Liverpool 1-1 Everton: Matchday blog
Everything that happened as Liverpool hosted Everton at Anfield in the 229th edition of the Merseyside derby.
- Salah curler put Liverpool in front (42mins)
- Rooney equalised from penalty spot (76mins)
- Rivals take a Premier League point apiece
Klopp: "It's an intense time, that's why we made changes. We could have won it, we didn't.
Klopp: "We were ready for each challenge, we could have scored, we had clear chances, half-chances, everything you need. It was always clear a day like this can happen."
Klopp: "It was the right decision [to make changes]. The boys who came in were fresh, did a brilliant job and worked hard."
Klopp: "We have to take it. We didn't get a red card at Stoke which we should have done, and today we got a penalty that was not a penalty."
Klopp: "We controlled the game apart from one situation - and that situation decided the [outcome] of the game."
All of the stats from Anfield...
Full Time
Liverpool 1-1 Everton
The Reds are forced to settle for a point at the end of what became a frustrating afternoon in the 229th Merseyside derby.
Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool an advantage with another sublime finish but a second-half penalty by Wayne Rooney levelled for the visitors.
Four minutes added on at Anfield...
Philippe Coutinho tried to pick out the top left corner from the free-kick but the distance of the strike meant it was a relatively straightforward take for Jordan Pickford.
Yellow Card
Morgan Schneiderlin booked for a bad foul on James Milner.
Substitution
Final change by Jürgen Klopp - Danny Ings on for Dominic Solanke.
Everton introduce Phil Jagielka in place of Wayne Rooney.
Substitution
Philippe Coutinho replaces Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Liverpool.
Goal
Wayne Rooney dispatched the spot-kick beyond Simon Mignolet. 1-1 at Anfield.
Penalty
Penalty to Everton - Dejan Lovren adjudged to have pushed Dominic Calvert-Lewin inside the area.
Good work by Simon Mignolet to firstly punch away an inswinging Everton corner and then cleanly catch a follow-up cross, as the visitors sought to respond.
Substitution
The Reds make the change and it's Roberto Firmino on for goalscorer Mohamed Salah.
Mohamed Salah curled in an inviting free-kick that Joe Gomez flicked over the crossbar with his head.
Liverpool are preparing to introduce Roberto Firmino.
Another brilliant cross into the Everton box from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - who has quietly had an excellent game in midfield this afternoon - but Sadio Mane could not reach it with a late lunge yards out.
Audacious overhead kick effort from Sadio Mane after he controlled Mohamed Salah's cross to the middle of the area. Nicely done by the Senegal international but ultimately it was a safe catch for Jordan Pickford.
The Reds worked a clever corner, allowing Mohamed Salah to complete a one-two with Sadio Mane and eye the top corner at the Kop end. On this occasion, he sent the ball wildly into the crowd, though. He is human!
So close!
A Sadio Mane block diverted the ball to James Milner, who swung in a deep cross from the right to the waiting Mohamed Salah at the back post. The No.11 intelligently tried to nod a header inside the opposite post but was inches out of sync and it went wide.
Substitution
Morgan Schneiderlin and Aaron Lennon on.
Tom Davies and Oumar Niasse off.
Kick-Off
Second half
We're back under way at Anfield...
19 goals for the season. Mohamed Salah.
That Mo moment...
All of the stats from the opening 45 minutes at Anfield...
Half Time
Liverpool 1-0 Everton
We've reached the interval and, thankfully, the Reds' persistence has paid off. After 42 minutes of firm resistance by the Blues, the latest piece of Mohamed Salah magic broke the deadlock.
Should be two! Dominic Solanke turns a throw-in into the run of Sadio Mane, who breaks clear with support to his right but the usually clinical forward instead drags his own strike wide of the far post. A real missed chance there.
Goal
GOALLLLLL!!!!!!!! MO SALAH!!!!
Breakthrough!
It's typical brilliance from the Egyptian, who rolled his marker on the right edge of the area, stepped into shooting space and picked out another sublime curler into the opposite corner.
Get in!
Yellow Card
And now a caution for Idrissa Gana Gueye for a foul on Sadio Mane.
Yellow Card
Gylfi Sigurdsson is the first man into the book for a poor lunge on Jordan Henderson.
Still no room between or around the Everton rearguard - prompting Andy Robertson to try his luck from outside the box on the angle. Off target, though.
Neat footwork from James Milner wins a free-kick on the left edge of the box that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain whipped dangerously towards the far post - but neither close enough to goal nor a teammate. Unlucky.
Midway through the opening half and it remains goalless in the light snow, with Liverpool trying to force the issue against a stubborn Everton side determined to restrict space and time at every opportunity.
Pressure is building now and Mohamed Salah has an attempted curler deflected out for a corner after more incessant closing down in Everton territory by Sadio Mane.
Most of the play has been in one direction so far but a quick ball over the top from the Blues threatened to release Oumar Niasse along the left side, until Simon Mignolet rushed out to prevent the danger with a sliding challenge.
The Reds
It's a good start from the Reds and high pressure against the Everton backline led to a first shooting chance, with Jordan Henderson sweeping his effort too high to trouble Jordan Pickford.
Analyse This
Assess the tactical nuances of the game as it unfolds with our interactive Opta chalkboard...
Kick-Off
We're off... at the second attempt.
Come on, Liverpool!!
The teams have emerged from the tunnel and we're moments away from kick-off.
It's freezing cold inside the stadium but the atmosphere is growing.
Chapter 229 of the Merseyside derby coming up...
A reminder of today's line-ups at Anfield...
Inside the home dressing room...
Liverpool team in full: Mignolet, Gomez, Lovren, Klavan, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Salah, Solanke.
Substitutes: Karius, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Firmino, Can, Ings, Alexander-Arnold.
Daniel Sturridge misses out due to a tight hamstring.
TEAM NEWS
Six changes for the Reds today as Dominic Solanke is selected to lead the Liverpool attack alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.
Man on duty...
Ragnar Klavan takes the pre-match broadcaster interview ahead of the game.
The lads making their way into Anfield...
Anfield is ready...
Derby day morning and snow is falling lightly at our home.
Coutinho aiming to continue derby form
Philippe Coutinho has never lost a Merseyside derby and was on target in each of the two previous encounters at Anfield. No surprise, then, that the No.10 is eagerly looking forward to the latest edition...
"Playing against Everton is always a really big game. It's a game which comes with a great level of expectation in terms of the city and people look forward to it a lot. I've already played in quite a few.
"I'm very happy playing in the derbies. We have done well in most of them and I hope that it can carry on like that in this one for our fans," Coutinho says in the matchday programme.
What are the odds?
Here are the match prices offered by BetVictor...
Liverpool - 3/10
Draw - 5/1
Everton - 10/1
Click here for more information.
Read all about it...
If you're looking for pre-match reading (or a distraction from the nerves), can we modestly point you in the direction of liverpoolfc.com/news?
There you'll find exclusive derby previews with Steven Gerrard, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Simon Mignolet, Georginio Wijnaldum, Dejan Lovren... and a former Everton defender.
Plus much, much, much more.
"You don't stop that!"
You won't need reminding of how last season's Anfield derby unfolded, given the satisfaction of Liverpool's 3-1 victory through goals from Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi.
But a fresh twist on that April afternoon arrived this week in the form of an 'alternative commentary' on the game. Take it away, Jon Flanagan and Andy Robertson...
Stat attack
This is the 197th league meeting between the teams, the most-played derby in English league football.
Tale of the tape so far? Liverpool have won 76, Everton 57.
Meanwhile, Sadio Mane could make Merseyside derby history at Anfield. The Senegal international scored against the Blues home and away last season; no man has ever before hit the target in each of his first three appearances in the fixture.
View from the opposition
Everton have a new manager at the helm in Sam Allardyce, and the Blues boss has alluded to the size of the challenge he expects in his maiden Merseyside derby.
"I've been involved in many derbies in my managerial career, this is two clubs clashing together with great history. Unique to the city, unique in derby terms," he said.
"It's about handling the pressure and atmosphere, and handling a team in the best form since Jürgen arrived. There's no doubt we have to master that front line before we can think about getting in the right areas."
Free week on LFCTV
Sky and Virgin Media customers in the UK and Republic of Ireland can currently enjoy free access to our official club channel, LFCTV.
So don't miss exclusive pre-match build-up directly from Anfield, live commentary throughout the 90 minutes, and extensive analysis and Reds reaction after the final whistle.
Matchday Live begins at 1.15pm GMT - click here for a full schedule and more information.
Our photographers were at Melwood on Friday to snap shots of the squad preparing for the derby, with Adam Lallana alongside his teammates as he continues to build up fitness.
For much more from the manager on today's game, watch Friday's Melwood press conference in full below...
Klopp: Embrace the emotion
Writing in the programme, Jürgen Klopp has explained why the emotion and passion surrounding a derby match can be used to a team's advantage. Specifically, he wants his Liverpool side to make sure the pressure to perform is motivational.
"The key to doing well is to draw from the positive emotion," he says. "Embrace that it really matters to everyone involved and give everything you have to make sure the outcome for you and your team is positive. In these sort of games you have to be able to say, when it is done, that you did everything you could for your supporters."
Mo the main man
A first Merseyside derby experience awaits Mohamed Salah today and the in-form Liverpool forward is the cover star of the matchday programme.
Grab your copy at the ground or subscribe online here.
Team news
Alberto Moreno will miss the Merseyside derby due to the ankle problem he sustained during the midweek Champions League thrashing of Spartak Moscow.
Jürgen Klopp reported no other fresh injury concerns ahead of the game, however. Jordan Henderson will return to the midfield to captain the Reds, the manager had already confirmed.
Here's how the Premier League table looks before today's action gets under way. The Reds would rise to third in the standings with a victory this afternoon.
Weather
Important information for fans attending today's game
Due to the forecast of inclement weather on Sunday, the club advises supporters travelling to Anfield to take extra care on their journey and to plan their route in advance.
Fans are also encouraged to arrive at the stadium early, with updates on public transport available from Merseytravel and Merseyrail.
Are you ready?
One of the most anticipated football occasions of the year on Merseyside is here - it's Liverpool v Everton at Anfield in the 229th derby between the rivals from either side of Stanley Park.
The build-up is over, the time for talking has passed. All focus is now on 2.15pm GMT and kick-off.
So, stick with us as we provide comprehensive coverage of the game, including confirmed team news first, live updates from the match, stats, pictures, videos and exclusive reaction.
Here we go...