Liverpool legend aims dig at Everton as he plays down Merseyside derby win

The season has been a struggle for Liverpool as the win only saw them climb to ninth in the table, and Nicol has urged them not to get carried away.

Not only because ninth is certainly no great shakes for the Reds, but because he reckons the Toffees are doomed to drop into the Championship, with the defeat leaving them 18th in the table.

This is despite admitting that Liverpool were not entirely bossing things before they scored, in fact, Everton hit the post just seconds before Salah netted the first.

‘I was very comfortable after the second goal went in,’ Nicol said on ESPN. ‘You know, getting the goal so early in the second half, the game was done.

‘I’m saying that, but I must admit when [James] Tarkowski headed the ball [against the post] I thought it was going into the net because Alisson was beaten.

‘For the ball, 13 seconds later, to be in Everton’s net. Incredible. You talk about completely changing the game. From there on Everton weren’t really in the game.

‘It’s a good victory, an important victory but it is against a team that looks as if they are going to get relegated so everybody needs to calm down.’

He added: ‘Up until the goal Liverpool were as bad in possession, going forward as Everton. . But once they got themselves ahead, I guess, they calmed down and the fact they are better than Everton came into play, particularly in the second half.’

Both Merseyside clubs are back in action on Saturday as Everton host Leeds in a big relegation scrap at 3pm before Liverpool go to Newcastle to try and boost their Champions League hopes at 5.30pm.

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