On Sunday afternoon, Liverpool headed to face local rivals Everton at their new stadium for the first time. In the end, the derby result at their new ground looked much the same as the derby results had often looked at their old one. Namely, Liverpool won.
Not only won, but won thanks to a goal deep into stoppage time. A late blow to a side and fanbase that for much of the match would have believed they could take something from their rival Reds. And with it a six-point swing when Evertonians had begun to dream of catching Liverpool.
According to Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, though, that Everton were so eager to celebrate perhaps catching the Reds—a Blues win would’ve seen them just two points back in the table with momentum on their side—only highlights the gulf between the clubs.
“I mean, look, it shows the team we are and the team that they that they’re celebrating that they’d be two points behind us in what is seen as one of our worst years,” he said when asked about Sunday’s match being framed as a chance for Everton to catch their more successful neighbours.
“So if that’s what they take as a stepping stone or a step in the right direction, then, I don’t know, but we don’t think about teams that are trying to catch us. We only ever look forward, and we know that we have to be playing in the Champions League.”
On that front, Sunday’s result was certainly a success—for the Reds, at least—and reason to celebrate, with the three points they earned when Virgil van Dijk scored a winner in the 100th minute meaning they now have a seven-point edge in the top five race.
Heading it, not only had Everton seemed within striking distance, but so too had Chelsea and Brentford. Chelsea, though, lost to Manchester United and Brentford drew at Fulham, and just like that, Liverpool are now heavy favourites to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
