Liverpool recorded their first Premier League win in 2023 with a comfortable Merseyside derby victory over Everton at Anfield.

Have a read of Phil McNulty's report

We are back on Tuesday for the return of the Champions League.

"The championsssss."

Until then.

Everton

Manager Sean Dyche praises his side despite a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, stating the loss as "no lack of effort from Everton.'

Watch below.

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says that the 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby is "a massive relief" and "the performance was a statement" to the rest of the league.

Watch below.

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BBC MOTD: "It felt like us, it looked like us. The result is massive relief. Tonight everyone starts believing a little bit more again. We have to keep going.

"The performance was a statement for us that we can do this. We had to play our game and that was pretty much the case for 95 minutes and that's why deserved the points.

"To get out of our situation we need performances. I saw the same [swagger] but we have to prove it. We have to carry on.

"We were lucky [Tarkowski's header hit the post]. Darwen full throttle. The second goal was a wonderful counter attack as well. We were so dominant. I don't know the figures but it must have been 70% possession.

"The better you play the more likely you will score. The whole performance was extremely important for us because we needed to make a statement."

Liverpool

Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo, speaking to Match of the Day: "It was amazing, good moment for the team and also a really good moment for me so I am really happy about it. The dream is that you score in the first minute of the first game you play. In the end I have to wait a little bit but really delighted that I can score this one.

"The goal is to score many more.

"It was a good attack for us and the ball came to me and I just had to tap it in so it was a great pass from Trent [Alexander-Arnold].

"Really important to get the first win of the year. Everyone knew we were struggling a bit but we know we have a lot of quality and we can turn things around and this is the first step.

On playing in his first Merseyside Derby: "It was great, the support was amazing and that also helped to get us through."

"This is a start of hopefully a few games in a row that we can get all of the points and win.

"It's important that the guys coming back add more quality to the team and we all know what they can do on the pitch so it is only making us stronger."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp tells Sky Sports: "The atmosphere was outstanding, I am in love with my crowd and what they did tonight, it was special and was extremely helpful - the boys paid it back. It was a real derby and we played a game we wanted to play, not a game Everton wanted to.

"We kept the ball, working the sides and stayed patient. We got in behind their line. I saw a real unit tonight, everyone was really fighting and we scored from two sensational counter-attacks. Tonight we were there and that has to be the sign for us what we have to do. We probably had 70% possession and scored from two counters, that makes it special.

"Last week the first ball came in, deflection and goal. Yes, it was the biggest difference from other games but the performance of the full game was the best for a while. We will take wins when you don't play well but much better to get three points when you deserve it and today we deserved it.

"A massive relief. You never know when you are going to do it next. Whatever the crowd asked me I would have done except for getting rid of my clothes.

"I really think - and you don't want to be in difficult situations - the way you behave defines the future. This club has been through worse things but we are the club who can show who can deal with difficult moments. I enjoyed each second of the game."

On performance of Stefan Bajcetic: "I saw a lot of good performances tonight but Stefan showed up. We are really happy with him, a top boy, really smart and calm. He played in a new position, at eight, and I asked him afterwards if he liked it and he said yes. It is a nice story."

Everton

Everton boss Sean Dyche, speaking to BBC MOTD: "It was not quite the mark we were hoping for. But there was no lack of effort and the shape was good. They [Liverpool] are still a good side. We kept it quite tight but we didn't quite deal with the ball as well as we should and conceded a soft goal.

"There was a good reaction from the players and we tried with Tom [Davies] getting in at the back post. I certainly wasn't getting carried away last week.

"All games are important but it's fair to say people were wondering if we would get a point from our first two games [against Arsenal and Liverpool]. To get three - I'm not too disappointed with that. I'm a realist and I know how tough the Premier League is.

"There is more to come from this side. They have taken a lot on in a short space of time. We need to recover quickly and go again."

Next up for 18th-placed Everton on Saturday?

17th-placed Leeds United.

Ooof.

Everton

• Since the start of last season, Everton have lost more Premier League away games than any other side (19), while they've also won fewer games (3) and points (17) on the road than any of the 17 sides to have played across both campaigns.

Everton

Everton manager Sean Dyche speaking to Sky Sports: "The game wasn't defined in one moment but it was a big moment obviously. We had just calmed the game down. They were on top a little bit without opening us up too many times.

"The shape was decent, they hadn't opened us up too many times with the ball. But then you cause trouble at the set piece, you want that to be part of your game. Disappointed with the counter and it was misread for Jordan [Pickford] and that was the story of the first half.

"They smothered us with possession, probably we could have given away a tactical foul to break it up. There is more to come, I'm sure of that but we have got to play as well. The next step is to play and be brave with the ball.

"We have given a lot of information to the players and it is a lot for them to take in. There is work to be done. Last week we beat Arsenal and I wasn't jumping for joy. No lack of effort or work ethic, it's still tough coming here but they [Liverpool] are a great side.

"The home crowd were amazing [at Goodison Park] and we need our fans to do that for us away from home. We want bravery at home and away from home from our fans and their energy. The margins were tight.

On Ellis Simms: "Great game for his development, it was a tight call on that one with Neal [Maupay] as well with his extra experience. But he is a young man earning his spurs. He is a young player and he is learning.

On Dominic Calvert-Lewin: "We are just watching it and monitoring it, obviously he needs to get himself right, not just the injury but generally. He has had a tough time so we need to monitor him.

Everton

Everton defender Conor Coady tells Sky Sports: "From our own point of view, we have lost the game and we need to look at where we have lost it. We gave away two goals on the counter and that is massively disappointing. We were a bit nervy in the first half, we tried to play more in the second half and to say we lost the game is hard.

"This is the Premier League and people will change things to try and eradicate the good things you did in your last game. It is important we keep listening to the manager each day and we need to go again.

"It is not the fact that we missed the chances, we hit the post, but giving away counters which is what they are good at, we need to look at ourselves and see where we can put it right."

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic speaking to Sky Sports: "To be fair, I played in a different position, I thought it would be less comfortable but it was good and I enjoyed it a lot.

"Mo Salah is probably one of the best players ever in Liverpool history so it is nice to hear a legend say that to me.

"I won more confidence playing at Anfield for a couple of games so I always love a tackle so I combine both and that is good.

"It was a great game, with the crowd and the derby. Hopefully we keep playing well and win more games.

On his rise to the first team: "It's crazy, I was playing under 18s a year ago and now I am playing at Anfield and that just happened in one year and I am really enjoying it."

Liverpool

Liverpool striker Mo Salah speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a huge win for us, we had a perfect week to train and the players were so excited and we couldn't wait for the game to turn everything around and hopefully it was a start.

On Stefan Bajectic "He's a great player and person, he always tries to work hard. Since he started playing for us, he has been our best player maybe so hopefully he keeps that confidence and keeps going.

On his goal: "I know that Darwin [Nunez] is really fast so they had a corner and we played a one two, I knew that he was going to play the ball in the space so I was running as fast as I could and scored so that's the most important thing."

"We were a little bit lucky but luck always comes when you work really hard and I'm sure everybody was excited for that game to change everything and hopefully again that is a start.

"Henderson and Milner were speaking and said we have to play our football and we have to enjoy so we managed to play good and it looks like all Liverpool but that has started since last week."

Liverpool

• This was Jurgen Klopp's 250th win as Liverpool manager in all competitions. It was his 414th game in charge of the Reds, reaching the milestone victory quicker than any previous three managers to do so for the club (Bob Paisley 448, Bill Shankly 472 and Tom Watson 539).
• Cody Gakpo became the sixth different player to score his first Premier League goal for Liverpool in a Merseyside derby, and the first since Raul Meireles in January 2011.
• All three of Darwin Nunez's Premier League assists for Liverpool have been for Mohamed Salah. However, he remains without a goal himself since the resumption of the competition in December, despite having 27 shots in that time (including five tonight).

Michael Brown
Former Manchester City midfielder for BBC Radio 5 Live

Very comfortable for Liverpool, they controlled possession, the shots that they created, chances in wider areas, more dynamic than Everton.

The crowd got behind them, they need that result here, it's been poor form for Liverpool but it was a good reaction.

Everton didn't really have any cutting edge. Wasn't good enough and that's something they've got to improve.

Jurgen Klopp celebrates in front of the Kop, big win for Liverpool.

The two managers shake hands and Sean Dyche heads straight down the tunnel.

A beaming Jurgen Klopp jogs on to the pitch, shaking hands and giving a hug to each of his players.

Liverpool collect their first victory of the year, ending a four-game winless run in the Premier League.

And it's a highly satisfactory one, against city rivals Everton, who stay deep in trouble at the wrong end of the table.

Still can't get that third.

James Milner with a low cross towards Diogo Jota, but it is cut out.

Four minutes added on at Anfield.

This one was time a long time ago.

Anon: Feel sorry for Everton fans they must be thinking about Championship football next season. Players should hold a bit of responsible for all results.

Paul: When we go down we will be left with all the players we want rid of. If we lose to Leeds then it's game over for us.

Anon: Everton should have sacked Lampard in December.. Then Dyche could have bought players capable of keeping them up. It is a big task for him.