Historic Victory: Everton’s Tactical Triumph Over Liverpool at Anfield
For over two decades, Everton had failed to celebrate victory at Anfield. The last time the blue half of Merseyside left the home of their rivals with all three points was back in September 1999—a result that had become more folklore than memory for most. That changed with a commanding 2-0 win orchestrated by Carlo Ancelotti, ending a 21-year drought and marking a pivotal moment for the Toffees. This article offers a detailed tactical breakdown of how Everton managed to overpower a struggling Liverpool side and secure a historic derby success.
Everton’s Defensive Organization: Compactness and Coordination in a 5-3-2
Central to Everton’s success was their disciplined approach without the ball. Ancelotti deployed a 5-3-2 formation designed to contain Liverpool’s primary attacking threats. This shape allowed Everton to accomplish several key objectives:
– **Limiting Liverpool’s Front Three:** Every member of Liverpool’s attacking trio—Salah, Firmino, and Mane—was closely marked by at least one of Everton’s back five or a midfielder, often Tom Davies dropping deep to provide cover.
– **Central Compactness:** The trio of Godfrey, Keane, and Holgate excelled at closing gaps and anticipating Liverpool’s movements, especially when the opposition tried positional interchanges to unlock space.
– **Dynamic Midfield Support:** Tom Davies anchored the midfield diamond, providing defensive coverage and making crucial interventions (five tackles throughout the match).
– **Disrupting Build-Up:** The Toffees’ shape would morph—at times resembling a 5-3-1-1—ensuring James Rodriguez could link play upfield or add presence in midfield, while Doucoure and Gomes supported the wing-backs in tracking Liverpool’s overlapping fullbacks.
The end result was a Liverpool side starved of meaningful chances despite dominating possession. Everton’s compactness forced Liverpool into wide areas or speculative attempts, neutralizing their central attacking threat and frustrating their forwards.
Everton in Possession: Patient Transitions and Clinical Finishing
While Everton’s defensive prowess was outstanding, their play in possession was more conservative and often required composure under Liverpool’s pressure. Their tactical approach included:
– **Shape Shifts in Attack:** With the ball, Everton transitioned into a 3-5-2 or 3-5-1-1, using Seamus Coleman and Lucas Digne as wing-backs who alternated between advancing high and tucking inside. Coleman’s inverted runs limited Andy Robertson’s space and provided an extra barrier to Liverpool’s counter-attacks.
– **Challenged by Pressing:** Everton at times struggled to progress play against Liverpool’s aggressive press, frequently opting for long passes that rarely found their mark until Dominic Calvert-Lewin entered as a target man in the second half.
– **Decisive Moments:** The opening goal showcased Everton’s ability to capitalize on Liverpool’s rare defensive lapses. A failed Liverpool clearance allowed Doucoure to find James Rodriguez, whose quick, incisive pass released Richarlison to break the deadlock with sharp movement between defenders.
– **Utilizing Substitutions:** Calvert-Lewin’s introduction provided a focal point up front, earning a penalty late in the match and helping Everton secure the win.
Everton’s overall possession game appeared limited for large spells, but their strategy relied on discipline, efficiency on the break, and making the most of Liverpool’s few mistakes.
Liverpool’s Possession Play: Dominance Without Penetration
Despite seeing over 70% of the ball, Liverpool’s performance with possession highlighted their ongoing struggles to convert dominance into goals against a deep, well-drilled defensive unit. Under Klopp, the Reds kept their familiar 4-3-3 formation and leaned heavily on right flank sequences:
– **Diamond Passing Patterns:** Liverpool’s build-up often involved Thiago and Wijnaldum dropping alongside the center-backs to create diamond patterns, attempting to manipulate Everton’s midfield and expand passing lanes.
– **Emphasis on the Right Side:** Trent Alexander-Arnold saw increased involvement, frequently moving high up the pitch where he became Liverpool’s main creative threat, supported by Curtis Jones’s off-ball movement that tried to create overlapping opportunities.
– **Lack of Cohesion Up Front:** While Firmino and Mane managed to generate moments of danger, Mohamed Salah was peripheral, rarely able to escape Everton’s defensive attention or link play effectively.
– **Limited Cutting Edge:** Multiple hopeful crosses and through balls failed to break down Everton’s organized shape or trouble Jordan Pickford, who remained largely untested throughout the match.
Liverpool’s attack reflected a side unable to adjust to well-organized defenses—missing invention and a clinical touch when it mattered most.
Liverpool’s Approach Without the Ball: Intensity But Not Enough
Off the ball, Klopp’s men showed their trademark pressing intensity and organization, but ultimately failed to prevent Everton’s most critical attacks:
– **Midfield Pressing:** Thiago led the pressing efforts, making numerous tackles and disrupting Everton’s build-up—an improved performance after recent criticism of his defensive work rate.
– **High Fullback Engagement:** Robertson and Alexander-Arnold pressed effectively in half-spaces, yet Everton often bypassed the press with longer passes or targeted attacks in transition.
– **Center-Back Performances:** Nathaniel Phillips added composure at the back and handled Everton’s aerial threat well, but could not prevent the crucial moments that led to goals.
– **Everton’s Efficiency:** Despite having few chances, Everton were ruthless and made the most of the opportunities Liverpool presented—underscoring the difference on the day.
Liverpool succeeded in regaining possession quickly but found themselves vulnerable in crucial phases, allowing Everton to pounce on their rare lapses.
Key Takeaways: A Shift in the Merseyside Dynamic?
Everton’s 2-0 win at Anfield was more than just a statistical anomaly; it was a showcase of tactical discipline, defensive solidity, and opportunistic finishing. Ancelotti’s strategy neutralized Liverpool’s strengths, while his players executed the game plan flawlessly—particularly in their structures out of possession and their ability to capitalize on Liverpool’s few mistakes. For Liverpool, the match symbolized an ongoing struggle to break down organized opponents and finish chances, despite controlling much of the play.
With this victory, Everton not only achieved a historic result but also signaled a potential shift in the longstanding rivalry. The Toffees’ approach offers a blueprint for how underdogs can disrupt stronger teams through compactness, organization, and clinical execution.
The Merseyside derby result will be remembered as a turning point for Everton and a reminder for Liverpool that possession alone is never enough against a resolute, tactically adept opponent.
