Diogo Jota goal settles action-packed Merseyside derby as Liverpool beat Everton 1-0 to extend Premier League lead

Liverpool returned to winning ways and restored their 12-point cushion over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Everton, in a pulsating Merseyside derby at Anfield.

The action was relentless but it was Diogo Jota’s fine strike just before the hour mark that settled a contest full of drama.

Liverpool started the brighter of the sides but failed to make their early dominance count and nearly fell behind when Beto poked the ball past Caoimhin Kelleher in goal for the hosts.

It was ruled out for offside and the Everton striker also hit the post in an end-to-end first half, but the biggest talking point at the break was James Tarkowski’s challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.

Tarkowski, the hero of Goodison Park in February’s reverse fixture, won the ball but followed through and caught Mac Allister square on the calf.

It was checked by VAR and cleared, much to the dismay of Arne Slot and most inside a raucous Anfield, while even Duncan Ferguson could not believe Tarkowski escaped further punishment.

The tempo remained high in the second half and Liverpool were rewarded for their relentless pressure when Jota linked up beautifully with Luis Diaz before twisting and turning, and firing past a helpless Jordan Pickford.

From there, The Reds were rarely troubled. The disappointment will be that they failed to double their advantage and nullify the risk of being caught out by another late sucker-punch.

There were to be no comebacks this time, though, as David Moyes extended his unwanted record of consecutive Premier League games away at Liverpool without a win to 20.

After missing the chance to leapfrog Manchester United into 13th, The Toffees face Arsenal at home on Saturday, while Liverpool travel to Fulham on Sunday.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the match-winner said: "[It was] massive, of course. Not only because it is a derby, but because of the international break.

"It was important to start with three points and hopefully that gives us momentum for the rest of the season.

"I always believe in myself and believe that the chances will come. The three points was the most important today. The only way [to the title] is to keep winning games."

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After losing to PSG and Newcastle, Liverpool return to winning ways to move closer to wrapping up another Premier League title. Twelve points clear with eight games remaining, they can only beat themselves from here.

As for Everton, defeat leaves them 15th but not in any real danger of relegation. On a personal level for Moyes, it's now 20 league games away to Liverpool without a win.

And that's the game. Liverpool hang on for a deserved 1-0 victory to extend their lead at the top of the table to 12 points once again.

Slot's side were made to work for it by their city rivals before Jota finally broke the resistance with a well-taken strike in the second half.

Everton probed for an equaliser but failed to create anything clear-cut after the break.

Time for one last chance? Nunez has a pop but his shot flies over the bar.

Everton win a corner in the 95th minute. They can't, can they?

Pickford is up. It's now or never.

Young sends it in but it's just over the England goalkeeper. Kelleher punches clear and that could be that.

An Eveton free-kick is floated deep towards Branthwaite but Jones does extremely well to hook the ball clear.

Salah is replaced by Endo for the final throes. You can hear the groans of the fantasy football managers who captained the Egyptain.

Young whips a ball in but Van Dijk meets it and clears. You've got to do better than that at this stage of the game.

There will be six minutes of added time.

There is a strange coming together between Nunez and Pickford. Both are down but Nunez clearly thinks he deserves a penalty.

The Liverpool forward got to the ball first and was booted by Pickford, so he would have had a point if play hadn't already been stopped for an earlier foul on Szoboszlai.

To make matters worse, Nunez is carded for his trouble.

Diaz has put in a shift and has earned a rest. Gakpo takes his place.

For Everton, Chermiti comes on for Doucoure. 

A rare foray forward for Everton. The ball is whipped in but Van Dijk heads it off Broja, with the ball ricocheting out for a Liverpool goal-kick.

The seconds are ticking away.

Some life in the game again. Liverpool spring into life and nearly double their lead.

Diaz cuts in from the left and fires a low shot on goal but it's brilliantly blocked by Tarkowski, who has been excellent tonight.

Everton have had one shot on goal, zero on target and just 20% possession in the second half.

Safe to say it would be against the run of play were they to find an equaliser.

Moyes is turning to his bench again.

Young, Broja and Iroegbunam enter the fray in place of Garner, Alcaraz and Beto. Can they make the difference?

Jota is off and Nunez is on.

Robertson delivers an absolute pearler of a ball into the box. It is just beyond Jota's reach, though, and Branthwaite heads out for a corner.

Ndiaye is straight into the action as Everton come forward, an attack that eventually yields a corner.

Garner crosses it and Kelleher shakily punches it out for another corner from the other side.

That one comes to nothing but a set-piece seems to be Everton's best hope of getting an equaliser.