Dramatic late Mane strike wins it for Reds

The Senegal international struck during eight added minutes to grab his side a 1-0 win, converting after sub Daniel Sturridge's shot had hit the post. Some way to mark your first derby.

It was reward for a dominant second-half performance from the Reds, who overcame a slow start to take control of the game.

The result moves Liverpool back into second in the table, six points behind leaders Chelsea heading into back to back home games against Stoke and Manchester City.

Klopp had been dealt a blow before a ball was kicked, with Joel Matip's ankle injury ruling him out.

It meant Liverpool named an unchanged side from the win at Middlesbrough, though there was the welcome sight of Emre Can and Sturridge back among the substitutes.

Everton, meanwhile, brought in Ramiro Funes Mori for suspended captain Phil Jagielka in the only change from their win over Arsenal last Tuesday.

It was a fragmented start, with precious little quality from either side. Liverpool, at least, defended stoutly but failed to create much of note. Everton, pumped up, looked the more purposeful.

Ragnar Klavan, Matip's deputy, was needed to make a vital block on Romelu Lukaku midway through the half, and Ross Barkley fired a long-range sighter wide shortly after.

It took 27 minutes for Liverpool to have an effort of note, Gini Wijnaldum driving into the Park End from 25 yards.

The visitors were coming into it, Origi sweeping wide after a flowing move involving James Milner, Wijnaldum and Nathaniel Clyne, but they had a let off soon after as Ramiro Funes Mori sent a header wide from a Barkley corner when unmarked. The half ended goalless.

Liverpool started the second period well, and should have been ahead five minutes after the restart. Milner's pass sent Roberto Firmino racing in behind Funes Mori, but Maarten Stekelenburg was alert to block, and neither Mane nor Clyne could profit from the loose ball.

Lukaku headed off target and Mane almost got on the end of a Firmino flick, Stekelenburg injured by his own player as he denied him. Joel Robles replaced the Everton 'keeper.

There was a flashpoint when a late tackle from Barkley left Henderson in a heap, with Seamus Coleman booked in the melee which followed.

Robles did well to keep out an instinctive Firmino volley from a Milner corner, as Liverpool sent on Can and Sturridge in search of a breakthrough.

It looked like it wouldn't come, but in the eight minutes added on for Stekelenburg's departure, Sturridge held off Baines to fire a shot against Robles' left-hand post and Mane reacted quickest to pounce from close range, sparking wild scenes in the away end, where flares were let off.

There was even time for Coleman to clear off the line from Firmino in the very dying stages as Liverpool closed out the win. The final whistle sparked wild scenes again as Klopp took his players over to the Lower Bullens to salute the supporters.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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