Everton vs Liverpool: Five things we learned as Merseyside derby ends goalless at Goodison Park

Match marked a low-key return to action for the champions-in-waiting

Everton and Liverpool played out a 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Reds had plenty of early possession, but the only real half-chances in that period were a Takumi Minamino effort off target and a low cross across the face of Alisson’s goal, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin couldn’t reach.

Roberto Firmino skewed a shot wide before the break and Sadio Mane passed up a chance to shoot, as the title-winners-in-waiting had the better of the game without finding the breakthrough.

Late on it was Everton who went close on a number of occasions, but in truth the game lacked a cutting edge and even an intensity that would normally be a hallmark of the fixture. Here are five things we learned from the Merseyside derby.

Changing faces

Anthony Gordon, 19, made his first senior start for Everton (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The much-changed situation, in football and beyond, was readily apparent in the two teams’ starting line-ups at Goodison Park.

A Merseyside derby three months ago would have seen rather different players lining up, with fans, form and fitness all perhaps playing a bigger role at that time than with how matters have ultimately transpired.

Would Anthony Gordon have made his debut with the game being played in March? Almost certainly not. Would Takumi Minamino have been in the XI at the opposite end of the pitch? Likewise an improbable selection. And Alisson in goal? Impossible – the Brazilian was injured.

Recovery from some injuries, minor knocks in the period of regaining fitness recently for others and maybe, for Carlo Ancelotti at least, the lack of supporters in the stands urging a team on all seem to have been factors in the faces picked to play out this particular derby.

High press vs passing out

It looked like a textbook training session at times when Everton had goal-kicks: three defenders inside the penalty area, three attackers just on the edge – now try and pass out through them.

The high-risk approach was intended to set the home side playing out from deep and building up with control in their game, but often they ended up turning back and having to play it long – and the approach was soon abandoned.

Liverpool almost pressed to good effect in that first half-hour, with Firmino’s effort and one or two other chances almost arising from quick challenges and transitions in the attacking third.

Minamino, Naby Keita and – predictably – Firmino were all key in this regard for the Reds.

An easing-in period post-lockdown

Gylfi Sigurdsson of Everton battles for possession with Jordan Henderson of Liverpool and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Liverpool (2020 Pool)

It has been a common theme in the Premier League so far, also replicated here: the first 45 minutes back for teams have been low-key, almost timid affairs.

Players haven’t seemed to want to go all-guns-blazing as soon as they are back out on the pitch, somewhat understandably, and a familiar pattern has quickly emerged regardless of teams or quality.

Thankfully for neutral viewers, that hasn’t lasted throughout the full 90 minutes in too many fixtures – though on this occasion neither side appeared to have the necessity to really give everything for the three points.

Liverpool will win the league anyway, so didn’t absolutely have to force the issue; Everton don’t really have a realistic shot at Europe, and were keen to simply not hand their rivals an easier path to a trophy.

Both will be involved in more lively and event-filled matches across the rest of the season.

Missed opportunities

The Red half of the city dominated the fixture in terms of possession and chances throughout the first 80 minutes, but it was the blues who had the best opportunities to snatch the points.

Richarlison had a decent headed chance, Dominic Calvert-Lewin went close and Tom Davies saw an effort deflected onto the post – all in the space of a couple of minutes.

Alisson and Joe Gomez just had enough each on the stretch to deny their neighbours, and though it would have been smash-and-grab had they taken the points, Ancelotti would have argued that his gameplan worked to perfection.

Instead, Everton have merely lost two and drawn one of the three derbies across all competitions this season as their winless run in the fixture goes on.

Title talk delayed

Liverpool went into the derby knowing six points seals them the long-awaited league title, so three points here would have been ideal to give them a chance to win the trophy at Anfield.

There’s still a job to be done though, and it’s Crystal Palace next up—with two injuries picked up here by James Milner and Joel Matip, plus Andy Robertson left out as a precaution as he rebuilds fitness.

It’s only a slight delay to Liverpool’s inevitable title celebrations, and they’ll be wrapped up sooner or later – though a quirk of the fixture list means if they win on Wednesday and Man City win on Tuesday, it’ll be against Pep Guardiola’s side that the Reds next get the chance to complete the job.

For Everton, the rest of the season must simply be about preparing for 2020/21 and trying, perhaps, to clinch a top-half finish.