Liverpool extended their flawless Premier League start with a 2-1 victory over Everton, tightening their grip on the Merseyside derby and moving six points clear at the top of the table.
First-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike rewarded the champions’ early dominance and secured a fifth successive league win.
Everton clawed their way back into the match after the break when Idrissa Gana Gueye struck to halve the deficit, forcing Liverpool to hold on during a tense finale.
Manager Arne Slot’s side had relied on late goals in each of their four previous league wins and in their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid. This time, however, they did their best work inside the opening half-hour, leaving Everton still searching for a first win at Anfield in the 21st century.
Slot opted to start without his £100 million signings, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, but Liverpool looked well balanced with Alexis MacAllister back in midfield alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and the impressive Gravenberch.
The Dutchman opened the scoring after just nine minutes, finishing deftly from Mohamed Salah’s cross. Salah almost doubled the lead shortly after, narrowly missing the target with his trademark left-foot strike.
Ekitike added a second with a clever finish through Jordan Pickford’s legs following a slick team move.
Everton, buoyed by Jack Grealish’s fine recent form, fought back after half-time. Grealish’s deep cross set up Gueye, who powered his effort past Alisson Becker.
Slot introduced Wirtz and Isak to restore control, but Everton pressed until the end. Liverpool nevertheless held firm, condemning David Moyes to an unwanted record: 23 visits to Anfield without a win, the longest such run by any Premier League manager.