A strange Derby - when the reds just kept on giving...

The Anfield Derby is the game that I look forward to the least. It feels like, in recent years Everton have turned up, been roundly thrashed, and then tried to get back to business. In truth we have ground out a few draws in the 18 years since we last managed a win. But a couple of 0 - 4 defeats and a 1 – 3 last season remain painful memories.

I actually felt more on edge yesterday than I might have done a few weeks ago. Following the hammering at Southampton, the Derby seemed like a dark shadow on the horizon. The worst seemed inevitable. We have then had three good wins, some encouraging performances and a new management team. It was a very dim glimmer of hope but a glimmer nonetheless. The glimmer was joined by a raised eyebrow with the news that Klopp had left out Coutinho and Firmino. An early Christmas gift?

As ever, I did not enjoy a single minute of the game itself. To be honest Liverpool were all over us. It was clearly part of the plan, to let them have the bulk of possession, to hang on in here and try and catch them on the break. The problem was that you actually need to have the ball for at last a few seconds for this to work.

Salah scored his obligatory goal and it began to feel like a matter of time before others followed. But it didn’t happen. We defended well – for a change. Pickford actually had very little to do. 

But most of all, Klopp & Co were remarkably generous. The gifts kept on coming. Mane found himself needing simply to pass the ball to his right, to guarantee Salah a tap in for number 2. He decided to go for glory. Klopp took the in form Salah off with the game still finely balanced, in score if not possession. Then the ever willing Lovren decided to shove Calvert-Lewin in the back when he was going away from the goal.

Rooney did not need a second invitation to almost send the goal into Stanley Park.

Klopp was clearly angry and his press conference will live long in the memory.

'But obviously we can have a test now to see who thinks it was a penalty. Hands up if you thought it was...three? What, everyone? Then I am really wrong obviously..'

But the reality is that Everton were organised and committed in defence. 

And Liverpool showered us with gifts for which we will be forever grateful.