Everton prove hostile hosts as Merseyside derby ends in ill-tempered stalemate
Liverpool midfielder Emre Can (right) grabs Everton midfielder Brendan Galloway by the collar during their English Premier League match at Goodison Park in Liverpool on Sunday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo: AFP)
Liverpool: Liverpool and Everton played out the sixth draw in their last seven meetings as a fiercely-contested but error-strewn Merseyside derby finished 1-1. Danny Ings put Liverpool ahead when he capitalised on some lacklustre Everton defending and headed in from James Milner’s cross following a corner in the 41st minute.
But Romelu Lukaku ensured Everton took a deserved share of the spoils when he profited from Emre Can’s miscued clearance in first-half stoppage time. Both managers named unchanged starting line-ups from their last Premier League games, which meant Everton were without defenders John Stones and Seamus Coleman, while Liverpool partnered Daniel Sturridge and Ings in attack.
In the ferocious intensity of the opening stages of the 225th meeting between the teams, the play was epitomised by mistakes. Referee Martin Atkinson allowed the contest to flow after initially being over-zealous with his use of the whistle, and Can and Lukaku began a wrestling match while James McCarthy snapped at Philippe Coutinho’s heels in archetypal derby fashion.
Half-chances for Ings and Milner reflected Liverpool’s early positive intentions but it was Everton who twice tested Simon Mignolet in the first half-hour. Goodison Park rose to its feet when Ross Barkley’s free kick picked out the unmarked head of Steven Naismith only for Mignolet to paw the ball away.
The Liverpool goalkeeper was called upon again shortly after as he dived to his right to tip a McCarthy shot past the post, following some neat Everton build-up play. Tempers flared when Can held on to the ball to delay an Everton throw-in and both he and Barkley received yellow cards for their troubles.
With the momentum seemingly with the Toffees, Liverpool struck the first blow following a corner, with Barkley punished for some slack marking. Milner’s delivery hung in the air but Barkley lost Ings and failed to get his head to the ball which left the Liverpool striker with a free header from close range. Everton’s response was instantaneous, with Liverpool’s defending for the equaliser also having a calamitous look about it.
( Source : AFP )
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