Origi-nal Sin

The 234th Merseyside Derby was everything you could want: goals, excitement, ferocious tackles... it was the game everyone just HAD TO WIN... for there was no hiding place if you lost; and no end to celebrations if you won...

Everton failed to build on their previous inspired show at Leicester and started rather nervously... and within minutes their defence committed the deadly sin... they played too high up, left too much space behind and were not alert enough to the danger... they are also not blessed with the quickest of pace to deal with Liverpool's speedy attackers... so the on-form Sadio Mane managed to slide a picture-perfect pass for Divock Origi to latch past Jordan Pickford and score the opening goal.

You'd have thought they had learnt their lesson.... but not quite. Before 20 minutes was up; the trick was played again. Trent Alexander-Arnold; as he has done so often this season; played a lovely diagonal long ball for that man Mane again. He managed to ghost past Djibril Sidibe before sliding another lovely ball for Xherdan Shaqiri to score past Pickford. It looked like there was no Silva lining...

But within minutes, Everton got back into the game as Michael Keane latched on to a scrambling Dejan Lovren from Alex Iwobi's cross; and scored with a lovely clipped finish past Adrian to make it 2-1... there seemed to be some hope for the visitors; especially when Virgil van Dijk rather nervously clambered onto Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the Everton man strode menacingly in the penalty area...

As this match started to rise in temperature; suddenly a lovely long ball from Lovren found the Everton defence asleep again (notably Keane); and Origi again produced a sublime piece of control before volleying past a stranded Pickford to make it 3-1. And it threatened to become a rout as a smooth counter-attack from Liverpool saw Alexander-Arnold storming down the left flank before feeding Mane to score Liverpool's fourth. Again, question marks got to be raised on Pickford; as again the England No. 1 seemed to be beaten a tad softly.

And the fireworks were not over yet; as within moments again; Richarlison found space to plant a brilliant header past Adrian from substitute Bernard's left-wing cross; to make it 4-2 before the break. It was a splendid, mouth-watering first half that proved once again why the Merseyside Derby is not exactly for the faint-hearted...

The second half was rather more breathable; with Liverpool not taking undue risks and managing the game more with possession than all-out endeavour. Everton substitute Moise Kean had a glorious chance one-on-one with the 'keeper but alas; managed to shoot wide; and thereby missing the imperative chance to pull it back to to 4-3. In the final minutes; it was Liverpool sub Roberto Firmino who produced some left-wing magic to tee up Georginio Wijnaldum, who rifled home Liverpool's fifth into the side netting and cue the Everton fans' early exit.