Liverpool — Everton was denied a second-half Premier League triumph over Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Saturday after a long VAR review in a tense 0-0 draw.
Tom Davies was stopped by the upright for Everton during the first half at Goodison Park, while both Darwin Nunez and Luiz Diaz were denied by the crossbar for the away side.
Neal Maupay should have scored on his Everton debut after joining from Brighton & Hove Albion in the previous week.
Then came the moment Everton supporters had been waiting for when Conor Coady scored at the far post, but the goal was disallowed for offside following a long VAR review. Pandemonium ensued at Goodison.
Everton replacement Dwight McNeil’s deflected shot almost caught Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson off guard, and Mohamed Salah hit the post in stoppage time, but the rivals had to settle for a draw.
Liverpool is in fifth place, six points behind leaders Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester United, while Everton remains in 14th place with no wins in six meetings.
Liverpool, coming into the match on the heels of consecutive home victory, traveled to Goodison, where they had not suffered a Premier League loss in the previous 12 years, sure of additional derby success.
Despite Nunez’s return to the front line as a high-priced offseason acquisition, Liverpool failed to gain momentum.
When Liverpool did create an opportunity, England goalkeeper Pickford was in great form, with his save to deflect Nunez’s shot over the crossbar being the best of his first-half saves.
Roberto Firmino entered the game as the fourth attacker for Liverpool in the second half, forcing Pickford to make three rapid saves to deny the Brazilian.
The game then became more open. Maupay should have scored from close range, but his shot was too near to Alisson, before he played a significant role in what he believed to be the game-winning goal in the 69th minute.
Coady believed he had perfectly timed his approach at the back post for his first Everton goal, but he was ruled offside, much to the joy of the opposing crowd.
As they did in their thrilling midweek victory against Newcastle United, Liverpool believed they had won it late, but Salah’s first-time attempt rebounded off the crossbar once more, with Pickford putting the slightest touch on it.
“It was a genuine derby, really fierce and full of truly amazing moments,” Klopp added. “I believe we struck the post three times, and Pickford made some incredible stops – what can you do?
“In this game, ease and fluidity are impossible. We dug deep because it is necessary to do so. A scoreless draw may seem odd, but that’s all,” he continued.
Frank Lampard, the manager of Everton, saw his team’s performance as a strong indication of their growth.
“I felt we were fantastic. It’s one of the nicest scoreless draws you’re going to watch,” the former England midfielder added.
“Pickford made several outstanding stops; in games like these, the goalkeeper must be on their game. It was a genuine contest between two competing teams. I cannot criticize the players or their determination. We performed well and are improving.”
Merseyside derbies have produced more scoreless draws than any other game in English top-flight history (36) and in Premier League history (12).
Reuters