Match ends, Everton 0, Liverpool 0.
EvertonEverton0LiverpoolLiverpool0
Liverpool were held to a drab goalless draw by Everton in a Premier League match sandwiched between their Champions League quarter-final ties against Manchester City.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp made five changes from the 3-0 win over City in midweek, choosing not to risk Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah.
And, as the game wore on, he substituted midfielder James Milner and forward Sadio Mane, perhaps with one eye on Tuesday's second leg at Etihad Stadium.
The draw meant Liverpool missed the chance to move above Manchester United into second - they are a point behind their north west rivals, who have two games in hand.
In a largely subdued first half, both home goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and the visitors' Loris Karius were extended.
After the break, the only heated moments came when Wayne Rooney reacted angrily to being substituted, and Danny Ings and Seamus Coleman briefly clashed.
The hosts pushed hard for a winner late on, but missed four good chances as it finished honours even.
Everton, who stay ninth, have gone 15 league derbies without a win, going back to a 2-0 victory in October 2010.
Referee Michael Oliver did not book anyone, only the second time that has happened in a Merseyside derby in the Premier League.
Klopp rings the changes
Salah, who injured his groin in midweek, has scored 38 goals so far this season, 29 in the league.
He was left out of the squad at Goodison Park along with left-back Andrew Robertson, while Trent Alexander-Arnold, Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain dropped to the bench.
Defender Nathaniel Clyne made his first start of the season after recovering from injury, and forward Danny Ings made his first start under Klopp, his first for the club since October 2015.
The Reds missed the movement of Firmino and Salah, but they did have chances in the first half.
Dominic Solanke headed wide, then had an instinctive shot from point-blank range saved by Pickford, who also kept out James Milner's curler.
But the Reds struggled after the break, failing to register a shot on target.
Oxlade-Chamberlain was given a 20-minute cameo, while Firmino failed to make an impact after his late introduction.
Everton miss late chances
Karius producing a stunning diving save to keep out Yannick Bolasie's 27-yard curling shot with his fingertips in the 22nd minute, but it was otherwise a disappointing first half from the hosts.
Liverpool dominated possession, and Everton were wasteful in possession when they did have a rare chance to attack.
But the Toffees looked the most likely to snatch all three points in the final 10 minutes.
First Cenk Tosun failed to finish Leighton Baines' pull-back, then Theo Walcott slipped when free in the box as he tried to get to the Turkey striker's cross.
Tosun then headed Walcott's cross across the face of goal but Coleman could not turn it home, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin side-footed over from close range.
Man of the match - James Milner
'I make the decisions' - Allardyce on Rooney
Everton manager Sam Allardyce speaking to Sky Sports: "Dominating the last 15 minutes could have given us the opportunity to win it but we needed more legs.
"Wayne's bound to be disappointed to be brought off in a Merseyside derby but I make the decisions and I thought we did the right thing to make those changes to give us a better chance.
"I think when you finish the game as strongly as that and put Liverpool under pressure, you can say we're unlucky.
"The basis of our performance was nullifying Liverpool's attack to create chances but when you miss those chances, it really is disappointing because if they had gone the other way, we could've been looking at a different game."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BBC Sport: "A point is OK. Everton were always ready to fight but we didn't give them the opportunity until the late stages. We stopped playing football and were a bit lucky. But that is what we have to take. I think it's an absolutely deserved draw.
"For 75 minutes we were completely in charge. I am absolutely OK, it's not the best day in my life, but let's carry on. Now we have to focus immediately and be ready again on Tuesday, let's fight for the next round."
Stats - Liverpool's derby dominance
- This was only the second Merseyside derby in Premier League history without a single card shown and first since their opening match in the competition in December 1992.
- Five of the past six Premier League meetings between these sides at Goodison Park have ended level.
- Everton have scored just four goals in their past nine top-flight Merseyside derbies, failing to score in five of those games.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in 17 games in all competitions against Everton (W8 D9) - their longest run without defeat against their Merseyside neighbours.
- Only Manchester City (41) have won more points on the road this season in the Premier League than Liverpool (31).
- Allardyce has won just five of his 28 Premier League games against Liverpool as a manager (D8 L15).
What's next?
Liverpool's next game is their biggest of the season so far. They travel to Etihad Stadium on Tuesday (19:45 BST) to face Manchester City for their Champions League quarter-final second leg, holding a 3-0 lead.
That is followed by the visit of Bournemouth to Anfield in the Premier League at 17:30 BST on Saturday.
Everton's next match is a Premier League trip to Swansea on Saturday (15:00 BST)
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Pickford
- 23Coleman
- 6Jagielka
- 4Keane
- 3Baines
- 10RooneySubstituted forGueyeat 57'minutes
- 2Schneiderlin
- 26DaviesSubstituted forBaningimeat 79'minutes
- 11Walcott
- 14Tosun
- 7BolasieSubstituted forCalvert-Lewinat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 15Martina
- 17Gueye
- 19Niasse
- 25Funes Mori
- 29Calvert-Lewin
- 33Robles
- 54Baningime
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Karius
- 2Clyne
- 6Lovren
- 4van Dijk
- 17Klavan
- 5Wijnaldum
- 14Henderson
- 7MilnerSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 68'minutes
- 28IngsSubstituted forAlexander-Arnoldat 89'minutes
- 29Solanke
- 19ManéSubstituted forFirminoat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Firmino
- 21Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 22Mignolet
- 48Jones
- 63Masterson
- 64Camacho
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 39,220
Match Stats
Home TeamEvertonAway TeamLiverpool
- Possession
- Home38%
- Away62%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away7
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Everton 0, Liverpool 0.
Post update
Offside, Everton. Phil Jagielka tries a through ball, but Michael Keane is caught offside.
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Foul by Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool).
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).
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Seamus Coleman (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).
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Theo Walcott (Everton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold replaces Danny Ings.
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Offside, Liverpool. Dejan Lovren tries a through ball, but Dominic Solanke is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Idrissa Gueye.
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Attempt missed. Cenk Tosun (Everton) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Theo Walcott with a cross.
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Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Idrissa Gueye (Everton).
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Offside, Everton. Phil Jagielka tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Ragnar Klavan.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Beni Baningime replaces Tom Davies.
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Attempt blocked. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Idrissa Gueye.
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Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Comments
Join the conversation
Anyway, interesting weekend with the two derby matches. What a ten days of football this will be. Cracking stuff :-)
Seems like the snowflakes are running with this bus incident. Anyone brandishing millions of supporters by the actions of a dozen idiots throwing stuff at the bus is an equally lowlife idiot. Your pathetic mission is to spread hate.
All clubs have idiots, ours will be dealt with.
Vote down if you love Liverpool
You are clearly on a personal mission to blow the incident up so you can sprout your hatred.
@3 - another example of the depths to which this once interesting football discussion forum has now reached.
I have never bought the 'friendly city' tag they like to portray. They should be very ashamed of themselves
You Sir, have just make yourself look a right plonker.
No disrespect to Everton, but with Allardyce in charge, their remit will be to not lose the game.
So why not rest Salah considering he wants to be fit to help Liverpool win the CL final? They'll need him at his best to get to the final let alone win it.
Just ignore him, this goon pops up on all the HYS to spout utter nonsense.
I'm in 2 minds about Salah for the Everton game.
My fantasy football team could do with him playing but I don't want him ruled out for the Etihad.
They should beat Everton without him though.
I`d have to have regular therapy if I had to watch Everton every week.