Liverpool 1-1 Everton

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'Moan all you want' - Allardyce v Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp accused referee Craig Pawson of "opening the door" for Everton to take a point against his dominant side in the Merseyside derby.

Everton captain Wayne Rooney equalised from the spot after Pawson ruled Dejan Lovren's push on Dominic Calvert-Lewin was worthy of a penalty.

Liverpool took the lead through Mohamed Salah's sublime curling finish from an angle towards the end of the first half, which was deserved reward for the command shown by Klopp's in-form side.

Sadio Mane wasted a fine opportunity to double the lead before Everton, who had only one shot on target from open play, were awarded the 77th-minute penalty.

"Calvert-Lewin is smart and takes a step but even then it's nothing," said an angry Klopp in a bad-tempered interview with Sky Sports.

"The referees don't understand that the player is doing that.

"I cannot believe in a game like this when only one team is trying to win it and the other team were never in our box, and then you give it, you open the door for them like this.

"In my understanding, it's not a penalty."

Klopp then argued with the reporter, saying: "We can stop the interview, because I only want to speak with someone who has a little bit of understanding of football."

The German later apologised to the interviewer, and Everton boss Sam Allardyce saw the penalty decision entirely differently.

"He can moan all he wants but it's a penalty," said Allardyce. "It's an extremely brave decision and I think he got the decision right."

Liverpool remain fourth in the Premier League table, two points behind third-placed Chelsea, while Everton stay 10th.

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Liverpool 1-1 Everton: Jurgen Klopp says refereeing of derby was 'unfair'

Liverpool must look at themselves

Lovren and captain Jordan Henderson angrily remonstrated with the referee at the final whistle after he awarded the visitors their first penalty at Anfield since 1988.

Liverpool clearly felt it was a soft decision, yet the hosts must also look at themselves for their inability to secure victory after failing to turn their long spells of possession into more than one goal.

They remain unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions but this will feel like a defeat for Klopp, whose team selection will also come under scrutiny.

The German opted to start Philippe Coutinho, who scored a Champions League hat-trick in midweek against Spartak Moscow, and fellow Brazilian Roberto Firmino on the bench.

Instead Klopp handed 20-year-old striker Dominic Solanke his second league start for the club, while there was an all-English midfield of Henderson, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

"I make decisions that I think are right," added Klopp. "We lived more or less in their box. We could have scored earlier. I have to live with that."

Image source, .
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These average position graphics illustrate how Everton spent most of the game inside their own half while Liverpool had 79% possession yet managed just three shots on target and one goal

Klopp made six changes in total yet Liverpool's play was still fluent, even if they were frustrated by the visitors before a brilliant piece of individual skill by Salah put them ahead.

The Egypt forward took his tally for the club since signing in the summer to 19 goals with an exquisite finish after beating Cuco Martina and holding off Idrissa Gueye.

However, Mane's selfish decision not to pass to a team-mate cost Liverpool the cushion of a second goal before the interval.

He ran clear of the Everton defence but instead of squaring to Solanke, Oxlade-Chamberlain or Salah he went for goal and dragged his shot wide of the right-hand post.

Liverpool's failure to add another goal ultimately cost them a fourth successive win, as Everton secured a point from a game they never had control of.

As Klopp sought to engineer a late winner for his side he sent on Danny Ings for the injury-plagued striker's first Premier League appearance since May 2016.

Image source, Reuters
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Mohamed Salah has scored 13 Premier League goals this season - four more than Swansea City

Rooney and Allardyce come up trumps

Everton remain without a win at Anfield since 1999 yet this was a result to enjoy for the blue half of Merseyside.

The Toffees managed just two shots on target and spent most of the first half camped inside their own half as Liverpool dominated possession and territory.

In fact, Everton had 21% of the possession, their lowest figure ever in a Premier League match since 2003-04 (when Opta started recording the share).

Liverpool midfielder Henderson completed 60 passes - six more than Everton's players put together - in the opening 45 minutes alone.

Yet Allardyce's side dug deep to stay in the game, and when the chance arose to beat keeper Simon Mignolet, the goal was meaningful.

Rooney's first goal in six appearances in this fixture extends his side's unbeaten run to four games in all competitions.

The 32-year-old, whose pass led to the penalty, had been eagerly awaiting the derby since rejoining his boyhood club from Manchester United in July.

Rooney remains without a win in the derby but his spot-kick - straight down the middle after Mignolet dived early - at least earned his side a point to savour.

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Liverpool 1-1 Everton: Sam Allardyce believes Everton's penalty was a clear one

"The object of the exercise was to frustrate the opposition," added Allardyce.

"Clear-cut chances for Liverpool were very few and far between for such a talented team. When I arrived at Everton we'd conceded 13 goals in the past four games.

"We've conceded one goal in four games since. Our platform for success is being built from the foundations and that's extremely important if we are to move up the league."

Man of the match - Jonjoe Kenny (Everton)

Image source, PA
Image caption,

This was the match in which Jonjoe Kenny came of age. The 20-year-old full-back showed he has a bright future as he recovered from a nervous start to help his side earn a crucial point with a solid defensive display up against Sadio Mane

Why Rooney loves facing Liverpool - the stats

  • Rooney has scored five goals in his past six Premier League starts against Liverpool.

  • The Everton captain has been directly involved in five goals in his past three Premier League games (four goals, one assist), one more than he managed in his previous 11 with Everton this season.

  • Salah has scored 19 goals in 24 appearances for Liverpool this season (all competitions), as many as he netted for Roma last term in 41 games.

  • Salah has been directly involved in 23 goals for Liverpool in all competitions this season, two more than any other player in the Premier League.

  • Liverpool have equalled their longest-ever unbeaten run against Everton in all competitions - 15 games - set between March 1972 and April 1978.

  • Everton have lost just one of their past six Premier League games (W3 D2), after losing six of the eight before that (W1 D1).

What's next?

Liverpool are back at Anfield on Wednesday when they host struggling West Brom in the Premier League (20:00 GMT), while Allardyce takes Everton back to his former club Newcastle on the same night (19:45).

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