Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could barely believe the stellar showing from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during Saturday's Merseyside derby draw at Goodison Park.
The honours ended up even with both teams playing out a fiercely contested 0-0 draw that saw the woodwork struck multiple times by both sides. The Reds had more of the chances, though there is an argument to be had that the quality of Everton's was higher - Neal Maupay in particular spurning one glorious opportunity to put the hosts in front mid-way through the second half.
After the interval, the game became a running battle between Pickford and Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino. The Brazilian international came close on a number of occasions, but failed to get the better of the England international that greeted him between the sticks.
Liverpool could perhaps consider themselves unfortunate not to come away with all three points, while Klopp was in no mood to point the finger at his troops in the aftermath of the game. When told by BT Sport that the Toffees' 'keeper had made at least half a dozen saves, the Reds boss could do little more than marvel at the feat.
“Wow, what can you do?", he pondered. "It was a great derby, super intense, with a lot of really spectacular moments. We hit the post three times and Pickford made so many saves. I don’t know how many derbies I’ve been in, but it’s quite a few and they’re always difficult here."
Klopp's sentiments were echoed by his counterpart in the opposite dugout, Everton boss Frank Lampard. The Toffees manager also heaped praise on Pickford, adding: "I thought we were brilliant. It’s one of the best 0-0s you’re likely to see. Pickford made some great saves, you need your keeper to be on it in games like this.
"He got his fingertips on a few bits today which a lot of keepers don’t get and Allison the same, two top class keepers. I’ve relied on Jordan a lot he’s an amazing keeper and we’re fortunate to have a player of this level."
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The result leaves Liverpool languishing as low as sixth in the Premier League table, five points adrift of long-time title rivals Manchester City and six points behind league-leaders Arsenal.
It has been the worst start to a season in Liverpool's Premier League history, but Klopp wasn't particularly downbeat after the game.
"We had good set-pieces but we didn’t finish it off or when we got another one we were slightly too open and they used that in these moments pretty well," he added.
"Apart from that they didn’t cause us a lot of problems or whatever, but we had to dig in deep obviously [and] that’s what we did."
