Liverpool were held to a drab goalless draw by Everton in a merseyside derby, the Premier League fixture sandwiched between their Champions League quarter-final ties against Manchester City.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp made five changes from the 3-0 win over City in midweek, choosing not to risk Premier League top scorer Mohamed Salah.
And, as the game wore on, he substituted midfielder James Milner and forward Sadio Mane, perhaps with one eye on Tuesday’s second leg at Etihad Stadium.
The draw meant Liverpool missed the chance to move above Manchester United into second – they are a point behind their north west rivals, who have two games in hand.
In a largely subdued first half, both home goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and the visitors’ Loris Karius were extended.
After the break, the only heated moments came when Wayne Rooney reacted angrily to being substituted, and Danny Ings and Seamus Coleman briefly clashed.
The hosts pushed hard for a winner late on, but missed four good chances as it finished honours even.
Everton, who stay ninth, have gone 15 league derbies without a win, going back to a 2-0 victory in October 2010.
Referee Michael Oliver did not book anyone, only the second time that has happened in a Merseyside derby in the Premier League.
During the post-match interviews with BBC Sport, both managers gave analysis and spoke on the outcome of the derby match.
Everton manager Sam Allardyce said while: “Dominating the last 15 minutes could have given us the opportunity to win it but we needed more legs.
“Wayne’s bound to be disappointed to be brought off in a Merseyside derby but I make the decisions and I thought we did the right thing to make those changes to give us a better chance”.
“I think when you finish the game as strongly as that and put Liverpool under pressure, you can say we’re unlucky”.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, said “A point is OK. Everton were always ready to fight but we didn’t give them the opportunity until the late stages. We stopped playing football and were a bit lucky. But that is what we have to take. I think it’s an absolutely deserved draw.
“For 75 minutes we were completely in charge. I am absolutely OK, it’s not the best day in my life, but let’s carry on. Now we have to focus immediately and be ready again on Tuesday, let’s fight for the next round.”
BBC