Everton 0-0 Liverpool: 5 major talking points from the Merseyside derby
Liverpool’s bid to usurp rivals Manchester United's second spot in the Premier League was handed a huge blow after they drew 0-0 with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The two Merseyside teams played out a game of two halves, as both teams had chances of their own to steal the bragging rights. However, a combination of wasteful finishing and some resolute defending from both Everton and Liverpool ensured no goals were scored in the game.
Liverpool started the game on the ascendency but found chances far and far between as the Toffees chose to sit back and attack on the counter. The best chance of the first half fell to Dominic Solanke whose straight shot was saved by the impressive Jordan Pickford.
Everton also had chances of their own, and could have even gone ahead had Yannick Bolasie’s fierce curler not been parried away by Karius for the Reds.
In all, the game failed to live up to the billing, especially with past Merseyside derbies being filled with much more explosives.
Here are five major talking points from the game:
#5 Liverpool selection shows Klopp has an eye on Champions League return leg
Liverpool started Saturday’s Merseyside derby without most of their first-teamers in the starting lineup. Manager Jurgen Klopp opted to rest most of his regular stars, rather choosing to hand starting roles to some fringe players.
Aside Mohamed Salah who was ruled out of the Everton game due to a hamstring injury, every other player who played in midweek’s Champions League win over Manchester City was fit for selection.
However, Klopp preferred to rest his stars with one eye on the return leg of their quarter-final clash against Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad on Tuesday.
Sadio Mane was the only one fortunate to have started in Liverpool’s attack, as Roberto Firmino was also rested for the clash at Goodison Park.
In midfield, Gini Wijnaldum was chosen in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whiles the likes of Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson made way for Nathaniel Clyne and Ragnar Klavan respectively.
It may not have been Klopp’s preferred line up, but with an important Champions League date against Man City coming up, it is understandable why the German chose to field a weaker side in the Merseyside derby.