Liverpool 1-1 Everton

Mohamed Salah's sublime curling finish from an angle towards the end of the first half was deserved reward for the command shown by Jurgen Klopp's in-form side.

Sadio Mane wasted a fine opportunity to double the lead before Everton, who had only one shot on target from open play, were awarded a penalty when Dejan Lovren pushed Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the back.

Rooney drove his penalty down the middle to beat Simon Mignolet in what was the former England captain's first goal in six Merseyside derby appearances.

Liverpool remain fourth in the Premier League table, two points behind third-placed Chelsea, while Everton stay 10th.

Lovren and captain Jordan Henderson angrily remonstrated with referee Craig Pawson at the final whistle after his decision to award the visitors their first penalty at Anfield since 1988.

Liverpool clearly felt it was a soft decision by the match official yet the hosts must also look at themselves for their inability to secure victory after failing to turn their long spells of possession into more than one goal.

They remain unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions but this will feel like a defeat for Klopp, whose team selection will also come under scrutiny.

The German opted to start Philippe Coutinho, who scored a Champions League hat-trick in midweek against Spartak Moscow, and fellow Brazilian Roberto Firmino on the bench.

Instead Klopp handed 20-year-old striker Dominic Solanke his second league start for the club, while there was an all-English midfield of Henderson, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Klopp made six changes in total yet Liverpool's play was still fluent, even if they were frustrated by the visitors before a brilliant piece of individual skill by Salah put them ahead.

The Egypt forward took his tally for the club since signing in the summer to 19 goals with an exquisite finish after beating Cuco Martina and holding off Idrissa Gueye.
However Mane's selfish decision not to pass to a team-mate cost Liverpool the cushion of a second goal before the interval.

He ran clear of the Everton defence but instead of squaring to Solanke, Oxlade-Chamberlain or Salah he went for goal and dragged his shot wide of the right-hand post.

Liverpool continued to press after the break.

Klopp even sent on Danny Ings for his first Premier League appearance since May 2016.

But their failure to add another goal ultimately cost them a fourth successive win as Everton secured a point from a game they never had control of.

Everton remain without a win at Anfield since 1999 yet this was a result to enjoy for the blue half of Merseyside.

The Toffees managed just two shots on target and spent most of the first half camped inside their own half as Liverpool dominated possession and territory.

In fact Everton posted a 21 per cent possession figure in the game, their lowest-ever in a Premier League match since 2003-04 (when Opta started recording possession).

Liverpool midfielder Henderson completed 60 passes - six more than all of Everton's players put together - in the opening 45 minutes alone.

Yet new boss Sam Allardyce's side dug deep to stay in the game so that when the chance arose to beat Mignolet, it was a meaningful goal - one that extends their unbeaten run to four games in all competitions.

Rooney, whose pass led to the penalty, had been eagerly awaiting this fixture since rejoining his boyhood club in July from Manchester United.

The 32-year-old remains without a win in the derby but his spot kick, straight down the middle after Mignolet dived early, at least earned his side a point to savour.

Source: BBC

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