With three fist pumps in front of the home fans, Jurgen Klopp celebrated his 250th win as Liverpool manager after beating Everton 2-0 on Monday, according to AP.
Victory in the Merseyside derby is always something to savor in these parts. But such have been Liverpool’s troubles in recent weeks that a win of any description would have been gratefully received by the Anfield crowd.
Sitting ninth in the standings, this was a first victory in the Premier League in 2023 for Liverpool and only the second in eight games in all competitions.
While a Champions League-qualifying place in the top four is still nine points off, there were signs that the win in the 242nd Merseyside derby can provide a lift-off for manager Klopp’s faltering team.
January signing Cody Gakpo scored for the first time for his new club and there was good news on the injury front as fit-again Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino came off the bench in the second half.
Virgil van Dijk, who has also been out with injury, was an unused substitute.
Everton is in the relegation zone, one point behind 17th-placed Leeds, which it meets on the weekend.