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Exactly 10 years ago on 17 October 2010, Everton beat Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby. Since that day, the Toffees have never secured all three points against their arch-rivals as the Reds' superiority seemed to be ever-lasting.
While many thought Carlo Ancelotti's side could break the duck, the Reds started the game well and were rewarded with Sadio Mane's early goal. However, Jurgen Klopp's team allowed their opponents back into the game when Michael Keane equalized in the 19th minute, following a poor clearance from Adrian.
Both teams had their fair share of chances in the second half, but it was Mohamed Salah who put Liverpool ahead by scoring his 100th goal for the club. With less than 10 minutes to go, Dominic Calvert-Lewin levelled things as his goal scoring streak continues for the fifth consecutive game.
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An injury-time goal by Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson looked to be the match-winner, but after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the goal was disallowed. Here are five talking points from the Merseyside Derby draw at Goodison Park.
#5 Virgil van Dijk's knee injury could be disastrous for Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk was injured after Jordan Pickford lunged into him inside Everton's box. He received nearly three minutes of treatment before he was replaced by Joe Gomez. Had van Dijk not been ruled offside, Pickford could have been found guilty of a foul on the Liverpool centre-back.
The 29-year-old has been an instrumental figure in Liverpool's backline, keeping 15 clean sheets in 38 appearances last season. Without him, Gomez and Joel Matip struggled to cope with the pace of Everton's forwards.
Given the increasing list of fixtures and UEFA Champions League matches coming up, Klopp will surely be hoping that van Dijk's knee injury isn't too serious and that he will be able to return to the team soon.
#4 James Rodriguez continues to excel for Everton
Once again, James Rodriguez's performance was vital for Everton. The former Real Madrid midfielder contributed to yet another goal this afternoon when he swung in a corner for Michael Keane to head home.
The Colombian has wasted no time in adapting to the demands of the Premier League since his arrival in the summer, and is now thriving under Ancelotti.
Having struggled to make an impact at Real Madrid, Rodriguez might have finally found his place in the Premier League. If he manages to put up consistent performances in the coming weeks, the 29-year-old could make Everton a serious contender for the top four.
Also Read: 5 reasons why Manchester City could struggle against Arsenal | Premier League 2020-21
#3 VAR in the limelight for offside calls
While Jordan Pickford was lucky to escape red in his challenge on van Dijk, his teammate, Richarlison, was sent off in the 90th minute after a reckless tackle on Thiago Alcantara. Yet, the focus was on the VAR, which made two controversial offside calls against Liverpool players (van Dijk and Mane) in the game.
Pickford's rash tackle on van Dijk could put the Dutch defender on the sidelines for months. In Klopp's post-match interview, the manager revealed that the 29-year-old's injury doesn't look good. Liverpool fans were left fuming with the decision that no foul or red card was given simply because van Dijk had been in an offside position.
VAR was again called upon during injury time, and it denied the Liverpool captain his goal. The Reds' celebration was short-lived after VAR deemed Mane to be offside in the buildup to Henderson's goal. In his post-match interview, the English international was visibly upset that his team had not gotten all three points.
#2 Mohamed Salah scores his 100th goal for Liverpool
After netting two goals against Aston Villa, and scoring the second goal for the Reds today, Mohamed Salah has now scored 100 goals in 159 games. He is now the third fastest Liverpool player to achieve this feat, behind Roger Hunt (144) and Jack Parkinson (153).
The Egyptian was a constant threat throughout the match - getting the ball in dangerous areas, linking up well with Mane, and troubling Everton's defenders. With this strong and impressive display, Salah deserved to get his 100th goal in this high stake match.
On the other end, Calvert-Lewin netted his seventh goal of the EPL campaign to remain at the top of the goal scoring charts.
#1 The race for the Premier League trophy
The draw allowed Everton to maintain their unbeaten record in the Premier League, but their winning streak has now ended. Everton were not as dominant as they were against West Bromwich Albion or Brighton & Hove Albion.
Liverpool are still very much in the race for the title. However, if van Dijk were to be diagnosed with a serious knee injury, it will certainly be a huge blow to Klopp's efforts and dreams of retaining the trophy.
Only three points separate now the first and second-placed teams. If Aston Villa, Leicester City or Arsenal were to get all three points this weekend, then the competition would get even more complicated.
Also Read: Manchester City vs Arsenal: 5 key battles | Premier League 2020-21
