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Liverpool’s bid to usurp rivals Manchester United's second spot in the Premier League was handed a huge blow after they drew 0-0 with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The two Merseyside teams played out a game of two halves, as both teams had chances of their own to steal the bragging rights. However, a combination of wasteful finishing and some resolute defending from both Everton and Liverpool ensured no goals were scored in the game.
Liverpool started the game on the ascendency but found chances far and far between as the Toffees chose to sit back and attack on the counter. The best chance of the first half fell to Dominic Solanke whose straight shot was saved by the impressive Jordan Pickford.
Everton also had chances of their own, and could have even gone ahead had Yannick Bolasie’s fierce curler not been parried away by Karius for the Reds.
In all, the game failed to live up to the billing, especially with past Merseyside derbies being filled with much more explosives.
Here are five major talking points from the game:
#5 Liverpool selection shows Klopp has an eye on Champions League return leg
Liverpool started Saturday’s Merseyside derby without most of their first-teamers in the starting lineup. Manager Jurgen Klopp opted to rest most of his regular stars, rather choosing to hand starting roles to some fringe players.
Aside Mohamed Salah who was ruled out of the Everton game due to a hamstring injury, every other player who played in midweek’s Champions League win over Manchester City was fit for selection.
However, Klopp preferred to rest his stars with one eye on the return leg of their quarter-final clash against Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad on Tuesday.
Sadio Mane was the only one fortunate to have started in Liverpool’s attack, as Roberto Firmino was also rested for the clash at Goodison Park.
In midfield, Gini Wijnaldum was chosen in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whiles the likes of Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson made way for Nathaniel Clyne and Ragnar Klavan respectively.
It may not have been Klopp’s preferred line up, but with an important Champions League date against Man City coming up, it is understandable why the German chose to field a weaker side in the Merseyside derby.
#4 Liverpool missed Mohamed Salah
For much of the season, Mohamed Salah has been the main livewire for Liverpool, having terrorized opposition defenders all through the campaign.
The Egypt international was unable to take his place in the Liverpool line-up as a result of a hamstring injury he sustained in midweek against Manchester City in the Champions League.
On Saturday as the Reds labored to a goalless draw against Everton, it was very evident that the missing piece in their attacking machinery was Salah. The 25-year-old has netted an impressive 29 goals in the Premier League this season and keeps getting better with each passing game.
His absence against the Toffees affected Liverpool so much that they could only muster two shots on target all through the first half. Salah is not a player who only scores, he is much more important to Jurgen Klopp’s style of play which demands that attackers press when the ball is lost.
In the absence of the former Chelsea star and partner Roberto Firmino, that task was left to only Sadio Mane, supported by Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke – neither of whom could either match Salah’s potency or work rate.
In the end, Liverpool were without so many of the regular stars, but the fact remains that Salah was their biggest miss.
#3 Everton better with Coleman and Baines fit
Everton have laboured for much of the season, as their inconsistency, at one point, left them battling relegation.
However, the Toffees have fantastically flipped the scripts in recent months, having moved into the top half of the Premier League table. Key to that transformation has been the returns of Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman.
The two full-backs have spent much of the season nursing different injuries and in the process have left Everton brutally exposed at the back.
But on Saturday both players were back to the starting lineup after regaining full fitness. Coleman bossed the right-back position really well and was a lively presence throughout the 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Baines also put in an assured performance at left-back and was able to keep Danny Ings quiet.
Sam Allardyce has had to depend on less-experienced players in his side, but the return of two of his most influential players definitely bodes well for Everton and that was evident against Liverpool.
#2 Battle of the goalkeepers as both Karius and Pickford shine
The Merseyside derby has produced some great goals over the years, but the latest between Everton and Liverpool failed to produce any due to the brilliance of the goalkeepers between the posts for both sides.
Everton were the first team to really threaten but Loris Karius was there to make sure that Yannick Bolasie’s bending shot did not end up at the back of the net.
The German goalie had to be at full stretch to save a wonderful curler from the Everton winger, opening himself up and tipping the ball just wide of the goal.
His opposite number Jordan Pickford was also at his best all through the game; first saving a close shot from Dominic Solanke, before producing another magnificent save to deny James Milner’s goal-bound curler.
It was a game that lacked clear-cut chances, but both goalkeepers proved to be up to task anytime there was a real threat to their goal.
#1 Another big game, another frustrating outing for Wayne Rooney
Once again Wayne Rooney failed to shine in a big game for Everton this season after another dire performance against Liverpool on Saturday.
The 32-year-old moved from Manchester United to the Goodison Park outfit in the summer in search of more playing time. However, he has been restricted to very few minutes in the big games that Everton have played this season.
Rooney was afforded 58 minutes in last week’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City and against Liverpool, he was once again substituted after just 57 minutes. The former England captain’s demeanour after his substitution showed a man who is frustrated by his lack of game time in the big games.
Against the Reds, Allardyce chose to play Rooney in midfield, but he was largely unimpressive which led to his early withdrawal.
Rooney has rarely completed a full game against the top teams in the Premier League this season, and such a miserable run will undoubtedly continue, especially looking at his poor outing against Liverpool on Saturday.
