Liverpool star Andy Robertson did his best to wind up Everton players on the Anfield pitch in the Merseyside derby.
And it appeared to work as, with time running out at Anfield and the Toffees two goals down, the dark arts were at play as Robertson kicked the ball away after the referee had blown up for a handball to spark a mini melee.
Robertson sparked a brawl after laughing in Pickford’s face
Pickford was furious, as was the rest of the Everton team
As Pickford came running over to take a quick free-kick, the Scotland international – playing in his 250th game for Liverpool – had already kicked the ball away, which did not go down well with the Everton goalkeeper.
Robertson, who’s known for being something of a wind-up merchant, responded to the Englishman’s complaints by laughing in his face and the rest of the Toffees team were not impressed, particularly die-hard Liverpool fan Conor Coady, who got up in the defender’s face and even briefly grabbed him by the neck.
Despite the whole fiasco appearing a fairly innocuous incident, within seconds it had delved into melee mode with players from both sides rushing into the fracas.
Soon the substitutes on both benches ran over as the Anfield noise heightened while stewards had to get in between the two sets of players.
In the end, referee Simon Hooper booked Robertson and Pickford and the game continued – but not for much longer as Liverpool took home all three points.
Robertson, though, later posted a reminder to Everton fans and players about the score on Instagram. “Liverpool is Red,” he wrote.
Robertson continued to goad Everton as he walked away
A melee broke out between both sides
Mohamed Salah had put the Reds ahead in the first-half with a rapid counter-attack – scoring 16 seconds after Everton had hit the post from a corner.
And after the break, Cody Gakpo scored his first Liverpool goal to double the scoreline and secure the victory.
It came from another deadly counter as the ball made its way to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who slid in the ball for Gakpo at the far post for a tap-in.
Everton, on the other hand, lacked all the guile and spirit they showed against Arsenal last week in Sean Dyche’s first game in charge.
A win against the Premier League leaders had sparked belief in the Goodison Park camp but this was a step in the wrong direction.
The result leaves the Toffees in the relegation zone while they face Leeds next in the Premier League in a pivotal clash.
The Whites are just a point ahead of Everton and currently do not have a manager and Dyche knows this could be the ideal opportunity to help kickstart a great escape.
Manager Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, will hope this is not another false dawn this season after a disappointing campaign to date and a top-four spot looking difficult to achieve now.
However, the Merseyside Derby win has pushed Liverpool into ninth and nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, who they face next in the Premier League at St. James’.
