Merseyside Between Everton and Liverpool Ends in a Draw
Everton drew 0-0 with Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Saturday after a long VAR review.
Everton’s Tom Davies and Valencia’s Darwin Nunez and Luiz Diaz both hit the post in the first half.
Neal Maupay should have scored on his Everton debut after signing from Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek.
Conor Coady scored at the far post, but the goal was ruled offside after a lengthy VAR review. Pandemonium ensued at Goodison.
Everton replacement Dwight McNeil’s deflected shot almost caught Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson out, and Mohamed Salah hit the post in stoppage time, but the rivals settled for a point each.
Liverpool remains fifth, six points behind leaders Arsenal before Sunday’s trip to Manchester United. Everton remains 14th, winless in six matches.
Liverpool travelled to Goodison, where they hadn’t lost in the Premier League in 12 years, sure of derby victory.
Even with Nunez up front, Liverpool struggled.
When Liverpool created an opening, England goalkeeper Pickford was inspired, tipping Nunez’s shot into the crossbar.
Roberto Firmino was Liverpool’s fourth attacker in the second half, and Jordan Pickford made three saves to deny him.
After then, the game opened up. Maupay should have scored from close range but shot too near to Alisson before assisting on what he thought was the opening goal in the 69th minute.
Coady felt he had timed his back post approach perfectly for his first Everton goal, but he was declared offside, much to the away fans’ pleasure.
Liverpool thought they had won it late, but Salah’s first-time strike cannoned off the upright, with Pickford getting the tiniest touch.
The Merseyside derby has had more goalless draws (36) than any other English top-flight or Premier League encounter (12).
“It was a real derby, super intense and full of really spectacular moments,” said Klopp.
“I think we hit the post three times and there were a few unbelievable saves from Pickford – wow, what can you do?
“In this game, easy and free-flowing is not possible. You have to dig deep, that’s what we did. A 0-0 draw sounds strange, but that’s it,” he added.
