Everton v Liverpool player ratings: Allan and Coleman 2; Salah and Henderson 9

Salah brace helps Liverpool on their way to a 4-1 win over Merseyside rivals

EVERTON RATINGS: Jordan Pickford – 5. The goalkeeper was called into action to keep down the score during Liverpool’s spellbinding opening period. He had a couple of miscommunications with his defenders and should have done better for Jota’s goal. PA

Seamus Coleman – 2. The Irishman’s massive error allowed Salah to score the third goal which effectively took Everton out of the game. It was the low point of a night the full-back would like to forget. Getty Images

Ben Godfrey – 4. The 23-year-old gave away possession too often. He made a splendid sliding block to deny Mane but he was not up to the task of putting a rein on the Liverpool front three. AFP

Michael Keane – 4. The centre-back did not have the pace or the nous to close down Liverpool’s attack. His midfielders offered him little help. AFP

Lucas Digne – 3. The Frenchman was caught in a horrible position for the second goal and had no answer for Salah. He made the odd raid forward but none of them paid off. AFP

Allan – 2. The Brazilian never landed a blow on the Liverpool midfield. His really poor effort to stop Jota scoring summed up his performance. Reuters

Abdoulaye Doucoure – 3. The Frenchman looked static in the face of his opponents’ crisp passing. He was wasteful in possession, too. Reuters

Andros Townsend – 3. The winger was slack on the ball from the start and had little influence on the match. He was booked for diving and replaced by Delph with 17 minutes to go. Reuters

Demarai Gray – 6. The winger was his team’s only real attacking threat and took his goal in style. On the downside, he gave Coleman an awkward pass that was the catalyst for the Irishman’s game-turning blunder. He was replaced by Tosun with five minutes to go. Getty Images

Richarlison – 4. The Brazilian was offered hardly any service and found himself isolated. His ball to Gray set up Everton’s goal but he was only intermittently involved. Reuters

Salomon Rondon – 6. The Venezuelan had his best game in an Everton shirt. He battled hard and made himself available for the ball until he limped off in the 59th minute to be replaced by Gordon. Getty Images

SUB: Anthony Gordon – 5. The 20-year-old joined the action in the 59th minute for Rondon and was subjected to some rough treatment. He kept trying even though the game had slipped away. Getty Images

SUB: Fabian Delph – 5. The 32-year-old was introduced in place of Townsend in the 73rd minute. There was nothing he could do to change the course of the match. AFP

SUB: Cenk Tosun – 4. The Turk saw his first action of the season when he came on for Gray in the 85th minute. He will at least be grateful to get back on the pitch. AFP

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker – 6. The Brazilian was left exposed for Gray’s goal but made a good effort to stop the shot. He was calm with the ball at his feet on a quiet night when his concentration might have wandered. Getty Images

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7. The 23-year-old was prominent during his team’s early blitz and tested Pickford with a shot. He was quieter in the second half but remained efficient at both ends. AFP

Joel Matip – 7. The centre-back missed a free header from a corner in the second minute but was superb in the air and on the floor during Everton’s spell of pressure. AFP

Virgil van Dijk – 7. The Dutchman found Rondon a handful but just edged the physical contest. He looks closer to his best with every game. Reuters

Andrew Robertson – 8. The Scot contributed to three of the goals and ranged forward with glee. He did not allow Townsend a foothold in the game. Reuters

Fabinho – 7. The Brazilian did not let Everton establish a rhythm in the middle of the park. He enjoyed using the available space to get forward. Reuters

Thiago Alcantara – 7. The 30-year-old was composed in possession and not shy of putting a foot in on an opponent when necessary. He gave way for Milner with 15 minutes left. Getty Images

Jordan Henderson – 9. The captain gets better as he gets older. Not only did he do the dirty work but he had moments that recalled his youthful days as a carefree winger. He opened the scoring and was superb until he was replaced by Oxlade-Chamberlain with seven minutes left. Getty Images

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their side's third goal during the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park on December 01, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey / Getty Images)

Diogo Jota – 7. The Portuguese’s movement and intelligence troubled the defence. When he got his chance, he left Allan rooted to the spot and scored with aplomb. He was substituted for Minamino with two minutes left. PA

Sadio Mane – 7. The Senegalese’s relentless effort kept the defence off kilter. He was dangerous on the ball and created space for his teammates. PA

SUB: James Milner – 6. The 35-year-old joined the action for Thiago in the 75th minute and made sure that his team were allowed to run down the clock without any alarms. Getty Images

SUB: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6. The midfielder came on for Henderson with seven minutes to go. He had a couple of nice touches in his short cameo. PA

SUB: Takumi Minamino – 5. The Japanese was allowed to stretch his legs for the final two minutes when Jota departed. He kept busy as the game dribbled to its end. Getty Images

Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool thumped Everton 4-1 in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday to stay two points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea.

A beautiful, curling shot from Jordan Henderson put Liverpool ahead in the ninth minute before the midfielder set up Salah with a fine through ball and the Egyptian provided a clinical finish to make it 2-0.

Everton looked to be on the ropes but they found a way back into the game seven minutes before the break, with Demarai Gray, after good work from Brazilian Richarlison.

The home side stuck at the task but Liverpool put the contest beyond doubt with Salah whisking the ball away from Seamus Coleman and providing the coolest of finishes.

Diogo Jota completed the rout with an outstanding finish, the Portuguese forward spinning away from Allan, with a brilliant turn, before blasting past Jordan Pickford's near post.

Liverpool are in third place on 31 points, a point behind Manchester City and two adrift of leaders Chelsea.