LONDON: Super-sub Divock Origi made all the difference as Liverpool remained within one point of Manchester City by out-battling Merseyside derby neighbours Everton to keep their quadruple dream alive.

The Belgian helped create the 62nd-minute opening goal for Andy Robertson with is first touch after replacing Sadio Mane then scored the Reds’ second in the closing minutes. He has a remarkable record of six goals in nine Merseyside derbies.

As for Robertson, four of his last five league goals have been headers and his team have lost only one of their past 25 matches in all competitions.

Every successive game now is a huge international occasion. The League Cup holders reached the FA Cup Final nine days ago and host Villarreal in a Champions League semi-final first leg on Wednesday. Next Saturday lunchtime they go to rapidly-improving Saudi-owned Newcastle.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “Thank God the game has two halves. We didn’t play particularly well in the first half. We weren’t quick enough. Second half we were much more direct. The goals were wonderful.

“The amount of wins we’ve had in recent months is insane. We stayed really cool and calm. The changes helped. Fresh players, different formation. We won 2-0, it’s absolutely fine.”

The derby was depressing for Everton in their struggle to avoid relegation for the first time in around 70 years. Frank Lampard’s arrival in midseason in place of unpopular Rafa Benitez had not brought the necessary improvement in results or performances.

A goal by Richarlison had earned a 1:1 draw in midweek with Leicester but his unpredictable temperament has long been a problem. The Brazilian was shown a red card in the Merseyside derby in 2020 for a foul which sidelined Thiago Alcantara for nine weeks with a knee injury.

Everton plunged into double trouble before kickoff. First Burnley’s earlier victory over Wolves pushed the Toffeemen down into the relegation zone then Ben Godfrey, their most consistent defender this season, had to be replaced after being injured in the warm-up.

Liverpool’s priority was an early goal to force Everton out of their defensive shell and open the way to the big win to prevent Manchester City’s goal difference becoming impossibly superior. Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota shot wide from Liverpool’s only two half-chances.

Everton were satisfied to reach halftime goalless thanks to tight defending, time-wasting and niggling fouls which prompted minor scuffles and yellow cards for Abdoulaye Doucoure and Mane.

Liverpool charged upfield from the start of the second half. This offered Everton more counter-attacking openings from which Anthony Gordon caused problems on the left wing. Trent Alexander-Arnold was lucky to escape a penalty appeal after one tangle and was then booked after a second trip.

Now Klopp made a double substitution, bringing on Luis Diaz and Divock Origi for Mane and Naby Keita. He was rewarded immediately. Mo Salah’s first cross was headed back to him by Origi and the Egyptian’s second cross was headed home by Robertson. Origi added a killing second goal in the final minutes.

“Going down, going down, going down!” sang the Liverpool fans, taunting the rapidly disappearing Everton fans.

** Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed, after the 1:0 win over West Ham, that Antonio Rudiger will leave the club at the end of the season. Rudiger’s contract is expiring and the club are unable, because of sanctions, to negotiate a new deal.

Tuchel said: “The situation is that he wants to leave the club. He informed me of this is in a private talk. We gave everything – me and the club – but we could not fight anymore. Without the sanctions we would at least be able to carry on fighting, but our hands are tied. We will miss him a lot.”

Christian Pulisic came to Chelsea’s rescue with a stoppage-time winning goal after Jorginho had missed a penalty minutes earlier. West Ham rested six senior players ahead of Thursday’s Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

** Two goals from Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse snatched a point as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men recovered from two goals down for a 2:2 draw against Brighton. Ward-Prowse’s first goal was his 14th direct from a free-kick, second only to David Beckham (18) in the Premier League era.

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