Everton

We asked for your views on Everton's 2-0 win over Liverpool on Wednesday.

Here are some of your answers:

Chris: Total commitment by every player on the pitch. That kind of performance is what the fans love to see. Appreciate it can not be like that every game due to depth of squad, but performances against Chelsea are not expected either. Superb heart and spirit - and even some skill. Well done the Blues.

John: Everton produced an outstanding team performance with every player devoting themselves to the team cause. Especially impressive was the quality of the defence again with each player making important contributions. Going forward they put Liverpool under pressure on both the first and second phase ball. Finally, the fans were brilliant throughout.

Anton: Wow. But now the euphoria has died down, this rousing victory actually leaves more questions than answers. The lads to a man were incredible but where has this performance been most of the season? Are these players stuck in the cycle of "end of season escape heroes"? Either way, if we stay up, Dyche has to be manager of the year.

John: Looked a completely different team from the Nottingham Forest game, but with the same result! Jordan Pickford silenced any doubters and Everton got a break they richly deserved.

Alan: Everton gave a perfect performance in all areas. The dogs of war were back as their midfield hustled Liverpool out of there stride. The crowd played their part in lifting the players as Everton won the league for Arsenal or Manchester City and secured safety for themselves in a merited win.

Pete: Derby games, and under the lights at Goodison, are always going to be special and rarely follow form book or league positions. We dared to dream and played as a 12th man. Everton just ran at them and off the ball ,they regrouped quickly into shape. Liverpool were frustrated, particularly Van Dijk, and it spoiled them.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Everton defender Conor Coady says they "were brilliant all night" against Liverpool and fully deserved their victory against a lacklustre Reds.

"That was a proper Everton performance," he told the Football Daily podcast. "It looked like a proper team, playing a certain way and sticking to it to make it difficult for Liverpool.

"They were brilliant all night and deserved to win."

It was the first time the Toffees have beaten Liverpool at home in the Premier League since October 2010 and it also ended their 12-game winless run in Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park.

"It was a real battle and performance," added ex-Premier League midfielder Michael Brown. "The set pieces and defence were strong and Jordan Pickford was impressive.

"The atmosphere definitely helped them get over the line too.

"Hopefully with all the negativity around the points deductions, it will be a weight lifted and they can look forward to brighter times ahead."

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Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Wednesday night's four Premier League fixtures as well as the goals from Tuesday's game.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Image source, The Mirror / The Telegraph Sport

Thursday's newspapers are unequivocal in lauding Everton's win at the expense of Liverpool's title challenge.

Perfect reading for Toffees supporters - and come back at 09:30 BST for fan views on a first Goodison victory in the Merseyside derby since October 2010.

Image source, The i/ Daily Mail

Image source, Getty Images

Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "What a night!

"I thought we stuck to the game-plan and we executed it - we stuck together. The defensive unity built the foundation.

"We built from there [Jarrad Branthwaite's goal] as a collective and fans in the stadium - a fantastic night of football.

"If you can win your duels it stands you in good stead and second balls in the middle of the pitch. We allowed them to have possession, but we didn't fear they were going to hurt us.

"That was the biggest thing - hard work and endeavour.

"Football is a funny old game. I went a fair few without scoring but I have scored in the last few.

"We have to keep believing and try your best to stay positive."

On league position: "The reflection on the league is not true, but we have accepted our reality.

"Big three points, the one on Saturday [against Nottingham Forest] was massive and tonight it puts us in a far better position.

"We have to build on that and we have to try to put in a performance at the weekend."

Image source, Getty Images

Everton boss Sean Dyche, speaking to Sky Sports: "Very pleased with the reaction. This was a different game with the organisation and the belief in the organisation. They're a good side, we know that. The commitment from us had to be there. The energy of the side and also the key moments.

"I thought [Dominic Calvert-Lewin] was outstanding tonight. We've been trying to get him back to where he needs to be and I thought he was outstanding. He gets a goal. He tried to get it over the line and I love that. The second one is a great header. No, I thought he was outstanding tonight.

"Jordan Pickford made some big saves in the first half. It's rare you stop these sides having chances so you need moments yourself. It's hard to pick out one or two.

"We spoke about the desire and the energy of the team and the physical side of the game. The lads did it on Sunday and they'll have to do it again. That's the challenge.

"We stayed focussed tonight and I asked if they could stay with us and they did. Sunday was massive and now it was a massively important derby game. For people like Seamus Coleman, he wears his heart on his sleeve and he's so happy.

"We should be on 41 points and the story's different. Three clean sheets in three home games. The challenge for the players is to go and do it again."

Here are the key facts and figures from Everton's 2-0 win over Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday night.

• Everton have beaten Liverpool at home in the Premier League for the first time since October 2010 (also a 2-0 win), ending their 12-game winless run in Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park (D9 L3 before tonight).

• Liverpool have lost two of their past three league games (W1), as many defeats as in their previous 42 matches in the competition combined (W28 D12).

• Jarrad Branthwaite (21y 302d) became Everton’s youngest goalscorer in a Premier League Merseyside derby since Romelu Lukaku in November 2013 (20y 194d) and their youngest Englishman to score in this fixture since Francis Jeffers in April 1999 (18y 68d).

• Liverpool have made 99 changes to their starting XI's in the league this season, with only Brighton (121) making more. The six changes tonight from Sunday's win at Fulham was their most for a Merseyside derby since April 2016 (nine changes in a 4-0 win at Anfield).

• Only Arsenal's David Raya (14) has kept more Premier League clean sheets this season than Everton's Jordan Pickford (11). Indeed, only in 2018-19 has the Englishman kept more shutouts in a top-flight campaign (14).

• Dominic-Calvert Lewin has scored three goals in his last four league games for Everton, as many as in his previous 28 appearances in the competition.

Everton took a giant step towards Premier League safety and delivered a huge blow to Liverpool's title aspirations with a thoroughly deserved victory at a raucous Goodison Park.

Jurgen Klopp's side were aiming to go level on points with leaders Arsenal, but another off-key performance now sees them chasing Mikel Arteta's side with four games to go.

Jarrad Branthwaite netted in the first half, squeezing an effort in at the near post and the Toffees doubled their lead in the second period courtesy of Dominic Calvert-Lewin's towering header.

The Reds looked to get back into the game but could not find a way past an inspired Jordan Pickford, who made crucial saves to deny Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, with the Colombian also rattling the post.

Everton would already be assured of safety had they not been deducted eight points, but Sean Dyche's side lie eight points above the drop zone.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Everton fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Liverpool fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

There are four matches being played in the Premier League on Wednesday, and we will bring you every moment.

All kick-off times BST

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In a recent interview with on The Overlap with former Premier League defender Gary Neville,, external Anthony Gordon explained the process of his £40m move to Newcastle in January 2023 from boyhood club Everton.

"The whole process was difficult, it was so hard at the time and that whole process led to me being so mentally tough right now. Liverpool's biggest unity was everyone being together, Scousers taking care of Scousers," he said.

"So, if someone was to leave that environment, not everyone is going to like it and rightly so, but ultimately, I am too ambitious to turn down the opportunity which was presented to me.

“Newcastle United were only going one way and looking from the outside they were flying, I think they were fourth when I was signing, so it’s a no brainer.

“My ambition is to be at the very top of football and I couldn’t do that where I was.”

Soon after Gordon left Everton, the Toffees released a statement about Gordon requesting a transfer., external Asked by Neville, whether it could have ended differently to how it did Gordon said: "It didn’t, that’s the thing.

“A lot of what you see in the media [from Everton] is club-driven and I didn’t care too much to change the perspective, because I’m very comfortable in myself and how it ended up, and ultimately, I got what I wanted. I joined Newcastle.

“I did want to leave, but also, the club did have to sell me.

“The way it played out was that I was desperate to leave and that was never really the case.

“I just wanted to fulfil my ambitions.

“But I was never bothered about wanting to change people’s minds, if they believe what they read, it’s fine by me.”

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this week's matches on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, he takes on actor Zack Morris, star of new thriller film Jericho Ridge.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made a lot of changes for Sunday's win at Fulham, including leaving Mohamed Salah out, but they still won pretty comfortably.

I can see this game going the same way. Everton will give everything of course, but the two goals they scored against Nottingham Forest were both from outside the box and they are not a team that creates too much.

Liverpool have got more quality and they should have plenty of opportunities. If they take them, they will win.

This is the second in a run of three away games in a row for Klopp's side, with a trip to West Ham to come at the weekend. It looked like a tricky run at a crucial stage of the season but at the moment they look capable of getting through it.

Morris' prediction: 0-3

Well, my dad and my brother are both Liverpool fans so we've got a bit of rivalry there. I do think Liverpool are going to walk away with this one though.

You can read the rest of the predictions here

Image source, Getty Images

With Luton losing on the weekend, Everton and Nottingham Forest could decide between themselves who would take advantage.

The points-deducted derby proved to be the slug fest everyone expected but Everton always seemed to have that little more on the day. They had more fight after that 6-0 capitulation at Stamford Bridge on Monday - had a better game plan that was horrible to play against and also had the match officials’ sympathy. Forest could easily have had three penalties.

Amidst the madness one player seemed to grow in stature and composure, Jarrad Branthwaite. This was no easy task at the centre of a back line that looked shell shocked last Monday, but he was coolness personified.

I have likened Cole Palmer to a younger Kevin de Bruyne. I will resist comparing Branthwaite to Virgil van Dijk just yet but, at 21 there are very few around that look to have his abilities as an all-round defender. This is exceptionally unusual at this age for this position.

Top clubs are either keenly watching his meteoric progress or preparing a huge bid. Any decent offer will be almost impossible to turn down by my old cash-strapped club, however much the Evertonians want to say “mind your own business and leave our best player alone”.

Before the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, Everton boss Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media about the importance of the fixture and facing Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager for the last time.

Sean Dyche has been speaking to the media before the Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Goodison Park on Wednesday (20:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• When asked about VAR after Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest: "The idea of VAR was to tidy up as many decisions as possible. Statically, it's shown that it is doing that. As long as they keep learning and speeding it up, I still think it's a good thing for the outcomes of games. I appreciate that it can get in the way of things from a supporter's point of view, but there has to be some form of getting these decisions right. They are doing they best they can, with a better way of doing it, with VAR."

• On his first Merseyside derby at Goodison: "I'm well aware of the records that people have been telling me. I'm looking forward to the game. I didn't grow up here so I don't have the depth of understanding [of the rivalry] but what I do understand is how important it is to be Everton's manager - in all games, but particularly this one."

• On the fitness of his forward line: "Beto definitely won't be available for the next couple of games. It's good news so far - he's had all the checks needed and he's fine. He just took a real knock. [Dominic Calvert Lewin] is hopeful that he'll be back. We'll wait and see until tomorrow."

• On full-back Vitaliy Mykolenko: "He continues to improve. He's very quiet around the place but he's very professional in what he does. He's learned and progressed, and he continues to do so. It's not easy dealing with players one on one but I think he's done very well. I still think there's more to come and he's a very good player."

• On Idrissa Gueye after a strong performance on Sunday: "He knows the game and he reads the game very well. He's done well with injuries recently - there's been close decisions on whether we can play him or not and he's come through. He's an important figure around the group."

• On Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who is set to manage in his final Merseyside derby before leaving Anfield in the summer: "Aside from being Everton's manager, massive respect for what he's done here and his other clubs. It's not easy to build things. It's not easy to get the time and belief to build things and he's done it at three clubs. Massive respect for that."

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Here are a selection of the key facts and figures before Everton host Liverpool in the Premier League on Wednesday (20:00 BST kick-off).

• There have been more red cards in Everton versus Liverpool games than any other Premier League fixture (23), with the Blues' 16 the most one side has against another in the competition. Ashley Young was sent off earlier this season at Anfield, though there has not been a red card in both meetings since 2005-06.

• Everton are winless in their past 12 Premier League home games against Liverpool (D9 L3), their longest run without a league victory against an opponent at Goodison Park.

• The Reds have won their past 12 league games played on Wednesday by an aggregate score of 33-5, since a 1-0 home loss to Brighton in February 2021.

• No player has been directly involved in more Premier League goals for Everton this season than Dwight McNeil (three goals, five assists). However, McNeil has never been involved in one in 10 league appearances against Liverpool, only facing Manchester United (12) more without a top-flight goal or assist.

• Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in six goals in his past five Premier League appearances against Everton, scoring five and assisting one. He scored twice in the reverse fixture in October – the last player to score two or more goals in both Merseyside derbies in a league campaign was Dixie Dean in 1932-33, while the last for Liverpool was Dick Forshaw in 1925-26.

Is Sean Dyche superstitious?

On the latest episode of the Monday Night Club, the BBC Radio 5 Live team discuss Dyche ditching his suit for a tracksuit and whether that had a relaxing effect on his Everton team.

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

Manchester United have made Everton and England Under-21s defender Jarrad Branthwaite, 21, a top target for this summer and want to agree an early deal. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's gossip column

We asked for a reaction and that is exactly what we got.

It was not pretty, but it never is. Everton showed the heart that was so obviously absent against Chelsea, in a game that had drastic implications for both sides.

The aftermath of the 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest may have been dominated by the officiating, but Everton’s performance and handling of such a pressured match should not be lost.

After Monday, it would have been easy for the players and manager to hide and wilt given the magnitude of the game.

I questioned last week whether there were any souls left to search and if there was still stomach left for the fight. Maybe I underestimated the characters within the club. We should be mathematically safe with five games remaining. Some turn round from the previous two seasons.

As a fan base, we won’t and shouldn’t get carried away. Two huge games remain in what we all deemed a pivotal week for the club.

The Merseyside Derby is next on the agenda. A game often fraught with anxiety and tension, but so often a non-event for us Evertonians.

Two sides at opposite ends of the table and objectives worlds apart. This game has a lot riding on it for both sides. From our perspective, any points won during the game would be massive.

It is the proverbial ‘free hit’ for us, but certainly not a game we should simply let slide by.

Sunday’s win has given us all a slight bit of room to breathe. We can go into the game knowing our destiny is in our own hands and this game won’t define it.

A win for us would be monumental however. Faith has somewhat been restored, so you just never know.

You can find Mike at the The Unholy Trinity Everton Podcast, external