26/04 - 20:00
An eventful Merseyside derby saw Dominic Calvert-Lewin's fine start to the season continue - the Everton forward netting a late leveller in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool that was littered with contentious moments.
Liverpool took an early lead through Sadio Mané, but lost influential defender Virgil Van Dijk soon after following a dangerous tackle from Everton keeper Jordan Pickford, who escaped unpunished.
Michael Keane levelled for the Toffees, but their rivals took the lead again through Mo Salah in the second-half only for Calvert-Lewin's header to earn the hosts a share of the spoils.
Fast out of the traps
Any fears of Liverpool suffering a hangover from their 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa before the international break were quickly dispelled, as the Reds took the lead after just two minutes.
A move starting with Salah saw Andy Robertson's cross turned home by Mané to give Jurgen Klopp's side an early advantage as they flew out of the blocks.
Indeed it was all Liverpool...until a contentious incident involving Everton keeper Pickford turned the tide of the encounter.
After an error-strewn start to the season, Pickford has been under the microscope, and he was lucky to stay on the pitch after felling Van Dijk with a reckless challenge in the area. Fortunately for the England keeper and the Toffees, Van Dijk had already been flagged offside - a double whammy for the visiting Reds as their colossal centre-back was unable to continue: Joe Gomez taking the Dutchman's spot.
Back in the game
With the visitors disrupted by their defensive change, Everton found a foothold in the game - and were level on 19 minutes when defender Michael Keane headed home a James Rodriguez corner.
After the break, Everton threatened to take the lead, Richarlison hitting the post from another delicious delivery by Colombian playmaker Rodriguez.
However, Premier League champions Liverpool have often found ways to win tight games in recent seasons, and their talisman Salah looked to have earned the Reds bragging rights when he fired home, from a poor clearance by Yerry Mina, on 72 minutes.
Liverpool looked to have ridden out the storm and seemed set to control the latter stages of the game. Yet the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin had other ideas.
Fresh from scoring on his England debut, Calvert Lewin levelled the scores again on 81 minutes: the rangy striker hanging in the air to head home a Lucas Digne cross.
A couple of final twists
The action and controversy was far from over, though. First off, the game - arguably belatedly - saw a red card brandished: Richarlison receiving a straight red for an ugly tackle on Thiago.
Energised by their man advantage, Liverpool went for the jugular and looked to have earned all three points when Jordan Henderson's shot looped home after a cross from Mané. However, a VAR review determined that the Senegalese forward was marginally offside when delivering the assist - and the goal was chalked off.
The curtain game down on a breathless encounter - with Everton's perfect league start having ended. However, the Toffees remain top of the table, with Calvert-Lewin becoming the first player to score in the opening five league games of the season since Tommy Lawton in 1938/39.
FT. The 237th Merseyside derby ends all square. We remain unbeaten, but could have taken another three points here. Heads up, Blues. 👏
— Everton (@Everton) October 17, 2020
🔵 2-2 🔴 #EVELIV pic.twitter.com/0sPjokjEnC
📝 PRE-MATCH | Everton go into the Merseyside derby on the crest of a wave: four #PL wins from four and banging in goals from all angles.
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) October 17, 2020
In this article, #Playmaker's @Lucas7Robinson lists 5⃣ reasons why Carlo Ancelotti's side are flying at the mo'.
👉 https://t.co/i8NIJT2Mqf pic.twitter.com/aMLO5MFZZQ
