Everton’s former Liverpool defender Conor Coady had a goal ruled out by VAR as the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park ended goalless for the fifth time in nine seasons despite the woodwork being hit four times.
Coady sparked bedlam when he turned in Neal Maupay’s cross with 20 minutes later but a check as Liverpool waited to kick off again ruled the defender was marginally offside. In reaction, a bottle landed near to where Jurgen Klopp was standing and an intruder got on the pitch to seek out the referee.
Both sides had chances in a derby that was equally entertaining and attritional. Tom Davies hit the post for Everton while Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz were also denied by the woodwork at the other end.
There were also outstanding saves by goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Alisson as Everton were left still seeking their first win of the season and Liverpool failed to complete a hat-trick of wins.
Everton boss Frank Lampard gave striker Maupay a debut following his arrival from Brighton while Klopp recalled Nunez after his ban and Kostas Tsimikas was preferred to Andy Robertson at left-back.
Liverpool hadn’t lost at Goodison since 2010 when Mikel Arteta was among the scorers and they made a bright start with Tsimikas have a goalbound shot inadvertently blocked by Nunez.
The pace was typically blood and thunder for a Merseyside derby testing referee Anthony Taylor’s patience.
He tried to be lenient, letting off Tsimikas for two fouls and Nathan Patterson and Luis Diaz after they tangled by the centre circle, Diaz cuffing the Everton player on the back of the shoulder in retaliation for being manhandled.