Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo got on the scoresheet as Liverpool picked up a much-needed victory over local rivals Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Everton went into Monday night’s game on a high after they beat Arsenal 1-0 last weekend.

Sean Dyche’s players put in a strong performance against the league leaders but they were unable to produce a performance of a similar standard in the Merseyside derby.

The visitors came close to going in front before the break as James Tarkowski’s header bounced away off the post.

Liverpool made the most of this reprieve as they broke away on the counter-attack. Darwin Nunez raced away from his marker and found Salah, who tapped the ball home past an out-of-position Jordan Pickford to make it 1-0.

Jurgen Klopp’s side doubled their lead shortly after the interval. Trent Alexander-Arnold was played in on the right flank and the defender directed a pinpoint low cross towards the back post to Gakpo, who converted to grab his first goal for Liverpool.

Liverpool saw out the game to pick up a vital three points. They are now ninth in the table but they can close in to within six points of fourth-placed Newcastle if they win their game in hand.

Everton meanwhile remain in a perilous position. They are in the final relegation spot in the Premier League and one point adrift of safety ahead of this weekend’s game against Leeds United.