Jurgen Klopp became the first manager to win his first three Merseyside derbies in the league as Liverpool cruised to a 3-1 win against rivals Everton at Anfield on Saturday through three fine goals.

With the win, the Reds jumped to third in the table.

Liverpool dictated proceedings from kick-off and led in the eighth minute of the game through a brilliant solo run from Sadio Mane. With the home side’s forward line relentlessly pressing for the ball, Everton found the going tough.

Against the run of play, Everton equalised through rookie Matthew Pennington, who slotted the ball home from close range after Phil Jagielka had flicked it onto his path from a corner. It was Pennington’s first goal for his boyhood club.

Liverpool, though, didn’t take long to restore the lead as Phillipe Coutinho’s intricate footwork proved to be too much to handle for the Everton back four. The Brazilian cut in and unleashed a brilliant curler to the far corner.

The tempo of the game slowed down in the second half. With Romelu Lukaku struggling to get a touch on the ball for much of the contest, the Toffees’ failed to test the Liverpool back-four.

At the hour mark, substitute Divock Origi gave his side a two-goal cushion with what was yet another display of individual brilliance. Ronald Koeman’s side lie at seventh with 50 points on the board. Manchester City can leapfrog Liverpool if they win their encounter against Arsenal on Sunday.

Brief scores:

  • Liverpool 3 (Sadio Mane, Phillipe Coutinho, Divock Origi) beat Everton 1 (Matthew Pennington)