It ends 0-0 and to someone who hadn’t watched this game this would just be yet another soulless stalemate. But this was anything but that. Liverpool and Everton played out an enthralling Merseyside derby. Chances were flying at both ends of the pitch, goalposts were trembling after shots kept pinging off them. At the end of all of it, the scoreline is 0-0, primarily due to an enigmatic Jordan Pickford, the Everton goalkeeper.
Liverpool piling on the pressure. Maupay has led the line admirably for Everton on his debut for the club. Salah’s turn to strike the post. Pickford made a touch and the defense scrambles it away. The English keeper has been imperious under the bar. He gets a yellow card for time wasting and he wouldn’t mind it one bit.
Jota thought he had won a corner. But Anthony Taylor points for a goalkick. Everton wins the ball back and they set off on a counter attack. But Gray’s shot is straight at Allison. Six minutes added on.
Salah hasn’t had his usual influence in the game today. He tries to force the issue with a drive into the middle, but his pass isn’t accurate enough. He almost redeems himself with a delightful pass to find Firmino. But Pickford is on hand again to deny the Brazilian with a diving stop.
Gomez give the ball away cheaply with a misdirected long ball. Everton moves the ball with intent and newly-introduced Dwight McNeil to leap high and long to push it away for a corner. Mighty save from the Liverpool keeper.
Everton wins a corner down the left. The Evertonian crowd begging for an opener from their side. But Liverpool holds steady from the set piece. Klopp brings in Diogo Jota and Matip. Nunez is hooked off.
Liverpool’s attacks have trickled down to almost nothing in the last few minutes. It gets some time on the ball. But Firmino’s shot is weak and Pickford has it easy.
Everton crowd had erupted after Coady’s offside goal. That decision might have deflated the morale of any other fans, but Everton fans are still going.
Another counterattack from Everton. Driven forward by the young Gordon, but Everton loses momentum. But they keep the ball in and near the box and finally Maupay swings in a driven cross for Coady to tap it in from close range. Suspicions of offside and VAR cancels out that one. WHAT AN ANTICLIMAX.
Pickford saves again. This time off Fabinho. Everton swarms upfield on a counter attack. Gray finds the right pass and Maupay is face to face with Alisson and the goalkeeper is unflapped under pressure as he saves it. End to end stuff here at Goodison Park.
Gordon cushions one for Patterson and the right-back’s shot is deflected wide by van Djik. And on the other end, Firmino draws a vital save from Pickford. Firmino is at it again from the corner.
Everton enters Liverpool box with pace. But Gray couldn’t find the right pass. But they soon win a corner and the crowd roars in anticipation of an opener. But Gray’s delivery is poor.
Luis Diaz has been very involved in Liverpool’s attack, probably a little more than Salah. Klopp setting up two changes. James Milner and Andy Robertson set to come on.
Darwin Nunez volleys from just inside the box after a Salah cross. But it is straight at Pickford who pats it down easily.
Liverpool pings the ball across Pickford’s goal. Tsimikas is the one to finally pull the trigger. But the angle was too tight for him. Everton gets a chance to attack. Iwobi finds Maupay in the box and the forward tries an overhead kick that flies over the bar.
And we are off for the second half. Carvalho is taken off for the in-form Roberto Firmino. He has never scored against Everton and would love to break that duck today. van Djik is forced to gave away the ball and Everton had a chance to put the ball in behind. But Tsimikas blocks the pass.
Everton was impressive in the first 30 minutes and even came close through Davies. But Liverpool soon inserted itself into the game and struck the upright twice within seconds. Nunez’s shot was clawed away by Pickford before Diaz’s right-footed clanged into the post. Goodison has witnessed an entertaining and intense half of football and more to come in the second half.
Liverpool gets a corner, but it is Everton who breaks away with the ball. Gomez steps in and stops the counter-attack. Everton inter-change passes and it was about to drop for Maupay before Alexander-Arnold slid into clear. And it is half-time.
Liverpool has worked its way into the game. LIVERPOOL COMES EVER SO CLOSE!!! Nunez forces Pickford to pull off a stunning save and it then comes off the post for Diaz to hit the other upright. Clear signs of Liverpool getting its feet into the game.
Everton gives away a freekick. Carvalho is the one who is fouled and it seems like he has hurt his knee. The Liverpool physio takes a look at him, while Tsimikas gets the ball in. Salah then crosses for Darwin Nunez, whose header is marginally wide.
Liverpool trying to slow down the game. Alisson takes his time with the goal kick. Everton pressing high up the field, but Liverpool’s defense beats the press and moves the game upfield.
EVERTON STRIKES THE POST!!! Everton pins Liverpool in the box. Maupay tries to shoot, but van Djik blocks it. Tom Davies gets the rebound and his strikes it with the outside of his boot and it pings of the post. So close from a deserved lead.
Everton has been impressive so far. It hasn’t let the game go past. Liverpool has been taken aback by the passion displayed by the Toffees.
Gray gets past two defenders but soon crumbles to the ground following a Joe Gomez. Anthony Taylor adjudges it as a dive but doesn’t book Gray. Liverpool wins a freekick from an attacking position, but Luis Diaz’s header from it was soft. Pickford gathers with ease.
Tsimikas gives away a freekick from near the halfway line and Everton converts it into a corner. Gordon tries to curl one in from the rebound, but Alisson has his hands safely behind the ball. The Goodison has been vocal and has urged the Toffees on.
Everton hasn’t come to this game to just sit back and counter. It has clearly taken Liverpool side by surprise with its intensity.
Everton’s turn to put the pressure of Liverpool defense and Alexander-Arnold gives away the ball cheaply. Nothing comes of it. The Reds try to counter attack, but Luis Diaz mishits a pass to Salah and the momentum is lost.
Patterson is warned by the referee for getting too handsy with Luis Diaz. Everton getting a decent share of possession and showing great intent with quick direct passing.
Everton has been positive in the early minutes. Lampard’s men haven’t been overawed by the Liverpool press. The reds though hasn’t settled into the game as well as it would have hoped to.
Maupay gets a chance inside the box. Gray found him with space to shoot, but his cross/shot trickles away from the post. Meanwhile, Fabinho is on the ground and Klopp is worried. Thankfully for Klopp, the Brazilian picks himself up.
Everton gets its first chance to penetrate the Liverpool box. But Demari Gray’s shot is tame. Liverpool gets the ball back and passes it around with ease. New man, Neil Maupay is trying to push the game up for Everton.
Liverpool’s young midfield will be tested today. The Reds dominate possession early on and attacks down the right and wins a corner. Alexander-Arnold to swing it in. Everton defenders do their job well and clear it away.
We are seconds away from kickoff. A Merseyside derby, usually a heated affair, is the perfect way to start off the Premier League weekend.
Starting Lineups are out!
REVIEW
Liverpool will head to Everton’s home turf, Goodison Park, for the first Merseyside derby of the season on Saturday in Premier League
The derby kicks off an eight-game lineup in the League.
Everton is winless in league play and hosts Liverpool in the early match. Transfer deadline day signings Idrissa Gana Gueye and James Garner are available for Everton.
New Liverpool midfielder Arthur Melo is awaiting international clearance.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has been ruled out of the derby due to a hamstring injury but forward Diogo Jota could return, manager Juergen Klopp said yesterday
Henderson was forced off with the injury during the second half of their 2-1 win over Newcastle United on Wednesday, while Jota has had a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury.
"Nothing yet. We are still waiting for the result," Klopp told reporters on Friday when asked about Henderson's fitness.
"He is definitely out, he is injured, but the extent I don't know. Diogo probably will be in as well, he trained yesterday with the team first time. He will train today.
Liverpool, which is sixth in the league after five games, will be bolstered by the presence of new striker Darwin Nunez, who will return after serving a three-match ban for a red card.
"He's learned his lesson and is in really good shape. See how we came through last two games, we don’t see it as a bad thing that he was out," Klopp said.
Klopp expects Saturday's game against Frank Lampard's Everton, to be a "big fight". Everton is 17th in the league
"They are tight games most of the time. It'll be a big fight and we cannot ignore that but you have to play football as well. That's the challenge," Klopp said.
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Thiago Alcantara is expected to return to training next week after a thigh injury, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (muscle) will be out for "a while" and Ibrahima Konate (knee) could be back around the international break.
Everton's Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who sustained a knee injury, is expected to be back next week.
WITH INPUTS FROM REUTERS AND AP
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