Snowy Super Sunday began at Anfield in the Merseyside derby and the huge atmosphere inside the stadium spurred on the hosts, who were on the front foot straight from the off. Roars from the home crowd as soon as You'll Never Walk Alone concluded gave way to a frantic start to the clash.
Jurgen Klopp looked on calmly as his side applied pressure on the Toffees, with all the action taking place in Everton's half. Allardyce urged his players on but the visitors were unable to cope with the relentless waves of pressure from the Reds, who dominated possession, chances and shots. Somehow, that was not enough.
After an electric start, Everton finally managed to get themselves into a good shape and Liverpool were made to build their attacks more patiently. Klopp's men found acres of space down the flanks and the visitors were all at sea in midfield, but their admirable defending in central defensive positions was the only reason why Everton didn't go into the break three or four goals ahead.
While they were willing to give away possession to the hosts, Everton restricted Klopp's men to a handful of half-chances from distance in the first half. Pickford was seldom tested before the deadlock was finally broken.
With Coutinho and Firmino on the bench, it was up to in-form star Mohamed Salah to provide the magic touch. The Egyptian wriggled away from Gueye on the right of the box and he curled a beauty past Pickford from 15 yards. Unstoppable.
With the snow falling at Anfield, Salah shined like a beacon. The Liverpool man was constantly looked for by his teammates as they drove forward in search of a second goal, but the hosts' one-goal lead remained.
Salah replaced by Klopp
Cuco Martina was relieved to see Mo Salah subbed off after 65 minutes, with Jurgen Klopp making the somewhat strange decision of bringing on Roberto Firmino for his goalscorer with the game not yet won.
The atmosphere around Anfield was strangely jovial with most of the typical derby nerves dissipated by the dominant display from the hosts. But they failed to put the game to bed and Everton made them pay. Liverpool were the architects of their own demise.
Referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot when Calvert-Lewin was brought down by a clumsy challenge from Lovren. It was fairly soft, but a penalty nonetheless. Rooney stepped up and slammed it down the middle.
Lacking their first-half spark, even when Coutinho came on, Liverpool applied pressure. Allardyce brought on defensive reinforcements in the figure of Jagielka and Everton withstood the onslaught with The Kop in full voice.