Liverpool took the spoils from a 243rd Merseyside derby with Everton.

Sean Dyche’s side were reduced to 10 men late into the first half when Ashley Young became the 29th sending-off for two bookings after fouls on Luis Diaz.

The deadlock was finally broken in the final 15 minutes after Michael Keane’s handling of a cross allowed Mohamed Salah to convert from the penalty spot.

A second followed for the Egyptian deep in stoppage time by sweeping home from close-range from Darwin Nunez producing a surging run in the build-up.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Blues pay for Dyche’s wrong calls

Sean Dyche took great delight in aiming a swipe at the ‘internet warriors’ after Everton’s most recent game with Bournemouth before the international break.

Those punch-drunk remarks came back to haunt him as those dissenting voices were vindicated by his selections for this 243rd Merseyside derby.

Persevering with the same line-up which had put the Cherries to the sword was largely welcomed but the visitors were still sleepwalking into trouble.

Ashley Young’s deployment at right-back was an accident waiting to happen and typified by being routinely tormented by Luis Diaz during the first half.

The Colombian’s speed and trickery proved too great for the elder statesman, who was dismissed after picking up two bookings in the space of 19 minutes.

Dyche’s attempt at damage limitation saw him sacrifice Dwight McNeil and Jack Harrison at the break in favour of Michael Keane and Nathan Patterson.

But the former was destined to be his side’s Achilles’ heel and so it proved in conceding a penalty by blocking Diaz’s cross with his outstretched arm.

Keane is now at fault for three of the last four spot kicks given against the Blues. Dyche’s mistakes at Anfield were inevitable and entirely avoidable.

…but Reds still ride their luck

Gripes with officialdom are hardly uncommon on Merseyside, with both clubs on the receiving end of perceived injustices over the past 18 months or so.

But Liverpool’s recent complaints to the PGMOL may be a little more subdued after an otherwise warranted win was aided by a sliding doors moment.

Ibrahima Konate picked up a booking for bundling over Amadou Onana with the score still level and was lucky to avoid following in Young’s footsteps.

When the France international later fouled substitute Beto, the travelling Evertonians hoped referee Craig Pawson would apply a moment of parity.

Had the Sheffield official been guided by the same principles that saw Young receiving his marching orders, it would have been fair and equitable decision.

Instead, Konate avoided a second caution which would have seen the hosts also down to 10 men and was substituted by a risk-averse Jurgen Klopp.

Everton will be understandably feel aggrieved after seeing a second Anfield derby defeat in three seasons boil down to inconsistencies in officialdom.

Arguably, Liverpool’s let-off stopped a cagey stalemate continuing to play out.

Salah still showing his class

Away from the controversies, Mohamed Salah continued to show his class.

Granted, it was not a vintage display from the Egyptian as he struggled to trouble Jordan Pickford with his efforts prior to a 75th-minute penalty opener.

That drilled spot kick wrong-footed the goalkeeper and delivered Salah’s 200th career league goal in addition to his 104th strike playing at Anfield.

Drawing level with the hauls amassed on home soil by bona fide Liverpool legends in Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard is no mean feat in itself.

It also extended his goal involvements to 29 from his last 24 Premier League outings and a 13th either goal or assist a consecutive run of home outings.

Salah was on the receiving end of the latter for a stoppage-time clincher that owed as much to Darwin Nunez’s industry as much as his own finesse.

The Uruguay striker has become something of a new partner in crime after supplying his eighth assist exclusively for Salah courtesy of a bombing run.

Yet Salah still had to do the most important part and sweep the ball past Pickford scrambling across his line to narrow the angle on the counterattack.