Liverpool won their 243rd Merseyside derby at Anfield, but some of their rivals were allowed to spend some time in the tunnel after the game.
They took all three points against Everton on Saturday, with two goals from Mohamed Salah helping them return to victory after dropping points at Tottenham and Brighton before the break.
The post-match intervention saw a number of players sent off, including former PSV co-stars Cody Gakpo and Jarrad Branthwaite.In an early start to the week, Gakpo threw his shirt at his former team-mate in the tunnel before the pair spoke after the Dutchman’s performance, which United were proud of.
The pair spent six months together and appeared in nine matches for Eindhoven. Branthwaite was on loan at the Dutch side last season, while Gakpo ended his spell at the club with a £37million move to Anfield in January.
Liverpool’s number 18 was not named in the matchday squad as he only returned to training on Thursday after recovering from a knee injury sustained at Tottenham last month. It was a special sight to see an Everton player holding the red shirt after the game, but given his preliminary links with the defender earlier this year, is there any chance of Branthwaite wearing the shirt for years to come?Gakpo wasn’t the only player to reunite with the Blues centre-back, with Harvey Elliott also holding talks with the man who represented England at U21 level. Both players started for the Young Lions last Monday as Elliott captained the side in a 3-2 loss to Ukraine.
Another Netherlands match saw Ryan Gravenberch and Arnaut Danjuma switch shirts, both admitting they represent the Netherlands at under-21 and senior level.
It was the kind of pitch you’d expect between two old rivals, but it was all smiles and respect as the Reds recorded their seventh win in their last eight games at Anfield against the Toffees.
