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Liverpool increased the scrutiny on former manager Rafael Benitez as they cruised to an easy Merseyside derby win over Everton at Goodison Park.

Everton, having been outclassed for the first half, gave themselves hope when Demarai Gray ran onto Richarlison’s pass to beat Alisson seven minutes before the break.

Liverpool were still the team possessing all the quality and threat and they killed the game off when Salah cashed in on Seamus Coleman’s error to race clear and expertly score after 64 minutes.

With the mood inside Goodison Park turning mutinous – there were loud protests at the final whistle – Diogo Jota piled on the pain for Benitez and Everton when he took Andrew Robertson’s pass in his stride before escaping the attentions of Allan to fire high past Pickford with 11 minutes left.

Benitez facing struggle as Everton fans turn on hierarchy

Everton are now eight games without a win and the manner in which they were picked apart here only increased the mutinous atmosphere around Goodison Park, where frustrated fans unfurled a banner on the Gwladys Street End in the first half criticising the club’s hierarchy and followed up with further heavy criticism at the final whistle.

When the formalities of this defeat were concluded there were chants of “sack the board”, with chairman Bill Kenwright and director of football Marcel Brands particular targets.

In the eye of the storm stands Benitez, an unpopular appointment with many Everton fans given his Liverpool links as the manager who won the Champions League and the FA Cup while at Anfield.

Benitez was the lightning rod as Liverpool fans goaded their Everton counterparts with ironic chants for their former manager, including “Rafa’s at the wheel.”

After a bright start which won favour with many sceptics, Everton have gone into rapid decline, not helped by injuries to key defender Yerry Mina and, in particular, England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

They were brutally exposed by a rampant Liverpool here as they floored a panic-stricken Everton early on before killing the game off when Benitez’s side threatened a recovery.

There will be speculation about Benitez’s future but Everton’s mess is more than his making and this was a very painful night for their supporters.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri can be volatile when it comes to decision-making but a series of managerial changes have had no effect. Irrespective, Benitez now faces a crucial home game against Arsenal next Monday.

More to follow.

Player of the match

Mohamed SalahMohamed Salah

Everton

1. Squad number11Player nameGray

2. Squad number1Player namePickford

3. Squad number22Player nameGodfrey

4. Squad number23Player nameColeman

5. Squad number7Player nameRicharlison

6. Squad number33Player nameRondón

7. Squad number14Player nameTownsend

8. Squad number16Player nameDoucouré

9. Squad number24Player nameGordon

10. Squad number5Player nameKeane

11. Squad number6Player nameAllan

12. Squad number12Player nameDigne

13. Squad number8Player nameDelph

14. Squad number20Player nameTosun

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