Liverpool could only draw 1-1 with Everton on Sunday afternoon, as Wayne Rooney’s penalty cancelled out Mohamed Salah‘s opener.
Liverpool 1–1 Everton
Premier League, Anfield
Sunday, 10 December 2017
Goals
Salah 42’ (assist – Gomez)
Rooney (pen) 77’ (assist – Calvert-Lewin)
Liverpool arrived at Anfield on a strong run of form, having won six of their last Premier League matches, and they were strong favourites to see off their local rivals.
Supporters’ nerves weren’t helped when the team news was announced, however, as Jurgen Klopp left both Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino on the substitutes’ bench.
Dominic Solanke was handed a surprise start, while Andrew Robertson was selected at left-back in place of the injured Alberto Moreno.
Simon Mignolet came back in for Loris Karius in goal, and James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were in midfield ahead of Emre Can and Gini Wijnaldum.
Klopp is making it very clear how important he sees rotation this season, with six changes made in total from Wednesday’s 7-0 hammering of Spartak Moscow.
- Klopp makes six changes for 229th Merseyside derby
- Coutinho, Firmino, Can and Wijnaldum all on the substitutes’ bench
- Salah opens the scoring to register 19th goal of the season
- Mane misses huge chance at 1-0
- Rooney penalty levels matters, following Lovren’s foul
It took approximately 10 seconds for Everton to attempt their first long ball, leading to mocking applause from the home crowd as the ball drifted out of play.
Liverpool bossed the opening exchanges, with Milner seeing an effort blocked and the pace of Salah and Sadio Mane causing all sorts of problems.
The visitors were simply hoofing the ball at every given opportunity, and their time-wasting was there for all to see from the off.
Despite Liverpool’s dominance, not too many chances were coming their way, and the Anfield faithful were showing signs of frustration.
That soon changed in the 42nd minute, though, as Salah produced another moment of magic, curling home superbly in front of the Anfield Road end.
It was the Egyptian’s 19th goal in an increasingly sensational season.
Oxlade-Chamberlain fizzed an ambitious volley over the crossbar and Mane shot wide when he had to square the ball, as Klopp’s men ended the half in the ascendancy.
Sam Allardyce made two changes at the interval, as his side looked to improve on an embarrassingly negative first-half performance.
Salah had a glorious chance to make it 2-0 soon after the restart, but the 25-year-old headed Miler’s inviting cross narrowly wide.
Mane attempted an outrageous bicycle kick in front of the Kop and the excellent Joe Gomez headed over, as Liverpool’s complete and utter dominance continued.
Firmino replaced Salah midway through the second half, and the Reds’ goalscorer received a richly deserved standing ovation as he left the field.
With 13 minutes remaining, Everton were somehow level, after Dejan Lovren fouled Dominic Calvert-Lewin inside the area. Rooney stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick.
Liverpool were disappointing in the final exchanges, not playing at the same level as before, and they had to settle for a disappointing point in the end.
TIA Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah
Referee: Craig Pawson
Next Match: West Brom (H) – Premier League – December 13
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