Steve Nicol admits he is cautious of lauding Liverpool with too much praise despite their 2-0 victory over Everton - insisting the Reds should be comfortably beating a side threatened with relegation.
Goals from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo either side of half-time earned Jurgen Klopp's men a first Premier League victory of 2023, having failed to win any of their encounters following December's fortuitous victory over Leicester City.
But despite a tentative start to proceedings at Anfield, the Reds had a well-deserved advantage when Darwin Nunez orchestrated a lighting-quick counter-attack to assist Salah. Leaving Everton and Sean Dyche to rip up their pre-game blueprint that had been devised in the nine days following victory over Arsenal at Goodison Park.
LFC RATINGS: Stefan Bajcetic and two others shine in win over Everton
READ MORE: What happened to Jordan Pickford set tone for Liverpool inside 20 minutes
And while victory sees the Reds move up to ninth in the Premier League table and sparks their faint hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League into life, the former Liverpool and Scotland defender is careful of believing Klopp's side have turned a corner following their derby day bragging rights.
"I was very comfortable after the second goal went in," said Nicol, speaking on ESPN. "You know, getting the goal so early in the second half, the game was done. I'm saying that, but I must admit when [James] Tarkowski headed the ball [against the post] I thought it was going into the net because Alisson was beaten.
"For the ball, 13 seconds later, to be in Everton's net. Incredible. You talk about completely changing the game. From there on Everton weren't really in the game. It's a good victory, an important victory but it is against a team that looks as if they are going to get relegated so everybody needs to calm down."
He added: "We're starting with a very low bar."
The 61-year-old believes Everton held their own at Anfield during the first half and it was only when Salah scored 13 seconds after Tarkowski hit the post that the Reds finally got into their groove. Prior to that point, Nicol, believes, it was a tightly contested, typical derby-like encounter.
"I've got to say just before the post and then Liverpool's goal, I'm sitting thinking to myself, I liked the fact that Everton tried to play - they didn't sit in," added Nicol. "I'm thinking to myself, you know what, there's nothing between these two teams. Both teams are trying to play but actually can't do it very well.
"Up until the goal Liverpool were as bad in possession, going forward as Everton. . But once they got themselves ahead, I guess, they calmed down and the fact they are better than Everton came into play, particularly in the second half."
READ NEXT:
- Liverpool player ratings as Stefan Bajcetic and two others shine in win over Everton
- UEFA publish full report and apologise to Liverpool fans after Paris final chaos
- Will Ferrell didn't think he'd be invited back to Anfield to watch Liverpool
- Jurgen Klopp sends Fabinho message after 'not cool' Thiago Alcantara injury news for Liverpool
- What Virgil van Dijk told Cody Gakpo before scoring first goal for Liverpool against Everton
