Everton 0, Liverpool 0: First Thoughts

A frustrating Merseyside Derby sees Liverpool drop points and drop to second despite being the better side.

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Everton 0 - 0 Liverpool

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• Pre-Match: Roberto Firmino is fit and on the bench, while Jordan Henderson is back in the midfield pushing forward with Fabinho cleaning up behind and Sadio Mané again leading the line.
• Everton get the shenanigans started with a bad throw in and then Theo Walcott pulling Divock Origi down by the shirt to get the game’s first yellow card, which will hopefully lead to chances for Liverpool to press the issue.
• Instead it’s some nerves from Liverpool at the back and, Virgil, I get it, some of us need waking up but let’s try not to lose this one on an own goal, please.
• The first, best Liverpool chance comes from a weighted pass from Jordan Henderson that finds Mohamed Salah with space to run but he sends his shot wide. Then he gets a second chance at beating Jordan Pickford but doesn’t get it high enough.
• We’re not even twenty minutes in and Liverpool have had more shots and more chances. This feels like it’s not going to be December’s derby, that’s for sure, but Everton are running hard and at least trying to make a game of it.
• Halftime: It’s been a bit of a weird game. Liverpool were the better side but something about it feels off—the players seem a little tight and there are a lot of heavy touches, and Sadio Mané keeps making good runs but so far he isn’t being spotted. All told, I’m sat here wondering how haven’t we scored yet.
• In second half non-football news, a random lady in the stands handed Bobby her baby and took a picture of them. While the match was in progress. So. That’s a thing that happened.
• Rather than Liverpool forcing the issue it’s Everton with the best early second half chance and Alisson makes the save of the game to keep it level.
• Liverpool steady themselves, though, and start to press again. They know they need all three points here.
• Firmino coming on leads to a string of chances, but the Reds just don’t quite seem sharp enough in the final third and what would have been goals on other days end in missed chances.
• They’re trying, but those poor touches from the first half and that general tightness is still there and it’s just not. Quite. Coming off. Liverpool have been the better side—and wasted plenty of chances to be up—and now they really need the late breakthrough.
• Everton, though, rather than tiring appear to have gained energy from keeping Liverpool off the scoreboard and they’re getting half-chances on the counter as Liverpool press harder and harder the other way. It’s wild, disorganized stuff with ten minutes to go.
• After bringing on Milner and Firmino earlier, Klopp’s last throw of the dice is to bring on Adam Lallana.
• Seriously, though? Lallana? Leaving Naby Keïta and Xherdan Shaqiri on the bench. Well. It’s certainly a choice. One that feels increasingly frustrating as we reach stoppage time and three minutes for Liverpool to, potentially, save their title challenge.
• They don’t manage it. So it goes.
• Final Whistle: Everton stole two points from Liverpool in a match that saw the Reds spurn multiple chances to secure the victory they needed. It’s a result that sends City top of the table with games played level and means Liverpool no longer control their own destiny. If this is what wins the league for City, Everton will surely release a commemorative DVD.

We’ll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today’s game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven’t already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we’ll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com