At Anfield, Jota, Diaz, and Nyoni score as Liverpool defeats Sevilla 4-1

In the first of their two back-to-back home matches, Liverpool defeated Sevilla 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.

After 30 minutes at Anfield, a spectacular Diogo Jota volley handed the Reds the lead. Just before halftime, Luis Diaz scored twice in short succession.

Peque Fernandez gave the Spanish team a response, but Trey Nyoni, a replacement, quickly gave the team a three-goal lead again. The match versus Las Palmas, another La Liga team, was held behind closed doors.

For the first time this season and under head coach Arne Slot, Liverpool took to the pitch in brilliant weather.

In the preseason, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, and Virgil van Dijk were the five Reds making their debuts.

When Mohamed Salah poked a pass in behind for the scurrying Diaz, Slot’s team nearly had a third-minute opportunity, but Sevilla custodian Orjan Nyland blocked it at the last second.

It was shortly before the quarter-hour mark that the visitors ought to have seized the lead.

As Jarell Quansah, a player for Liverpool, attempted to play out of his area, Stanis Idumbo intercepted his pass and was uncontested one-on-one. However, Idumbo mishandled the strike and sailed the ball into the Kop.

After Diaz’s customary shimmy inside from the flank, Salah was closer with a curler across the goal’s face and beyond the post, but Diaz’s rocket from roughly 25 yards was off target high and to the right.

However, Liverpool would shortly go on a brilliant run that had them ahead three goals at the break.

The first act was outstanding. Jota met the ball with a magnificent first-time volley off his left foot that shot into the upper right corner of the net following a cleared Reds corner that was lofted back into the Sevilla penalty box.

They had a good chance to double their lead before they did, but Salah broke clear, drew Nyland, and attempted to square the ball for Jota.

Tanguy Nianzou recovered effectively to intercept. However, with 37 seconds remaining, Jota put up a fierce fight and moved the ball to the left flank, where Diaz beat his defender inside and fired a shot that flew high into the goal.

And only one minute before halftime, things got much better for Slot’s team. They broke through once more, and this time the player Dominik Szoboszlai was sent tumbling clear. Unselfishly, the No. 8 squared to allow Diaz to convert from close range.

The second half got off to a rousing start on both ends.

At one end, Djibril Sow blasted a low hit too central for Alisson to worry about, while Ryan Gravenberch was crowded out at the vital moment following some excellent footwork inside the box.

Van Dijk headed a Kostas Tsimikas corner from the right on the hour, missing the mark with enough strength to threaten for a fourth, but it was on target.

Actually, Sevilla was the source of the next goal. After Chidera Ejuke’s progress along the left required two defenders to follow, the ball ultimately skewed to Peque, who sent a shot off the right post from just inside the box.

Liverpool responded with similar awe and promptitude.

Nyoni’s sliced effort found its way into the bottom corner, and Tsimikas’ lofted ball into the box was only half cleared by the opposition.

In the last seconds, Salah came dangerously close to adding a goal, but Nyland made a great save to push his low curler around the post.

Liverpool: Salah, Jota, Tsimikas, Gravenberch (Morton, 82), Alexander-Arnold (Stephenson, 74), Quansah, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister (Bajcetic, 74), Alisson (Jaros, 62), Van Dijk (Gomez, 74), Diaz (Nyoni, 62).

Unused subs: Pitaluga, Nallo, Blair.