Liverpool beat Everton 2-0; Gapko scores his first goal

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Cody Gakpo finally scored his first goal for Liverpool, netting the winner in a 2-0 victory over Everton in the 242nd edition of the Merseyside derby on Monday.

The Dutch striker struck from close range in the 49th minute after Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the first half.

It was Liverpool’s first Premier League victory this year.

Gakpo, signed from PSV Eindhoven last month for $45million, had failed to score in his previous six games for his new side but was unable to miss this time after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s assist at the far post. .

Sean Dyche suffered a defeat in his first derby as Everton manager and was unable to sustain the positive feelings after the win over Arsenal in his first game in charge.

The defeat left Everton in the relegation zone, one point behind 17th-placed Leeds.

Liverpool have moved up to ninth place, but are still nine points clear of the next Champions League qualifying zone – for the top four in the table.

James Tarkowski nearly scored for Everton to put them ahead but his header hit the post before Salah opened the scoring in the 36th minute.

Ahead of kick-off, Liverpool learned their supporters had been cleared after incidents in last year’s Champions League final in Paris when riot police fired tear gas at them outside the stadium of France. .

An independent investigation has found UEFA was primarily responsible for security breaches that left supporters outside the stadium in queues that led to “a near disaster”.