Liverpool 5-2 Everton: Five talking points

The Reds forward opened the scoring after just six minutes of a Premier League clash that included six goals before half-time.

Xherdan Shaqiri, Origi and Sadio Mane all struck again for Liverpool, with Michael Keane and Richarlison responding to keep the Blues within touching distance at the break.

But Georginio Wijnaldum provided the only goal of a keenly-fought second half in the 90th minute and ensured victory for the home team.

Here are five talking points from a thrilling game...

Divock the derby specialist

Origi headed into the match with his name already etched into derby folklore, having scored a 96th-minute winner in the last meeting at Anfield. He emerged from this one with his legend enhanced.

With just six minutes on the clock, the Belgian latched onto a Mane through pass and went around goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to slot home the opening goal and set the tone for the 234th clash with the Blues.

He added another just after the half-hour, and it was even better than the first. Controlling Dejan Lovren's raking pass over the defence with an exquisite first touch, his second lofted a perfectly judged finish over the advancing goalkeeper and under the bar.

That's now five goals against the Blues for the No.27 - more than any other player in the current squad - and moves him level with Dirk Kuyt in the list of the club's most prolific scorers against Everton in the Premier League, behind only Robbie Fowler (six) and Steven Gerrard (nine).

Sensational Sadio

If Origi claimed the starring role, then the best supporting actor must certainly go to the swashbuckling Mane.

The relentless No.10 claimed two brilliant assists and struck a phenomenal goal of his own against the neighbours from across Stanley Park.

As the only starter from Liverpool's regular attacking trio - with Origi and Shaqiri coming in to replace Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino - the Senegalese forward emphatically stepped into the spotlight.

It was his slide-rule pass that set up Origi for the first goal, his defence-splitting delivery that assisted Shaqiri for the second, and his unerring finish into the bottom corner that notched Liverpool's fourth of the night.

Mane has now scored 17 goals in his last 17 Premier League starts at Anfield and since August 2018 he has netted more home goals in the division than any other player (23).

Klopp sends records tumbling

Almost lost among the goals and meaty challenges of a frenetic derby was the fact that Jürgen Klopp oversaw his 100th Premier League victory as Liverpool manager and set a new club record to boot.

Coming in his 159th top-flight fixture in charge of the Reds, it beats the previous benchmark for a century of wins in the fewest games set by Kenny Dalglish, who did it in 167 matches.

And if that's not impressive enough, Wednesday night's win also means Klopp's men extend their unbeaten run in the league to 32 matches - beating the previous best, also set under Dalglish, in 1988.

A word on the defence

It may seem strange to pick out the defence in a derby that had the most goals scored in one half in the fixture's Premier League history, but they deserve special mention - not least as they had a hand in two of Liverpool's efforts.

Centre-back Lovren capped a commanding display in which he led the team with most touches (103), passes (88), clearances (seven) and interceptions (two) with one of the assists of the night: a Virgil van Dijk-esque ping from deep that dropped over the opposition defence for Origi to control and fire home Liverpool's third.

Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold led the team in tackles (five), possession regains (eight), total passes in the opposition half (27) and topped his all-action display with a clever flicked assist for Mane with the outside of his boot... from left wing!

Mention must also go to left-back Andy Robertson, who made his 100th appearance for the Reds.

A squad game

"I've said a lot of times how much I like the squad and now we have to use it," said Klopp after springing a few surprises among the five changes he made for the match.

Adrian replaced the suspended Alisson Becker in goal, while James Milner, Adam Lallana, Shaqiri and Origi also came in for Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino and Salah.

"That's the line-up for today because we think the game will be really intense and for this you need kind of fresh legs and we try to bring them in," he added.

It turned out to be yet another stroke of genius from the German tactician.

Klopp must now continue to shuffle his squad as the Reds head into a hectic festive fixture list that includes a Champions League group decider, a Premier League title challenge, FA Cup and Carabao Cup ties, and a FIFA Club World Cup tournament on another continent.