Everton scrap and Liverpool cling on to extend their perfect start in a bruising Merseyside derby
On paper they look flawless with five wins from five in the Premier League.
Yet we know better on the Everton beat, where shape and fight beat glossy numbers.
The derby lacked a late burst of drama, with Liverpool clinging on to take the points.
In a swashbuckling first half Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitiké carved out a two goal cushion for the champions.
Everton woke up and pulled themselves back into the match thanks to Idrissa Gueye.
From then on the visitors were the better team and troubled Liverpool a lot more than they expected.
David Moyes left Anfield without a Premier League victory again, and the crowd did not forget it.
We measure teams by shape and fight, not possession stats, and Everton looked bothered for long spells.
Old school values still matter here, and the badge trumps fancy projects every time we walk through Goodison or Anfield.
The pundits who think Everton are a subplot in Liverpools documentary can jog on, we know the score and we are not impressed by platitudes.
There will always be a jab about the owners and their big plans, but we keep turning up and doing the job with a bit of bite.
Idrissa Gueye sparked the comeback and reminded the league that the midfield still carries the old grit.
TLDR
Liverpool look strong yet not firing on all cylinders.
Everton showed fight and shape, with Gueye at the heart of the revival.
Old school grit still counts and the badge remains bigger than any modern project.
Idrissa Gueye
Liverpool FC