Andy Hunter was at Goodison, and his report has landed. Thanks for reading this MBM!
Frank Lampard is a lot happier, telling BT: “Cor yeah, we were brilliant. They are a fantastic team, top players, top coach, always a risk. We defended brilliantly and held our own, and we had our own chances. Both teams went toe to toe in the derby, and it’s one of the best nil-nils you’ll ever see. Both keepers made great saves. It was a real game of two teams going for it. I can’t fault the players. We played well, and we’re getting better. We’re not going to go from just staying up to becoming the team we want to be. It’s a process, and we’re building from the back. It’s not easy to play against Liverpool, but we got out more than enough times to get our own goals today. We have to keep working, we feel like those wins will come. We feel we deserve more. Today maybe not, it could have gone either way, so that’s fair enough, but the fans can see we’re not glorying in a nil-nil, it’s a team with spirit that fights for the badge. It makes me proud.”
A downbeat Jurgen Klopp talks to BT Sport. “A great derby. Super intense, with a lot of spectacular moments. We hit three times the post, and they made sensational saves. Wow. So in the end, it’s nil-nil. That’s it. It’s a super-intense week for us, going right to the wire on Wednesday and then we have to play here. It is always difficult here, and it was difficult today. We think Carvalho has a massive dead leg, but it should settle quickly. Thiago can train on Monday but I am not sure he can play against Napoli. The situation is like it is. You can cut a derby out of the season, it is always special, it is always really tough. I don’t forget they had a big chance when Ali made a save, but we had bigger chances. It is OK now.”
Everton’s first win of the season remains elusive. Pickford’s post-match analysis is pretty much spot on, though: they don’t look like a side destined for another relegation battle. Liverpool meanwhile appear well short of another title bid, already well off the pace and nothing quite clicking up front … which sounds counter-intuitive given Pickford’s performance, but there it is.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 5 | 9 | 15 |
| 2 | Man City | 5 | 14 | 13 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| 4 | Brighton | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 6 | 9 | 9 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 5 | -2 | 9 |
| 7 | Leeds | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 8 | Fulham | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| 9 | Southampton | 5 | -2 | 7 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 5 | -2 | 7 |
| 11 | Brentford | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 5 | -2 | 5 |
| 14 | Everton | 6 | -2 | 4 |
| 15 | West Ham | 5 | -4 | 4 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 5 | -9 | 4 |
| 17 | AFC Bournemouth | 5 | -14 | 4 |
| 18 | Wolverhampton | 5 | -2 | 3 |
| 19 | Aston Villa | 5 | -5 | 3 |
| 20 | Leicester | 5 | -5 | 1 |
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Thing is, though Liverpool rattled the woodwork on several occasions, and Pickford was forced to make several absurd saves, a draw seems about right. Everton were competitive in their own right, hitting the post themselves and having a goal chalked off marginally for offside. Alisson had to make some big saves too. The man of the match Jordan Pickford is delighted: “We’ve got character now, and team spirit. We haven’t got our win yet but we’re hard to beat. You need loads of leaders on the pitch, and we’ve got that. We’ve got a draw and we can keep building. It’s hard work, it’s commitment. We’ll get stronger and get the wins.”
FULL TIME: Everton 0-0 Liverpool
The whistle goes, and Jordan Pickford raises both arms in triumph. He simply refused to let the ball past him this afternoon!
90 min +6: Pickford is booked for taking his sweet time over the resulting goal kick.
90 min +5: Robertson drives down the middle. The ball’s worked towards Salah on the right. Salah enters the box and sends a shot towards the bottom right. Pickford gets a fingertip to the shot, turning it onto the post! The ball pinballs around, then rebounds off Salah and out for a goal kick. He’s been the man of the match all right!
90 min +4: On BT Sport, Jermaine Jenas names Jordan Pickford as man of the match.
90 min +3: Milner robs Gueye in the centre circle. He sends Salah away down the right. Salah cuts inside, but can’t get a useful shot away. For a second, that looked on.
90 min +2: Robertson crosses from the left. Firmino wins a header at the far stick, but sends it back across goal. When play stops, Fabinho is yellow carded for an earlier block on Gueye.
90 min +1: Gray cuts in from the left and aims for the top right. No repeat of his heroics against Arsenal last season. Alisson claims easily.
90 min: There will be a minimum of six added minutes.
89 min: Jota tries to squeeze his way into the Everton six-yard box from the left. Patterson isn’t giving ground, and ushers both Jota and ball out for a goal kick.
87 min: Salah curls a low cross into the Everton box from the right with the outside of his boot. It drops to Firmino, who flippers a shot towards the bottom left. Pickford is yet again up to the task. The Everton keeper will surely be named the man of the match; he’s made some blinding stops.
85 min: That McNeil shot took a couple of deflections on its way through to Alisson. What a fine reaction save that was.
84 min: McNeil cuts in from the right and curls a shot towards the top left. Alisson tips over marvellously. Nothing comes of the resulting corner, but it’s Everton who are looking most likely to find a late winner. “The analytics crowd might show Liverpool dominating but that is crap,” argues Mary Waltz. “Everton has matched Liverpool punch for punch. What a cracker this fixture has been. Whatever the outcome, proud of my team.”
Updated
82 min: Local hero Gordon goes off to warm applause. McNeil takes his place.
81 min: Onana is down, feeling that Van Dijk challenge. Pickford comes over and convinces him to get back up and plough on. Everton are sniffing a winner.
80 min: Liverpool make their final subs. Jota and Matip come on for the Elliott and the ineffectual Nunez.
79 min: The resulting free kick leads to a corner on the left, Tarkowski forcing Van Dijk into action. Gray swings it in, but Fabinho heads clear.
77 min: Nope, VAR isn’t interested. File that one under: You’ve Certainly Seen Them Given. Van Dijk is a lucky lad, having initially made contact with Onana’s shin before his boot slipped down and planted onto the top of the foot.
76 min: Van Dijk is clattered by Onana and goes into the book. He’s lucky that’s not a red; his studs planted on top of Onana’s boot, and VAR may be interested in reviewing that.
75 min: Firmino floats a cross in from the left. That’s so easy for Pickford. Liverpool have lost their early-second-half verve.
74 min: Everton are on the front foot now. Onana crosses from the right. Iwobi nearly benefits from Milner’s hesitancy to feed Maupay. Gomez, who has been Liverpool’s best defender this afternoon, gets across to batter clear.
72 min: Tarkowski clips Nunez with his studs. The striker isn’t happy, and rails at the referee, who shows little interest. Goodison is bubbling right now, for various reasons.
NO GOAL. Everton 0-0 Liverpool
Coady was indeed off. Fractions in it, but offside nevertheless. Before the game can restart, someone channels their inner Eddie Kavanagh and invades the pitch.
70 min: … but VAR is going to check this for offside. Coady looks off to the naked eye, but you never can tell. Has Milner played him on? Let’s wait for the lines.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Liverpool (Coady 69)
The corner’s hit long. Maupay recycles possession to the left of the Liverpool six-yard box. He fizzes low. Coady, at the far stick, trundles in. Goodison erupts!
68 min: … Everton break, Gordon skittering up the other end and winning a corner down the right! This match is slowly morphing into a game of basketball.
67 min: Robertson drives down the left and wins a Liverpool corner. From which …
65 min: … but Everton deal with the third corner, and break at speed. Gray burns down the left and tugs back for Maupay, who is clear on the penalty spot and must score! But now it’s Alisson’s turn to shine. He makes himself big, and Maupay slaps his shot straight at him. The two keepers are having worldies! How on earth is this game still goalless?!
Updated
64 min: Firmino wins a header. Pickford parries out for another corner. From that, Fabinho drives low. Pickford blocks that one too! This is Liverpool versus Pickford!
63 min: Gordon drives down the right and pulls back for Patterson, who strides into the box and shoots from a tight angle. The ball breaks off Van Dijk’s backside and out for a corner. The set piece isn’t up to much, and Liverpool counter. Nunez, winning a long ball down the right, cuts back for Firmino, whose low drive is tipped around the post by Pickford.
62 min: Goodison roars to welcome back Idrissa Gueye. He comes on to replace Davies.
61 min: Gordon turns on the jets down the left. He reaches the byline and cuts back, forcing Van Dijk to bundle out for a corner. Gray wastes it by blootering it straight out for a goal kick.
59 min: A double change for Liverpool, and they switch out their full backs. Alexander-Arnold and Tsimikas make way for Milner and Robertson.
58 min: Patterson belts a backpass out for a Liverpool corner. Tsimikas takes the gift from the left. Van Dijk wins a header, but can’t direct it goalwards. Goal kick.
56 min: Iwobi battles near the centre circle and snatches the ball off Elliott. He tries to lob Alisson from 35 yards. The ball’s always sailing wide right, but had that been on target, the Liverpool keeper would have been in trouble.
Updated
55 min: Alexander-Arnold swings the corner long. Salah tries to cushion a header to Elliott, but Mykolenko reads the danger and intercepts.
54 min: Salah crosses from the right. Coady should clear easily, but slaps the ball straight to Nunez, whose instant low shot is swallowed by Pickford. Liverpool soon come again, and Tsimikas wins another corner down the left.
53 min: Nothing comes of the corner. Pickford claims without too much fuss.
52 min: Liverpool have definitely upped the pace. Diaz and Tsimikas combine once more down the left. Corner.
50 min: Iwobi chips into the Liverpool box from the right. Maupay, his back to goal, tries to steer a shot over his own shoulder. The ball flies harmlessly over the bar.
49 min: Tsimikas crosses deep from the left. Harvey traps and shoots from a tight angle. Pickford fingertips away from Firmino, who was waiting to trundle home. Tsimikas tries to return the ball into the mixer from the left, but suffers a hot flush and hoicks it wildly out of play, releasing the pressure on Everton.
48 min: Tsimikas and Diaz combine again down the left. The move doesn’t quite come off, but Liverpool have clearly been ordered to up the tempo by their manager.
47 min: Tsimikas tears down the left and slips Diaz into the box. Diaz pulls back for Nunez, who clanks a poor shot wide left. The flag then pops up for an offside on Diaz.
46 min: Nunez battles with Coady down the left and strips the Everton defender of possession. He’s unlucky to hear the referee’s whistle for not very much, or he’d have been away down the wing.
Everton get the second half underway. Firmino, who has never scored against them, comes on for Carvalho. Liverpool start in a 4-2-4 formation!
Half-time reading. You didn’t get this sort of carry-on with Hafnia.
HALF TIME: Everton 0-0 Liverpool
Level pegging seems about right on balance of play, though Liverpool lead 2-1 in terms of woodwork bothering.
45 min +1: Iwobi pings a ball in from the left. Davies and Gray combine crisply, and nearly spring Maupay clear down the middle. Alexander-Arnold was on point to put a stop to the caper.
45 min: That’s woken Liverpool up. Diaz slips Tsimikas into the Everton box down the left. Tsimikas chips into the centre and wins a corner. Van Dijk wins a header but Tarkowski blocks and clears. There will be two added minutes.
43 min: Now Liverpool go so close! Twice in a few seconds! Nunez chases a long pass down the inside right channel. He chests down and shoots across Pickford, who tips spectacularly onto the crossbar! The ball breaks to Diaz on the left. He drops a shoulder and curls a screamer across the keeper and towards the top right. The ball absolutely crashes off the inside of the post, across the face of goal, and away! How did that stay out?!
Updated
42 min: Carvalho is back on, but limping.
40 min: The set piece is worked wide right, the ball curled back in. Nunez rises at the far post and heads over the bar.
39 min: Klopp isn’t happy about that challenge. He has an exchange of views with the fourth official, as Carvalho rubs a sore leg. He hops off momentarily as Liverpool prepare to swing a free kick into the mixer from the left.
38 min: The first booking of the afternoon as Onana arrives late on Carvalho and knees him in the trousers. Carvalho stays down as the home fans question the referee’s professionalism via the medium of song.
36 min: Nunez and Salah have achieved very little so far, while Carvalho has been anonymous. Everton will be very happy with the way this has gone so far.
34 min: Alexander-Arnold crosses from the right. Nunez makes a clumsy effort at a bicycle kick. Fresh air is swiped. His dignity takes a further knock as he turns to chase the ball, only to slide into the corner flag, legs akimbo. Oof, ooyah, right in the swingers.
32 min: Patterson crosses from the right. Gomez clunks a clearance. Maupay’s presence ensures the ball squirts to Davies, just to the right of the penalty spot. Davies smashes a shot across Alisson … and off the left-hand upright! So close to the opener! A lovely effort with the outside of his right boot.
Updated
31 min: Two-pass sequences at a premium here.
29 min: Gordon, who has been busy at both ends of the pitch, swings a deep cross in from the left. Goal kick. This is turning properly scrappy now.
27 min: Tsimikas curls a free kick in from the left. Diaz nearly gets a telescopic leg to it, but only flicks fresh air. Pickford claims.
25 min: Tsimikas clips Gordon. Foul. Gomez nicks Gray. No foul. Gordon clips Tsimikas. Foul. Gordon elbows Tsimikas in the ribs. Foul. The Goodison faithful aren’t happy, though they serenade Gordon once the booing subsides. A Merseyside derby, right here.
23 min: Gray swings it in from the left. It’s half cleared. Gordon tries to steer a low curler into the bottom right. Alisson reads it and claims confidently. Liverpool attempt to counter, but Nunez can’t control and the chance of a three-on-one break is gone.
22 min: Tsimikas comes through the back of Gray and Everton have a chance to pump the resulting free kick into the box. Van Dijk is forced to head out for Everton’s first corner of the game.
21 min: Merseyside derbies are often scrappy. This one is scrappy all right … but it’s pretty open, too, and a decent watch nonetheless. Both sides are giving it a good go in attack.
19 min: That was a decent chance for Nunez, who was a bit tentative in the aerial battle with Patterson. Up the other end, Patterson crosses from the right. The ball hits Tsimikas, and the home fans scream for a penalty, but the Everton players don’t, as the cross hit the Liverpool defender on the seat of his pants.
18 min: Liverpool pass it around with great patience. Then suddenly Alexander-Arnold digs out a cross from the byline on the right. Nunez rises above Patterson at the far post, but can’t get a header on target. Goal kick.
Updated
16 min: Alexander-Arnold slices a simple pass out for a throw. The home fans enjoy themselves.
15 min: Alexander-Arnold batters a speculative pass down the inside-right channel. Diaz heads past the out-rushing Pickford, but the ball’s travelling at such speed that it flies out for a goal kick. The Everton keeper gets away with a rush of blood.
14 min: A little bit of space for Nunez down the left. He’s got options, but chooses to cross to nobody in particular and the ball sails harmlessly through to Pickford.
13 min: Patterson takes a handful of Diaz’s shirt. Diaz swings in irritation and claps him on the back. The referee pulls them up and tells them both to behave. And so it begins?
11 min: Liverpool have enjoyed 83 percent of possession so far. It’s Everton who have created the two half-chances, though.
Updated
9 min: Fabinho is down getting some treatment after being winded. He’ll be OK to continue. Meanwhile Goodison rises as one in loving memory of Olivia Platt-Korbel.
8 min: Coady rakes a pass down the right for Gray, who stuns the ball with his first touch, then whips it through the Liverpool box with his second. There’s nobody in there to take advantage for Everton. Then Davies wins a ball in the midfield, Gray slips Maupay into the area down the right, and the new boy crosses, again to nobody. This is better from the hosts after a slow start.
6 min: Everton launch their first attack, Maupay rolling a pass down the inside-left channel for Onana, who dribbles a low shot-cum-cross towards Alisson. An easy pick-up for the Liverpool keeper.
5 min: Tsimikas and Diaz combine down the left. The latter tries to find Nunez with a low cross, but Liverpool old boy Coady intercepts and clears. The visitors have started brightly and have quietened the crowd … a little.
3 min: Alexander-Arnold’s throw from the right wins the first corner of the game. He takes it himself. The ball breaks to Tsimikas, who has a belt from distance. Tarkowski blocks and Everton clear their lines.
2 min: A fairly high-octane start. No great surprise there. Liverpool are seeing more of the ball during these early exchanges.
Updated
Liverpool get the ball rolling. They’re kicking towards the Gwladys Street End in this first half.
The teams are out! You don’t need me to tell you this, but Everton are in blue, Liverpool red. Goodison is absolutely rocking. You didn’t need me to tell you that, either. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes!
Anyone for a classic Joy of Six? Of course you are. Happy to oblige!
Jurgen Klopp explains the selection of Nunez over Firmino to BT Sport. “It was not a difficult one. Bobby came back from injury and played a lot, and Darwin is obviously fresh. Then we had to change in midfield, it was clear. We decided Fabio, because Milly is the one who can come on in five positions! Then Kostas for Robbo … Robbo plays a lot and when we can make an unforced change, we should do it. Everton did really well in the last few games, they should have more points, it is true. They will play long balls, that will not change because of Maupay, they just have extra quality.”
A febrile atmosphere outside Goodison. Frank wasn’t wrong, the fans are behind Everton all right.
Frank Lampard talks to BT Sport. “We know the fans are behind us. We’re thankful for that against a team like Liverpool, who will have their moments. We didn’t try to change the world in one transfer window. We tried to build through the spine of the team, get some personalities in there, and we’ve done that. Some more energy, some more legs. Now we need to get to work with the squad. We have to be realistic where we were last year, and understand how ruthless the Premier League is. It has to be step by step, game by game, but this Premier League doesn’t give you much time.”
He also tells former Everton backroom stalwart Duncan Ferguson, standing by on the BT panel this lunchtime, that he’s “sorely missed … we do miss your presence”. The genuine bond is clear, all broad smiles and eye contact, and it’s a lovely moment.
Everton make just one change to the side named for the 1-1 draw at Leeds. Neal Maupay makes his debut for the Toffees, with Dwight McNeil dropping to the bench. Returning hero Idrissa Gueye is named as a sub.
Liverpool make three changes after the tumultuous 2-1 win over Newcastle United. Midweek matchwinner Fabio Carvalho is rewarded with a start, alongside Kostas Tsimikas and Darwin Nunez, the latter off the naughty step and straight back into the team. Roberto Firmino and Andy Robertson drop to the bench, while Jordan Henderson is hamstrung. New loan signing Arthur Melo has received his work permit in time for a spot on the bench.
The teams
Everton: Pickford, Patterson, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Davies, Onana, Iwobi, Maupay, Gray, Gordon.
Subs: Keane, Allan, McNeil, Begovic, Coleman, Gueye, Ruben Vinagre, Rondon, Mills.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Tsimikas, Elliott, Fabinho, Carvalho, Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
Subs: Milner, Firmino, Adrian, Jota, Robertson, Arthur, Matip, Bajcetic, Phillips.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England).
Preamble
The Merseyside Derby is always hotly contested. It’s seen 22 red cards in the Premier League era, a record no other rivals can beat. There’s a fair chance this one could kick off, too, seeing both clubs, for slightly different reasons, are desperate for a result. Everton are still looking for their first win of the season; Liverpool can’t afford to cede much more ground to Manchester City, Arsenal, Spurs et al. Throw in some recent brouhahas between the two teams – principally that ill-tempered 2-2 here in October 2020 – plus Liverpool’s desire to maintain a high tempo compared to Everton’s willingness to break up play, and this has all the makings of another full-throttle rumble. Plus: added Neal Maupay and Darwin Nunez! Two strikers with a track record in comedy confrontation! It all begins at 12.30pm BST. It’s on!
