Everton do finally test Adrian as Rodriguez releases Calvert-Lewin down the right for a run and then powerful angled shot that the Reds keeper pushes behind.

The tame fake crowd noise is not at all representative of what it would be like in Goodison right now if there were a crowd. The home fans would be demanding their players get stuck in, because they've been completely second best so far.

James Hammond: The Reds looking ANGRY after that Villa performance. Exactly what they needed, great start!

KoloKK: No Mane, no party

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Goodison Park

Jordan Pickford is very lucky not to be punished more severely for what was a wild and reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk. The rash nature of it just summed up the over-hyped approach which Pickford seems to bring to every game these days.

He is Everton's weak link.

Image source, Getty Images

It's all Liverpool. Neat little triangles in midfield.

All Everton can do is foul them at the moment.

Everton look a little bit rabbit in headlights at the moment. Robertson's cross is headed over by Firmino as Liverpool continue to drive forward to try and further stamp their authority on the game.

Joe Gomez, dropped for this game after the Villa shambles, is Van Dijk's replacement.

Soon after the substitution, Everton get their first sight of goal but Dominic Calvert-Lewin heads over from a left-wing cross.

Van Dijk was down for a while after that Pickford tackle. And despite the best efforts of the medical staff, he's not been able to recover enough to continue.

Now that makes things interesting. Liverpool's now without their brick wall at the back.

Tambuwai: The Main Mané is back.

Daddy M&N: Mane is liverpool and liverpool is Mane

London Money: 3 minutes for normal Merseyside service to resume

Well, Van Dijk has been ruled to be offside, according to the VAR rulers. It's very, very, very tight. And no doubt one to be debated over.

What is clear is that Jordan Pickford is a lucky, lucky lad.

Video Assistant Refereepublished at 7 mins

7 mins

Everton 0-1 Liverpool

Oh, hang on. VAR is into the equation.

They want to know if VVD is on or offside. This could be interesting. If he is on, Liverpool will surely be getting a spot-kick.

Liverpool mean business here.

A cross is swung into the box and headed away from men in red by Lucas Digne. The resulting corner is cleared but back comes the ball and Virgil van Dijk is clattered by Jordan Pickford.

The flag is up. Otherwise that is a penalty.

A sign of things to come? Virgil van Dijk hammers into James Rodriguez in the middle of the pitch to send the Everton player spinning to the turf. A free-kick and perhaps a little heads up of what the Colombia can expect.

To underline his point, Van Dijk then clatters into Dominic Calvert-Lewin soon after. It's an 'I'm the daddy' statement.

Alex Scott
Former England and Arsenal defender on Football Focus

This will be the marker for Everton.

The whole defence will be tested today, they've not kept a clean sheet and they're coming up against the liverpool front three.

Yes, they beat Spurs but just the movement and attacking threat that Liverpool brings, this is their test today.

Ten years to the day since Everton last beat Liverpool. Their quest to end that decade of suffering is under way.

As for the Reds? Well, they've got seven goals to wash out of their system.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Goodison Park

It is games like this that bring home just how much supporters are missed at matches.

Goodison Park would have been thunderous right now just before the start of the Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool but apart from a few traditional pre-match songs over the tannoy and the familiar air raid siren the quiet in and around Goodison Park in the build-up to kick-off is eerie.

Guy Mowbray
Match of the Day commentator

1989. That was the last time Everton were top of the table going into a Merseyside derby. But while all was well at Goodison Park, the country in general seemed a bit of a mess. Ambulance crews were on strike, the economy was heading for deep recession and the Prime Minister was even getting flak from some in her own party. Plus ca change, external?

With Liverpool one of the places in tier three lockdown, it's hard to separate football as a focus for joy - especially with Goodison Park empty for such a momentous match - but hopefully it can be an entertaining distraction. These ought to be good times for Evertonians. Their team has made a perfect start and the balance and depth of the squad Carlo Ancelotti has assembled looks right.

The hardest tests are now to come, with all of the 'big boys' visiting Goodison in the weeks ahead - starting with their red rivals, still smarting by what happened to them at Aston Villa.

There will almost surely be a positive reaction from the champions, and if they play to their highest level they SHOULD extend their record unbeaten derby run to 23 games. Jurgen Klopp's men will not quite be the favourites they usually are though, and there's a potential omen in the Mersey mist against them, with Saturday marking 10 years to the dayof Everton's last derby win.

IF it happens again, might we hear the first rumblings of another 'Leicester' being possible? As the only team up there unburdened by a European fixture list that's more congested than ever, perhaps it's not such a far-fetched thought. Then again, if it doesn't happen……plus ca change.