and any prolonged absence from the team would cause the Liverpool manager sleepless nights. It appeared innoucuous when Mane tumbled to the floor in a tangle of legs but replays showed a nasty-looking twist. 

Liverpool's bid for the top four has been fortified by their £30 million man and his impact was illustrated after just seven minutes with a solo goal that put Everton on the back foot. Mane picked up a loose ball near the halfway line, swapped passes with Roberto Firmino and set off on a diagonal run towards the edge of the area. It looked like Everton had the numbers to cover the threat but Mane, helped by a Coutinho run that distracted the visiting defence, was allowed to shoot back across goal with his left foot. Joel Robles, wrongfooted, had no chance.

The game then settled down in attritional derby fashion with both sides flying into tackles. Liverpool were on top but their biggest flaw, once again, was the way they defended set pieces. Everton were always likeliest to score this way and they equalised from a corner after 28 minutes. Ross Barkley headed on at the near post, Ashley Williams hurled himself at the loose ball but missed and Pennington was there to power a shot home. Liverpool's defence stood like statues and watched two opposition centre-backs run free in the six-yard box. The lack of organisation and the slow response will have infuriated Klopp.

But Everton celebrations only lasted three minutes. Koeman's side were again undone by allowing a Liverpool player to advance unhindered from close to the halfway line. This time, Coutinho ambled forward in the inside left channel and was uncontested until he got into the area. Then it was too late. The Brazilian opened his body and curled a right-footed shot into the far corner.

Everton had a half chance early in the second half when Williams got on the end of another set piece at the far post but Simon Mignolet was able to collect the weak shot.

Liverpool killed the game off just after Mane's exit when Origi, his replacement, scored the on the hour. Yet again, Everton squandered possession near the halfway line. Coutinho got the ball in a dangerous area and was allowed to run to the edge of the box. The Brazilian's next move was as brilliant as it was unexpected. Instead of pushing the pass in front of the Belgian, he laid it off behind the striker. Williams, charging back, could not halt his run but Origi did. The striker let the ball run across his body before shooting confidently into the net from 20 yards.

Mignolet had to parry away a deflected shot from Mason Holgate and seconds later the 20-year-old sent a free header over the bar but Everton never looked likely to achieve just their second win in 21 Merseyside derbies. Robles saved well from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the closing minutes as Liverpool closed out without many problems. 

The stress, though, will come as they await an update on the superb Mane.

2. Koeman approach fails to pay off

Liverpool have struggled against teams who remain compact and sit deep but Everton were never going to settle for that sort of approach. The visitors looked to break forward quickly but it left them vulnerable to Liverpool's front three. They struggled with the direct running from Mane and Coutinho and lived dangerously throughout the first half. Emre Can's chipped pass released the Brazilian behind the backline and Robles did well to save his swerving shot.

Injuries to Seamus Coleman and Ramiro Funes Mori forced Koeman into changes. Pennington, a 22-year-old defender, came in as one of three centre-backs. Two 20-year-olds were also drafted in to the Everton side. Holgate operated at full-back and Dominic Calvert-Lewin partnered Romelu Lukaku up front.

Pennington started nervously. He sliced a back pass out wide but his fresh legs proved an asset in an ageing Everton backline and he bailed out Williams on a couple of occasions. The Welshman, 32, at times looked like he had too many miles on the clock for this sort of fast-paced derby. Mane, Coutinho and Firmino were too clever, direct and skillful for the Everton defence.

Koeman had spoken before the game about Everton's tendency to freeze during this fixture. The Dutchman is rarely cowed and his open approach attempted to take the initiative away from the hosts. But it was perhaps too bold. It allowed Klopp's front three the opportunity to play. When Mane, Firmino and Courtino are left in their comfort zone, Liverpool generally come out on top. It was no different here.

 

3. Everton's hoodoo continues as Barkley toils

This was a chance for Barkley to shine. Georginio Wijnaldum, the only one of Liverpool's midfield trio with any pace, picked up Tom Davies. Barkley was policed by Can and Lucas Leiva and both lack the Englishman's dynamism.

Davies struggled to find room and his frustration boiled over when he clattered Mane to earn a yellow card halfway through the first period. Barkley took even longer to make any impact and when he did it was in a similar negative manner. Six minutes before the break, the 23-year-old found some space, got up a head of steam, overran the ball and crashed dangerously into Dejan Lovren. It was a clear booking.

Barkley has talent but it is frequently misdirected. He was one of Everton's main problems. He instinct was to push forward and operate as a third attacker but that left his teammates undermanned in midfield, allowing the home side time and space around the centre circle. The away side could not cover the inside channels where Mane and Coutinho were gaining possession. As the Liverpool ball carriers surged forward, Barkley trotted back watching, unable to make any impact on the progression of the game.

It would not have been so bad if the midfielder was causing Klopp's team problems at the other end. But Can and Lucas rarely appeared troubled. Lukaku and Calvert-Lewin found it difficult to get into the game and the visiting team rarely worried Mignolet.

Barkley was better in the second half but still struggled. A player of his ability should have more impact on games like this.

Koeman's patience with the midfielder has been stretched this season. This performance will not have improved the Everton manager's mood.