Liverpool 2-0 Everton: Frank Lampard addresses key decisions in Premier League clash

Everton certainly made a nuisance of themselves during the Merseyside derby on Sunday.

Liverpool grew frustrated within the opening minutes at Anfield as it became painfully apparent that their neighbours from across Stanley Park would be making life incredibly awkward for them.

Frank Lampard seemed to be following in the footsteps of his former manager Jose Mourinho in leading Everton through a cagey and bullish performance designed to keep Liverpool at bay.

With Jordan Pickford shamelessly time-wasting and Richarlison repeatedly hitting the deck, Jurgen Klopp’s men really had to dig deep in order to grind down Everton’s fatiguing tactics.

In the end, the hosts achieved exactly that with Andrew Robertson and Divock Origi both finding the net in the final 30 minutes to ensure that Liverpool got the better of Everton’s cheeky tricks.

Nevertheless, Lampard and Everton still had reason to feel frustrated about Liverpool taking the win because it wasn’t without moments of controversy.

As with any high-octane clash in the Premier League, there are incidents where the whim of either the VAR or referee can completely change the direction of the game.

And you only had to look at Lampard’s post-match interviews to see his frustration with a number of flash points, including Antony Gordon’s penalty appeal and the first-half fracas between both squads.

Firstly, Lampard argued that the potential spot-kick at 0-0 could well have been given if it was Mohamed Salah at the other end, hinting that a degree of unconscious bias might have been at play.

Then, the Everton boss noted that there were “questionable things going on” when Everton and Liverpool players clashed with many fans believing that Sadio Mane should have been sent off.

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