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Liverpool missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League table on Sunday after being held to a goalless draw by Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
The first half was a cagey affair with chances at a premium for both sides. Everton offered very little going forward, while Mohamed Salah was twice denied by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Everton improved after the break and saw more of the ball but rarely tested Alisson in the Liverpool goal.
Meanwhile, Salah was guilty of wasting another opportunity as the Reds picked up a third successive draw away from home in the Premier League.
Salah’s Lack of Ruthlessness Should Worry Klopp
Jurgen Klopp kept faith with Divock Origi, Sadio Mane and Salah in attack, and it was the Egyptian who had the best chances to score at Goodison Park.
Fabinho slid Salah in just before the half-hour mark but Pickford stuck out a strong right hand to save his effort.
Football writer Leanne Prescott felt Salah could have done better:
Leanne Prescott @_lfcleanne
Poor initial touch from Salah narrowed the angle for himself. Really should’ve done better and made use of the fact Pickford stayed on his line for so long. What a chance.
Another chance followed for Salah on 58 minutes after a strong run forwards by Joel Matip. However, he took a poor initial touch which allowed Seamus Coleman and Pickford to smother the danger.
Miguel Delaney at the Independent said Salah is lacking sharpness:
Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaney
Top forwards always miss more big chances than we like to imagine, but seems a lack of sharpness to Salah right now. Bad touch for the first chance. Ponderous there for the second.
The Egyptian’s lack of ruthlessness in front of goal should concern Klopp as the Reds reach the business end of the season.
Salah has now gone four games without a goal and has managed just four in 11 appearances for the Reds in all competitions since 2019.
He has also been guilty of missing plenty of chances in front of goal:
Squawka Football @Squawka
Mohamed Salah has missed 13 ‘big chances’ in the Premier League this season; only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (19) has missed more.
Denied by Jordan Pickford this time.
https://t.co/cQOzZMaAFH
Liverpool have drawn four of their last six league matches, which has seen them lose their lead at the top of the table and slip a point behind Manchester City.
The Reds have just nine games left to play in the league and badly need Salah to rediscover his goalscoring touch quickly if they are to go on and pip Pep Guardiola’s side to the title.
Everton Going Nowhere With Underperfoming Silva
Everton will be pleased to take a point off the Reds, but the draw means they are still without a victory against their local rivals since 2010.
The hosts very rarely looked like scoring either, particularly in a first half when they struggled to keep the ball and would have been relieved to hear the half-time whistle.
Manager Marco Silva’s tactics came in for criticism during the game:
Daniel Storey @danielstorey85
While Richarlison, who is superb in the air, is on the bench. It’s a niche tactic.
Mark Ogden @MarkOgden_
Not sure about the tactic of Pickford launching long balls to Calvert-Lewin and watching Van Dijk win every header. Must be part of some cunning plan…
The Toffees played with greater intensity after the break, but the closest they came to a goal was a header by Dominic Calvert-Lewin that was saved by Alisson early in the second half.
WhoScored.com highlighted the pressure Everton were under:
WhoScored.com @WhoScored
Everton: Made three last man tackles against Liverpool, a record in a Premier League match this season.
No team had recorded more than one in a game prior to today’s Merseyside derby https://t.co/tfnE1NCikV https://t.co/4qeMFTbnLE
Everton also needed Michael Keane to put in a superb display in central defence to deny the Reds:
Squawka Football @Squawka
Michael Keane made six interceptions against Liverpool, the joint-most by an Everton player in a Premier League game this season.
A superb defensive display.
Silva did show some attacking intent with his changes in the second half. He brought on Richarlison, Cenk Tosun and Andre Gomes, but it was Liverpool who looked the more likely side to score in a tense finish.
Silva’s direct tactics were simply ineffective against a Liverpool side with the commanding Virgil van Dijk in central defence. The hosts were fortunate to catch Salah on an off-day, but a change of approach is needed if Everton are to progress beyond mid-table obscurity.
What’s Next?
Everton return to action on Saturday in the Premier League against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, while Liverpool play a day later at home to Burnley.
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