Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp makes feelings clear on Ibrahima Konate red card controversy in Everton win

And though Liverpool weren't at their swashbuckling best, they were still able to secure all three points following a brace from Mohamed Salah.

The Egypt international bagged his first goal of the game from the penalty spot, blasting his effort beyond the reach of Jordan Pickford.

It came after Everton had been reduced to 10 men following a red card for Ashley Young towards the end of the first half.

Michael Keane handled inside the box, which gave Salah the opportunity to rifle his effort into the net.

It was a controversial decision, however, with many feeling Keane was unlucky. There was also outrage at the officials' refusal to give a second yellow card to Konate, too, after the defender tugged the shirt of Everton star Beto.

Salah then doubled his side's advantage in the closing stages to secure victory and propel his side up the standings after some good work from Darwin Nunez.

But Klopp has put rivalry aside to admit Liverpool should have been reduced to 10.

​“I liked it a lot," he said of the result. "It is a derby, you have to consider different stuff and with a better last pass in the first-half we are three nil up.

"Our counterattacks and good offensive transitions we should have scored and didn’t.

“We didn’t allow them to do what they wanted. We were clear in the challenges.

"It is difficult because it was a deep block and they adapted slightly and set up to our strengths.

“I liked a lot of moments and then the red card [for Young] was pretty influential in the game.

"I wanted us to be calm and ignore that we were one man up.

"It is difficult in the stands because it’s like now you have to create with each possession and it took a while until we got chances.

"And then the penalty. I saw it back and it is a clear penalty.

"Ibrahima, could have gone, yes. It could have happened obviously and then we took him off and from that moment we were solid and compact.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, meanwhile, didn't discuss the Konate red card controversy and opted to praise Salah for his heroics instead.

"Great players do [step up]. This season, or towards end of last season, he missed a couple of penalties, but to step up and deliver is something we need, said the Dutchman.

"We hope we can build on this now.

"Consistency is the most difficult thing in football, to do it each and every game is hard.

"Mykolenko did well but Salah stepped up. We're very pleased and very pleased for him."

On Liverpool's evolution this season compared to last, he continued: "There has been an transition of course, also in the way we play, different players with different qualities and trying to adapt. It's working well.

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"Everyone is pushing each other and playing at a high level. That's the key to success.

"Everyone last year, at the end of the season, was drained - I'll be honest. It was such a disappointing season because we didn't find consistency.

"We played one good game - against Manchester United here and then lost to Bournemouth in the next game. It was so frustrating.

"We had a short break in the summer and then we came back and everyone felt great. It went well and we sense a different vibe and energy in the club.

"Being top of the league means nothing yet. It is game by game by game. We have to enjoy the moment, playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world."

Liverpool are next in action against Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday night (8pm).

The Reds have won their opening two European fixtures, against Union Saint-Gilloise and LASK, to sit top of their group.