The Portugal forward's second-half strike proved the difference as Arne Slot's men secured the win at Anfield
Liverpool took another step towards the Premier League title with a 1-0 win over local rivals Everton, restoring their 12-point lead at the top of the table. Diogo Jota's second-half strike was enough to secure the three points in the Merseyside Derby, as David Moyes' stubborn Toffees did their best to hold tight and hit the Reds on the counter.
Everton set up well to frustrate Liverpool's attempts to poke holes through the middle, and they created decent chances. Beto saw one goal disallowed for offside and another effort hit the post.
The visitors were lucky to still have 11 men on the pitch by then, though, as centre-back James Tarkowski slid in on Alexis Mac Allister just outside the box. He got the ball first, but the follow through was so brutal as to leave many in disbelief as to how VAR did not order the referee to send him off.
Arne Slot's men pressed high up the field from the beginning of the second half, too, and broke through when Jota won managed to knock the ball to Luis Diaz, who flicked it back into the striker's path and he found enough space to fire beyond Jordan Pickford.
Liverpool were fully in control from then on and gave little away as they saw out the narrow win.
GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Anfield…
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Caoimhin Kelleher (6/10):
Didn't have a save to make, but was sensible with the ball.
Curtis Jones (5/10):
Left too much space behind him and was exposed for it.
Ibrahima Konate (6/10):
Looked shaky whenever Everton burst forward with pace.
Virgil van Dijk (5/10):
Beto broke too many times and left him in his dust.
Andy Robertson (6/10):
Had a woeful shot and a couple of inviting crosses.
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Ryan Gravenberch (5/10):
Had a tough time finding a way through with runs or passes, but tested Pickford with a decent shot.
Alexis Mac Allister (6/10):
Escaped a bad injury from Tarkowski's tackle and made a few good ones of his own.
Dominik Szoboszlai (6/10):
Was pushed too far back to show off what he can do but managed to pull off a few good passes.
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Mohamed Salah (5/10):
Always available and looking to create something, but was kept quiet.
Diogo Jota (8/10):
His first goal since mid-January and in classic Jota style – a wee dance between the defenders before tucking it in nicely.
Luis Diaz (7/10):
Chased a lot down but had a frustrating night until he knocked it to Jota for the opener.
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Darwin Nunez (5/10):
Ended up in a tangle with Pickford at the end.
Cody Gakpo (N/A):
Had no time to make an impact.
Wataru Endo (N/A):
On in stoppage-time to see the game out.
Arne Slot (7/10):
Will be happy with a vital win after the PSG and Newcastle defeats. The Reds were vulnerable in the first half, but kept Everton silent in the second.
