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LIVERPOOL. — Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his team had shown they have learnt to handle the unique atmosphere of derby games after they turned on the style to beat neighbours Everton 4-1 in the English Premiership football on Wednesday night. 

Klopp had tried to talk down the special nature of the Merseyside derby for his players in the build-up to the game and he felt they had shown maturity in their display. 

“It was, for sure, the best performance we’ve shown since I’m at Liverpool, at Goodison,” he said. 

“We had some good games here, but we were never as good as tonight. We were never as calm as tonight, we were never as convinced as tonight and that’s why we won the game and I am really happy about that,” said the German, who won the title in 2020 a year after winning the Champions League. 

“Obviously since I’m at Liverpool we had to learn these kind of games. We had to learn to play at Old Trafford, we had to learn to play at Goodison, and tonight we showed that we made a big step in our development and that’s really good,” he said. 

Liverpool beat Manchester United 5-0 in their North West derby in October and he said Wednesday’s display set the standard. 

“That’s what we have to reach now in each game when we play these kind of teams, because emotions are important in football. We are a very emotional football team but, first and foremost, you need the right mood and mindset. Yes, emotion (is) good but not the only important thing. 

“The two derbies for us against Everton and United are big games and you have to learn to keep yourself calm and together, if you want to play your best football,” he said. 

Mohamed Salah scored twice for the Reds while Jordan Henderson opened the scoring and set up the Egyptian’s first goal. 

The Liverpool skipper was full of praise for Salah, who has now scored 13 goals in 14 league games this season. 

“He’s been outstanding this season and at the moment you wouldn’t want to play against him. It makes my job easier because you just give him the ball and he goes and puts it in the net. It was outstanding from him.” 

 But Klopp has revealed that Salah was “angry’’ in the Liverpool dressing room after their win over Everton because he missed out on a hat-trick. 

Salah scored two excellent goals in the emphatic win at Goodison Park, including Liverpool’s vital third when Everton were pushing for an equaliser. 

Salah caught Everton captain Seamus Coleman in possession on the halfway line and sprinted through on goal to score. 

But despite his latest heroics, Klopp’s was pleased to see Salah wanted more. 

‘’He was angry after the game! He wanted to score the third one,’’ Klopp explained. 

‘’I don’t take these things for granted. His second goal, you have to force these kind of mistakes. 

‘’Mo put Coleman under pressure to win that ball and from then on it is a good chance he will score.’’ 

The Reds had won just one of their previous nine visits to Goodison, but were in complete control from the first whistle against Benitez’s men, who have now taken just two points from the last 24 on offer in the English Premier League. 

Stunning strikes from Henderson and inside 20 minutes gave Everton a mountain to climb. Demarai Gray’s strike gave the Toffees hope before the break. 

But that was extinguished by another clinical Salah finish just after the hour mark as the Egyptian took his tally for the season to 19 goals in 19 games before Diogo Jota blasted home a fourth 12 minutes from time. 

Benitez was an unpopular appointment among many of the Everton support before he had even taken charge of a game given his history as Champions League winning coach for Liverpool during six years at Anfield.

A positive start had quelled some of the disquiet, but Everton are sinking fast towards a relegation battle with the fans in no doubt as to who is responsible. — AFP.