Liverpool, Everton share the spoils

Defending champion Liverpool was foiled by VAR as it was held to a 2-2 Premier League derby draw with Everton at Goodison Park here on Saturday after a late effort from Jordan Henderson was ruled out.

Carlo Ancelotti-managed Everton remains top of the table on 13 points, three ahead of Liverpool, after an incident-packed end to the 237th Merseyside derby. The game was locked at 2-2 after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 10th goal of the season in all competitions brought Everton level in the 81st minute.

But in stoppage time, Thiago Alcantara found Sadio Mane with a clever pass. And, the Senegalese’s low cross was turned in by Henderson, only for VAR to find the narrowest of offsides. To add to Liverpool’s disappointment, key defender Virgil van Dijk suffered an injury, which forced the Dutchman out of the game in the 11th minute.

Liverpool was humiliated 2-7 by Aston Villa just before the international break, but quickly set about putting things right when Mane scored in the third minute, firing home a low cross from Andy Robertson.

The visitor suffered a blow eight minutes later when Van Dijk went down and had to be substituted after a reckless challenge from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. The host took advantage of the Dutchman’s absence and scored from a corner, thanks to centre-back Michael Keane, who headed the ball past Liverpool custodian Adrian.

The away side was on top for long stretches and Mohamed Salah restored its lead in the 72nd minute, pouncing on a clearance from Yerry Mina and drilling a drive past Pickford for his 100th goal for the club.

But Everton, determined not to lose its unbeaten record, got back on level terms when James Rodriguez sent Lucas Digne down the left. The latter’s perfectly floated cross was headed home by the leaping Calvert-Lewin.

Everton’s Brazilian forward Richarlison was sent off in the 90th minute after a wild challenge on Alcantara. Then came the VAR drama that left Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp bemused. “I have seen the disallowed goal at the end. In the picture, I saw it wasn’t offside. Can someone explain that to me?” asked the German.

RESULTS: Everton 2 drew with Liverpool 2; Chelsea 3 drew with Southampton 3.

Southampton came from behind twice to earn a 3-3 draw at Chelsea despite Timo Werner scoring two skilful individual goals for the home side, his first in the Premier League.

Southampton’s Jannik Vestergaard scored from a free-kick in injury time after an entertaining and open game of fluctuating fortunes. Werner, who joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig in June, earlier lit up Stamford Bridge with a delightful dummied goal in the 15th minute. He had another in the 28th minute when he lobbed the ball over the advancing Alex McCarthy and then headed into the empty goal.

The striker should have had a third in the 40th minute, but blazed the ball over the bar. Three minutes later, Southampton pulled one back when Danny Ings rounded goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga after Kai Havertz lost the ball deep in the Chelsea half.

Southampton kept up the attacking pressure in the second half and earned its equaliser in the 57th minute after some shambolic defending. Kurt Zouma misjudged a back pass and Kepa missed the ball which Che Adams eventually slammed into the roof of the net.

But, Chelsea took the lead immediately with a well-worked effort, the ever-busy Werner crossing for Havertz to earn his own first Premier League goal. However, it counted for little as Southampton equalised again in injury time.