Everton put a huge dent in Liverpool's title challenge as they held their rivals to a 0-0 draw in a frantic Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
The Premier League title is now in Manchester City's hands for the first time since December Liverpool now trail by a point with just nine games to go after being frustrated by their derby rivals.
Mohamed Salah missed the two best chance of a match Liverpool largely had the better of, but that Everton were always in, especially in a spirited second half performance in front of a boisterous home crowd.
The Reds looked in command in the first half and created plenty of opportunities, most notably one Salah was sent clean through but saw his finish saved by Jordan Pickford.
Everton grew into the game second half and enjoyed a lot more possession without really troubling Alisson Becker, but had enough to earn a draw - a fourth for Liverpool in their last six games in a run that has handed the title initiative right back to City.
"It says a lot that in the end they're celebrating a 0-0".
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 3, 2019
Virgil Van Dijk and Jordan Henderson talk about the disappointment of dropping points today.
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Typical derby atmosphere
It was a typical derby encounter and Everton contributed hugely to that as, despite just six wins in 14 home league matches, they took the game to their opponents.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave Virgil Van Dijk plenty to think about with his harrying and harassing and although it occupied the Holland international he remained the calmest man on the pitch.
Similarly Bernard, preferred to Richarlison on the left wing, posed plenty of questions of full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, although Salah was even more of a problem for Lucas Digne without actually being dangerous.
The one chance Salah, still looking for his 50th league goal for the club, was presented to him when Morgan Schneiderlin got caught out of position in central midfield and Fabinho slipped through a pass, but the Egypt international narrowed the angle too much and Jordan Pickford pulled off a good save.
Everton's best chance came when Theo Walcott broke down the right but he blazed wide under pressure from Andrew Robertson.
"What's the game come to?"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 3, 2019
Roberto Firmino posing for photos with a random woman's baby is probably not something he expected to be doing during today's game. 😂
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Salah chances wasted
Salah wasted another chance 10 minutes into the second half when put through thanks to Joel Matip's weaving run but the Egyptian delayed and Michael Keane got back to block.
The first substitution was Everton's on the hour with Richarlison replacing Walcott, a sign Marco Silva sensed the game was still there to be won.
Klopp responded with a double-change of Firmino and James Milner, with the former creating a headed chance for Mane within a minute of coming on.
Digne produced a goal-saving interception to prevent Fabinho converting Van Dijk's knockdown while a sliding Bernard failed to connect with Richarlison's cross on the break.
Liverpool were winning the midfield battle but Everton were defensively resolute, although Matip skewing a header wide contributed to their efforts.
Everton 0-0 Liverpool Stats
- 34 of the 200 league meetings between Everton and Liverpool have finished goalless, 15 more 0-0s than any other fixture in English league history.
- Liverpool have failed to score in two of their last three Premier League games, having failed to find the net in just one of their previous 27 in the competition.
- Three of the last five Premier League meetings between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park have finished 0-0.
- This is the first time Liverpool have not finished a day top of the Premier League table having played the same number of games as Manchester City since December 7th.
- Liverpool didn’t record a single shot on target after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s effort in the 54th minute of this match.
- 67% of Everton’s three shots on target in this match came via their substitutes (one for Richarlison, one for Cenk Tosun).
- Mohamed Salah has gone three Premier League games without a goal for the first time as a Liverpool player.
- Liverpool’s Alisson has kept 17 clean sheets in the Premier League this season – the most by a keeper in their debut season in the competition since Jose Reina in 2005-06 (20).
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