Liverpool made it five wins from five in their Premier League title defence, edging a tense 2-1 Merseyside derby against Everton at Anfield. Ryan Gravenberch’s instinctive 10th-minute finish from Mohamed Salah’s delivery set the tone before the Dutchman turned provider for Hugo Ekitiké to sweep in a second before the half-hour.
Everton were transformed after the interval and halved the deficit when Jack Grealish’s back-post cross was cushioned by Iliman Ndiaye for Idrissa Gueye to thump beyond Alisson in the 58th minute. From then on, the visitors asked most of the questions, but Arne Slot’s champions clung on to preserve perfection and remain clear at the top.
Early incision from Slot’s champions
Everton began with a cautious, compact approach, dropping deep and placing bodies behind the ball whenever Liverpool advanced. The hosts monopolised possession, and the breakthrough felt inevitable. It arrived within 10 minutes when Salah's bouncing delivery found Gravenberch breaking between lines; with expert technique, he hooked his finish past Jordan Pickford.