Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live coverage of the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton. While Liverpool head into the contest with an eight-point lead at the top of the standings, Everton sit in 17th position on the back of two successive defeats, leaving
Marco Silva under pressure to keep his job at the Toffees.
As the two teams make their way out at Anfield, let's see who features in each starting lineup...
LIVERPOOL XI: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Lallana, Milner; Shaqiri, Mane, Origi
LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Kelleher, Gomez, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, Salah, Firmino
EVERTON XI: Pickford; Sidibe, Holgate, Mina, Keane, Digne; Iwobi, Davies, Sigurdsson,
Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin
EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Lossl, Baines, Schneiderlin, Bernard, Walcott, Kean, Tosun
KICKOFF: Liverpool get us underway!
The home side waste no time in going onto the front foot with Robertson delivering a wonderful drilled cross on the half-volley into the middle. Mane gets ahead of Mina by the penalty spot, but the Everton defender does enough to put off the winger.
As you would expect, both sets of supporters are already invested into this contest. There are no more openings to speak of, but it is warming up nicely.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 EVERTON (DIVOCK ORIGI) GOAL! Liverpool take the lead! Mane provides an absolutely sublime ball into the path of Origi, who has gotten in behind the defence. The Belgian's first touch takes the ball beyond the advancing Pickford and the forward is able to slot into an empty net.
Liverpool look in the mood tonight and already suggesting that they could run away with this contest, providing that they can score a second in quick succession. Everton look in survival mode.
Iwobi threatens to break into the final third from the left-hand side, but Milner gets back to make a fine sliding tackle on the playmaker.
Everton are starting to see a bit more of the ball now. The task for the Toffees is to find a balance between playing five at the back and ensuring that they do not become too penned in by their hosts.
Liverpool are hinting that they are ready to take the direct approach should the Everton full-backs advance too far forward. It's food for thought for each of Sidibe and Digne.
Robertson is late into a challenge with Davies, leading to the full-back falling on top of the Everton man. While the midfielder is less than impressed, Robertson just smiles back at him.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 EVERTON (XHERDAN SHAQIRI)
GOAL! Liverpool double their advantage and it is another fine goal. After receiving a cross-field pass from Alexander-Arnold, Mane bides his time before picking out the run of Shaqiri, who is able to direct the ball into the far corner from eight yards out. It's the Swiss's first goal of the season.
CHANCE! While this is already looking like it is going to be a long night for Everton, the visitors should probably be back in this match. An outswinging corner find Richarlison, who powers a free header from 12 yards well over the crossbar.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-1 EVERTON (MICHAEL KEANE)
GOAL! Game on! While Iwobi's cross from the right is half-blocked, the ball falls to Keane who keeps his composure to fire into the roof of the net from eight yards out. It's a very cool finish.
Liverpool are not quite on the rack, but Everton definitely sense that there is an opportunity here. The visitors are taking the chance to push their hosts back into their own defensive third.
CHANCE! Another opening for Everton. Iwobi plays a brilliant through-ball into the path of Calvert-Lewin, who is able to advance into the penalty area. However, under pressure from Van Dijk, the forward slices his effort well wide of the near post. There are appeals for a penalty, but VAR rules that any infringement was not clear and obvious.
YELLOW CARD! Alexander-Arnold goes into the book for a late challenge on Digne. The right-back's studs came down onto the foot of the Everton player.
PENALTY APPEAL! For the first time in a while, Liverpool show some ambition going forward. Mane wants a penalty after going down in the area under a challenge from Sidibe, but there isn't much in it.
YELLOW CARD! Richarlison joins Alexander-Arnold in the book for a poor tackle on Shaqiri. It was very similar to the one which saw the Liverpool man go into the book.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-1 EVERTON (DIVOCK ORIGI)
GOAL! What a goal this is! Lovren plays a delightful long pass from front to back into the path of Origi, who brings the ball down before sending the ball over Pickford. Once again, it is a long way back for Everton.
SUBSTITUTION! It looks like Everton boss
Marco Silva has seen enough. Bernard has replaced Sidibe, with the Toffees switching to four at the back.
Liverpool look like they are throwing everything into getting a fourth before the break. They are certainly capable of it. To Everton's credit, though, they are not taking a backwards step and remain a threat on the counter.
It's worth remembering that Liverpool have produced this kind of performance without many of their star men. That said, while it would probably make sense for the home side to not use the likes of Salah and Firmino, Klopp is expected to use at least one of them in the second half.
Everton win a free kick in a threatening position on the byline, but Liverpool just about clear the danger from by the penalty spot with a glancing header.
Liverpool have tried to rush things a touch since the goal. They have not really adjusted to Everton moving to a back four. There is much less space in behind the full-backs.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-1 EVERTON (SADIO MANE)
GOAL! Gamoe over. After successfully defending a corner, Liverpool break at speed through Alexander-Arnold. The right-back bides his time before picking out the advancing Mane, who coolly sweeps the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot from 20 yards out.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-2 EVERTON (RICHARLISON)
GOAL! What a ridiculous half of football! Everton get back into the game just seconds before the break, with Richarlison sending a header into the far corner after meeting Bernard's cross!
HALF TIME: Liverpool 4-2 Everton
The half-time whistle goes at Anfield and after a remarkable opening period, Liverpool lead by a 4-2 scoreline. The leaders fully deserve to be ahead, but Everton have played their part. More goals after the break? I would say that is guaranteed.
A quick reminder of the two benches...
LIVERPOOL SUBSTITUTES: Kelleher, Gomez, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Keita, Salah, Firmino
EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Lossl, Baines, Schneiderlin, Bernard, Walcott, Kean, Tosun
The players are beginning to make their way back out onto the pitch at Anfield. Brace yourself for another eventful 45 minutes...
KICKOFF: Everton get us back underway!
It has been a relatively tame start to the second half. In all fairness, everyone needed it! Everton will not want to let Liverpool get too settled, however.
SHOT! Lallana goes in late on Calvert-Lewin on the edge of the box, which presents Digne with a chance to shoot from a free kick. However, the full-back's effort is always heading off-target.
Liverpool go up the other end and win a corner thanks to Robertson. Once the referee deals with Mina getting overly aggressive towards Van Dijk, Everton are able to get the ball away.
We are still to see any chances from open play since the restart, but Liverpool are in control. They just need to remain professional in order to see this contest out.
What Liverpool are doing effectively this half is drawing soft fouls out of their rivals. It is breaking up the play, while equally frustrating their opponents.
SUBSTITUTION! Here comes a second change for Everton, with Kean replacing Calvert-Lewin.
CHANCE! Half a chance for Everton as Keane rises above the Liverpool backline to meet a corner. However, the centre-back's header from by the penalty spot goes straight at Adrian.
While Everton are having their moments going forward, they are having to be wary of Liverpool launching breaks forward from the halfway line. Don't forget that Klopp has still got plenty of players at his disposal who can inject pace in the final third.
YELLOW CARD! Davies becomes the next player to go into the book. The midfielder goes in late on Alexander-Arnold, although there appears to be minimal contact. Still, he can have no complaints.
As far as general play is concerned, Liverpool are still having the better of proceedings. However, Everton look fairly comfortable when presented with any danger. They need to take it upon themselves to take risks at the other end.
While there are no signs of Liverpool making a change, Everton are soon going to make their final one. However, it is not one you would expect...
SUBSTITUTION! Silva has introduced Schneiderlin for Davies. With there being no injury involved, the Everton fans are far from happy.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Liverpool are going to make two alterations. On come Henderson and Firmino, with Lallana and Origi making way.
As we enter the final 15 minutes, we still feel no nearer to a seventh goal being scored. Based on the action in the first half, that appeared to be a near certainty, but we have barely had any shots in this second half.
SHOT! Liverpool win a free kick on the left, which is taken by Shaqiri. Wijnaldum gets across the defender at the near post, but the Dutchman's header goes well off target.
Everton win a throw in a threatening area in the final third, but it comes to nothing. The travelling support are appealing for a penalty after a coming-together involving Mina but if anything, it was a foul on Lovren.
CHANCE! It should be 5-2. Mane latches onto a long ball and works his way into the penalty area. Despite having just Pickford to beat, the winger somehow slides a shot wide of the target from 12 yards.
SUBSTITUTION! Liverpool make their final switch of the evening as Gomez is introduced for Alexander-Arnold.
CHANCE! Moments after Liverpool fluff their lines at one end, Everton break with Iwobi threading a pass through to Kean. While the substitute may have ultimately been ruled offside, the Italian send a low shot wide of the post from 18 yards out.
This match feels over as a contest now. Everton are still making every effort to force something at one end, but Liverpool are posing a threat with the extra space which is being left for them.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 5-2 EVERTON (GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM)
GOAL! Liverpool add a fifth in the final seconds of normal time. Firmino twists and turns on the left-hand side of the penalty area before teeing up Wijnaldum, who takes a touch before sending the ball into the far corner from 15 yards out.
There will be three minutes of added-on time.
FULL TIME: Liverpool 5-2 Everton
The full-time whistle goes at Anfield as Liverpool maintain their eight-point lead with a deserved 5-2 success over their near neighbours. To some degree, the margin is a little harsh on Everton, although the visitors ultimately paid for a slow start. With the Toffees now in the relegation zone, the pressure will stay on the shoulders of Marco Silva.
That will be all from
Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.