Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp refused to get carried away after his side crushed neighbours Everton 4-0 in a one-sided 226th Merseyside derby at Anfield.
Wednesday’s Premier League encounter was little short of a humiliation for the visitors, who finished the match with 10 men after Ramiro Funes Mori’s second-half red card.
In truth, the match was already over by then as first-half headers from Divock Origi and Mamadou Sakho set the Reds on the path to victory.
Straight after the break, Funes Mori clattered Origi in a shocking tackle, for which he received his marching orders, and Liverpool then twisted the knife even further with a second-half showing of complete dominance.
Substitute Daniel Sturridge — on for Origi, who was stretchered off — slotted past Joel Robles to add a third after an hour before a wonderful strike from Philippe Coutinho capped off a memorable night for the home side with 14 minutes remaining.
But while Klopp said his team are enjoying their football, Origi’s injury took some of the gloss off the win and the German said that the margin of victory could be partly explained by Funes Mori’s exit.
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“We did well. Usually after a 4-0 win I don’t know how to keep the smile of my face, but tonight it’s pretty easy,” Klopp said.
“In the first half it was a derby, so it was more wild than a normal football game, but it’s a derby so you accept this.
“We could have done better, but lost some patience in the wrong moments. We forced some things too early and we didn’t have the movements, especially not behind the line.
“But of course the two goals were at the perfect moment and what can I say about the second half?
“It changed completely with the second half and when (Everton’s John) Stones also had to come off. It was not easy for Everton.
“We are in a good moment — that’s how it is. We made good chances and we could have scored more.”
Origi’s injury marred Liverpool’s victory, but Klopp allayed initial fears that the Belgian striker had broken his leg.
“I didn’t see the pictures, but it was a big shadow on the game,” Klopp said.
“It’s not broken. I went into the medical room and saw him smiling. The ankle is twisted and we have to wait to see what happens to the ligaments now.”
Everton manager Roberto Martinez is now under fire like never before.
After a series of insipid displays this season, particularly at Goodison Park, the Spaniard is rapidly running out of support on the terraces.
He hit back at his critics in the week and claimed he has moved the club on since replacing David Moyes in 2013.
But he had no excuses following this destructive defeat and admitted that it was the worst possible preparation for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United at Wembley.
“It was disastrous,” he said. “It was a horrible showing that started with the best intentions, but ended with an inability to do the basics right.
“It was shocking, it was a horrible experience for everyone connected to the football club and it was a game that turned on us not defending well enough before half-time.
“We lost concentration. We give them a soft cushion with two goals before half-time and that was a massive blow.
“Nobody representing Everton deserved to be in that chain of events, but that is football. We have to reward our fans with a proper performance in the FA Cup semi-final now.”
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FIXTURES
UAE’s remaining fixtures in World Cup qualification R2
Oct 8: Malaysia (h)
Oct 13: Indonesia (a)
Nov 12: Thailand (h)
Nov 17: Vietnam (h)
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FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
