Liverpool standings – Reds' Premier League position Merseyside derby victory

Liverpool returned to winning ways this weekend with a 2-0 win over rivals Everton at Anfield.

Despite failing to secure all three points in both of their last two games before the international break, the Reds went into Saturday's early kick-off able to take top spot in the Premier League table with victory – even if only briefly.

However, it was the visitors who came out of the blocks fastest and might've scored inside the first minute, when Dominic Calvert-Lewin rose above Virgil van Dijk to meet a cross, only to head straight into the arms of Alisson.

That was about the total of Everton's chances on the day as Liverpool grew into the half, though the hosts were largely stifled by Sean Dyche's side in a frustrating opening period.

Things shifted on 37 minutes when Ashley Young was shown a second yellow after a late challenge on Diaz, and the visitors resorted to a strategy of all-out defence.

After another half an hour of stubborn defending after the break, Everton's resistance finally broke when the Reds were awarded a penalty for a Michael Keane handball.

Mohamed Salah stepped up and smashed the spot kick past Jordan Pickford to the relief of the home support.

READ MORE: Liverpool 2-0 Everton – Player Ratings

The points were sealed deep into stoppage time when a lightning counter led by Darwin Nuñez was finished off by Salah, once again, to make it 2-0.

Speaking after the game, Jurgen Klopp praised his match-winning number 11, saying: "I think that Mo Salah played for us an incredible amount of fantastic games. Today was not his best game but then [still] being that clinical with the penalty and then staying in the situation, that's probably his biggest quality, and I love that.

"We need someone who can bring the ball over the line, and he was that again. I couldn't respect that fact more.

Liverpool standings

The hard-fought win did take Liverpool to the top of the Premier League table, albeit briefly.

A win for Manchester City later in the day on Saturday put the reigning champions back into first, while Arsenal's comeback to draw away at Chelsea sees them move into second.

As a result, Liverpool now sit in third place on 20 points after nine games – however, they will drop to fourth if Tottenham get at least a draw with Fulham on Monday night in the final fixture of the gameweek.

See full Premier League table.

Next up for Liverpool in the Premier League is another home fixture against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, 29 October.

Prior to that, Klopp's side return to Europa League action against Toulouse on Thursday, 26 October.