Everton vs Liverpool player ratings: Mohamed Salah misfires but Virgil van Dijk impresses

Player ratings: How we rated the players in the 233rd Merseyside derby

Liverpool lost ground to Manchester City in the Premier League title race after failing to beat Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park.

Jurgen Klopp's side could not restore their lead at the top of the table and were held to a 0-0 draw, with Pep Guardiola's champions now one point clear.

Mohamed Salah twice failed to put Liverpool ahead when presented with the kind of chance he often takes with ease.

First, Jordan Pickford denied him with a superb save when one-on-one, then Will Keane produced a great last-ditch tackle to prevent him from scoring with a second chance.

Lucas Digne was also responsible for some important defending, his timely touch to take the ball away from Fabinho in front of goal helped earn his side a point.

Player ratings

Everton

Jordan Pickford - 7

Save from Salah in the first half was crucial. Kicking could have been better to make the most of Everton’s game plan.

Seamus Coleman - 7

One early challenge on Origi set the tone for a frantic first half. Coped well enough with Origi and had some joy in attack of his own late on.

Michael Keane - 7

A couple of hairy moments but made a vital tackle on Salah second-half while he bearing down on goal.

Kurt Zouma - 7

Helped Keane to keep Mané quiet in central areas. Loanee continues to win favour with the Goodison crowd.

Lucas Digne - 7

Struggled to balance his attacking and defensive duties at times but tried to make up for this by always tracking back. Made a key block on Fabinho.

Morgan Schneiderlin - 6

Still in the early stages of a tentative return to the side, Schneiderlin battled and disrupted well enough in midfield.

Idrissa Gueye - 7

A clever, cynical foul here and there frustrated Liverpool’s attempts to break. Made several key legitimate tackles, too.

Theo Walcott - 5

Poor. Needed to feed off the few second balls which Calvert-Lewin won, but his decision-making was well below par.

Gylfi Sigurdsson - 6

A few neat moments in possession and diligent running did not make up for a more general lack of invention.

Bernard - 6

Showed little end product when up against Alexander-Arnold down the left flank and struggled to have much of an influence on the game

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - 7

Given a difficult job, with Silva asking him to win high aerial balls against Van Dijk, but carried this task out enthusiastically.

Liverpool

Alisson - 6

Saved a header from Calvert-Lewin but otherwise rarely troubled. Like Pickford, kicking left something to be desired.

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7

Ventured forward with more success than Robertson on the opposite flank but failed to make it count.

Joel Matip - 6

Defended well enough alongside Van Dijk. Saw a lot of the ball and was too often indecisive or looking for the easy option.

Virgil van Dijk - 8

Dominant in his aerial duels with Calvert-Lewin, always on hand to cover a mistake or stray pass by a team-mate. Brilliant.

Andy Robertson - 6

Another quiet performance, following subdued displays against Bayern Munich and Manchester United. Liverpool’s attack miss his crossing and over-laps.

Fabinho - 6

Fluffed a chance at the far post with a poor touch. Tidy with the ball apart from one stray first-half pass that put Van Dijk in trouble.

Georginio Wijnaldum - 6

Plenty of endeavour, as usual, though little in the way of creativity. Could have blocked Keane off for Salah’s second chance.

Jordan Henderson - 7

Settled down quicker than anyone else on the pitch. One brilliant pass over the top for Salah early on, little else incisive.

Sadio Mané - 6

Stationed centrally, Liverpool’s only forward with any real form was a subdued presence. Substituted for Lallana late on.

Mohamed Salah - 5

Misses one-on-one first half, allows Keane to block him off in the second and one poor cross late on summed up his afternoon. Scored one in his last seven.

Divock Origi - 6

Preferred ahead of Firmino, who was only just returning from an ankle injury, but ultimately not the decisive presence he was at Anfield.