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Liverpool draw a blank at Goodison in dour derby
Liverpool opened up an 11-point gap over fifth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League after a claiming a 0-0 draw against Everton at Goodison Park – but they have played two games more.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds were much-changed from their midweek 3-0 defeat of Manchester City in the Champions League with Mo Salah out injured and Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among those on the bench.
It was hardly a vintage derby though with Everton lacking any creativity and even the normal edge was missing from proceedings as the Reds extended their unbeaten record against the Blues to 17 matches stretching back to 2010.
Liverpool started the match far more confidently and had Everton on the back foot.
Dominic Solanke sent a header just wide as the Reds dominated but the first meaningful save came from Liverpool keeper Loris Karius who fingertipped a fierce shot from Yannick Bolasie past the post on 23 minutes.
Five minutes later James Milner brought out a great stop from Everton keeper Jordan Pickford with a drive that was arrowing into the corner.
Pickford had less trouble keeping out Virgil Van Dijk’s 35-yard free kick not long after.
AS IT UNFOLDED: Everton v Liverpool
IN PICTURES: Everton v Liverpool
READ MORE: Merseyside derby passes without a card – bore draw fails to spark
Sadio Mane should then have done a lot better from 18 yards right on half time but blazed high and wide.
The visitors were quicker out of the blocks for the second half and enjoyed the majority of possession but failed to get in a meaningful effort on goal.
On 57 minutes Everton boss Sam Allardyce took Wayne Rooney off and the former England skipper did not look happy at all with that decision, refusing to shake Big Sam’s big hand.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s 70th-minute shot was the first of the second half as the match fizzled out. Everton look short of confidence pushing forward against a defence that barely broke sweat all afternoon.
Solanke saw two late efforts charged down before Liverpool brought on Firmino for the last 15 minutes.
But finally Everton woke up and Cenk Tosun was inches away from converting Leighton Baines’ cross 12 minutes from time.
In fact Everton then enjoyed their best spell of the match – Theo Walcott slipped when in space, Tosun headed wide and Dominic Calvert-Lewin shot over the bar from 12 yards.
But the goal would not come and both sides had to settle for a draw.
Key Opta Stats
This was only the second Merseyside derby in Premier League history without a single card shown and first since their maiden clash in the competition in December 1992.
Five of the last six Premier League meetings between these sides at Goodison Park have ended level.
Everton have scored just four goals in their last 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 ever run without defeat against their Merseyside neighbours.
Only Man City (41) have won more points on the road this season in the Premier League than Liverpool (31).
Sam Allardyce has won just five of his 28 Premier League games against Liverpool as a manager (D8 L15).
