Match reportDiogo Jota strike secures derby win and 12-point lead for Liverpool

A typically fractious and hard-fought Merseyside derby – the 246th edition – was settled by a moment of genuine quality, Jota slaloming through and reversing a cool finish home in front of the Kop.

The strike ensured Arne Slot’s team cancelled out the victory of nearest pursuers Arsenal on Tuesday night, with now eight matches remaining in the top flight for each.

Team

Caoimhin Kelleher was in goal for the Reds, with Alisson Becker not part of the matchday squad as he continues to follow concussion protocols.

Curtis Jones replaced Jarell Quansah at right-back.

Liverpool: Kelleher, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz (Gakpo, 85), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah (Endo, 90+2), Jones, Jota (Nunez, 75), Robertson, Gravenberch.

Unused subs: Jaros, Chiesa, Elliott, Tsimikas, McConnell, Quansah.

First half

The teams emerged to a trademark Merseyside derby din inside Anfield, though the opening 10 minutes passed without major incident.

Jota then crafted a shooting position and his effort was blocked before its full threat could be realised, ahead of a lunging, studs-raised challenge by James Tarkowski on Alexis Mac Allister for which the Everton defender received a yellow card that was upheld by VAR review.

The set-piece on the edge of the area was sliced just wide of the right post by Dominik Szoboszlai.

Jones made a crucial block when a Blues throw-in from the right flank reached the opposite post and Carlos Alcaraz was there to thrash the ball back towards the Reds goal.

Beto poked a finish past Kelleher but was denied by an offside – corroborated via VAR – and next Jota lashed a strike over the crossbar from the left.

Liverpool were continually feeding play out to Luis Diaz and on 28 minutes his diagonal cross picked out the head of Mohamed Salah, who directed his nod too close to Jordan Pickford.

The home side had a lucky escape just past the half-hour.

Beto got away from Virgil van Dijk near halfway as the Reds failed to clear a bouncing ball and the striker raced into a one-on-one – but his shot clattered the left post.

Ryan Gravenberch saw a low drive deflect off Tarkowski into Pickford’s gloves and Alcaraz missed the target from a decent headed chance before the interval was signalled.

Second half

The home side resumed control of possession after the restart, seeking to pick a way through their neighbours. Pickford had to shovel away a Gravenberch blast and Jota was again blocked out inside the area.

But the pressure was clearly intensifying and Liverpool got their breakthrough with 57 on the clock.

It was almost entirely Jota’s own endeavour, the Portuguese weaving around a series of Evertonian bodies in the box and delivering a customarily composed final touch to beat Pickford and set the noise roaring within Anfield.

Jarrad Branthwaite dealt well with a swerving Andy Robertson cross to glance it out of play, ahead of the head coach deploying his first change of the night – Darwin Nunez replaced goalscorer Jota.

Sights of goal had started to become scarce at either end until Slot’s charges carved through Everton beautifully in the 82nd minute.

A string of slick passes saw a throw-in near the halfway line on the right wing moved back, forward and through to Diaz, who stepped infield and rasped a low effort that was blocked.

Jota’s piece of class proved enough, though, to give Liverpool the bragging rights in the city and a continued cushion in the Premier League title race.

Attendance: 60,331