Man of the match: Jordan Pickford made some superb saves as Everton drew with Liverpool at Goodison
(Picture: REUTERS)Liverpool dropped yet more points early in the Premier League season after a thrilling Merseyside derby stalemate against Everton on Saturday.
The Reds have now won just two of their opening six matches of the new campaign as they hit the woodwork three times and found Jordan Pickford in absolutely inspired form at Goodison Park, with the England goalkeeper coming out on top in a second-half duel with substitute Roberto Firmino and also getting fingertips to a Mo Salah effort that struck the post deep in second-half stoppage time.
Man-of-the-match Pickford made several other superb stops, including tipping the returning Darwin Nunez’s fierce volley onto the crossbar shortly before half-time, with Luis Diaz then smashing an effort against the post.
Opposite number Alisson Becker was also on top of his game, denying Neal Maupay a debut goal with a stellar reaction save.
Battling Everton more than played their part in a fascinating 242nd edition of one of English football’s most famous old fixtures contested amid a typically febrile atmosphere, striking the post themselves through Tom Davies and Wolves loanee Conor Coady turning in Maupay’s shot from close range before seeing his goal ruled out for offside by the VAR.
The Toffees remain winless in the top-flight this term after a fourth successive draw, but Frank Lampard will undoubtedly be the more pleased of the two managers as Jurgen Klopp is left to rue potentially falling seven points behind reigning champions Manchester City, who are in action at Aston Villa later on, by the end of the day.
Nine points after six matches is the lowest tally of Klopp’s seven-year tenure at Anfield to date, with momentum stunted again after Community Shield winners Liverpool had bounced back from a winless three-match run to start the season and defeat by rivals Manchester United by putting nine goals past newly-promoted Bournemouth and securing a last-gasp win over Newcastle in midweek.
Liverpool, who had deadline-day signing Arthur Melo as an unused substitute on Saturday as he received his international clearance before kick-off following a loan move from Juventus, now turn attentions to the Champions League as they travel to Italy to face Napoli on Wednesday.
The fixtures don’t get any easier for Everton, who meet high-flying pacesetters Arsenal at the Emirates next weekend.
