Good afternoon, folks.
Fourth-placed Liverpool host tenth-placed Everton this afternoon in the first Merseyside derby of the season.
Kick-off at Anfield is at 2.15pm and we’ll keep you updated on all the significant incidents from the game, so stick with us from then.
The team news is certainly interesting. Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Firmino and Can all left on the bench for Liverpool.
📋Today's #LFC side to face @Everton... https://t.co/DdPpcB9UZ8 pic.twitter.com/xGA0CvFkTy
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 10, 2017
🔵 | Team news is in for the 229th Merseyside derby... COYB! #EFC pic.twitter.com/Tkjc0W7xV7
— Everton (@Everton) December 10, 2017
The players are out on the pitch and Anfield is rocking. Kick-off in a couple of minutes.
Kenny looks for Calvert-Lewin with a free sent into the Liverpool box but it’s too heavy.
Robertson sends a low cross into the box but it’s easily dealt with by Everton goalkeeper Pickford.
Mignolet has to rush out of goal to clear as Niasse advanced for Everton down the left.
Salah and Oxlade-Chamberlain both see efforts blocked by the Everton defence, who are having to work hard early on here.
Gomez perhaps fortunate there not to be booked for a foul on Everton’s Cuco Martina.
Oxlade-Chamberlain sends a free-kick into the Everton box but he gets far too much purchase on the ball and it comes to nothing.
Everton have got Rooney wide on the right and he’s not having any influence on the game from out there thus far.
The corner from the left is headed away by Calvert-Lewin, Everton eventually clear the danger.
The only way to describe Everton’s performance so far is to say that they’re playing very much like a team managed by Sam Allardyce.
Having said that, they are looking more comfortable defensively after a nervy start.
Good run by Salah eventually sees the ball fall to Robertson, but his effort is off target from long range.
Lovren tries something a little different by clipping one over the top but it’s gathered by Pickford. Liverpool players and supporters starting to get a bit frustrated.
Gomez finds his way through down the right after a pass by Oxlade-Chamberlain but again Everton spoil the attack.
GOAL! Liverpool 1 Everton 0 (Salah, 42)
There’s the breakthrough Liverpool deserve and who else engineers it but Mohamed Salah…
Near the edge of the box out on the right, he beats two defenders and then curls a sublime strike with his left foot into the top corner for his 13th Premier League goal of the season.
Pure class from the Egyptian.
The ball eventually finds its away to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who strikes it well on the volley but can’t get his shot on target.
Mane has just squandered a glorious chance to double Liverpool’s lead.
He beats Williams and bears down on goal with three team-mates unmarked to his right, but instead of teeing one of them up, he drags a left-footed shot well wide.
Half-time: Liverpool 1 Everton 0
That’s the break and a one-goal lead is no more than Liverpool deserve. Sam Allardyce has some thinking to do.
"The most long ball football since Wimbledon in the 80's" - @PatNevin not keen on the Big Sam effect on Everton.
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) December 10, 2017
Second half underway at Anfield. Liverpool lead thanks to the brilliance of Mo Salah.
Two changes for Everton at half-time: Schneiderlin and Lennon replace Davies and Niasse.
Early chance for Liverpool but Milner drags his shot from just outside the box wide.
Chance for Liverpool as Oxlade-Chamberlain crosses from the right but Kenny to the rescue for Everton. Williams clears the subsequent corner.
Jordan Henderson completed 60 passes in the first half, more than the entire Everton team.
A rare venture forward for Everton ends with a tame Calvert-Lewin shot going well wide.
Salah’s corner from the right is turned behind for another corner by Holgate as Lovren was set to tuck it away.
Salah engineers another corner for Liverpool. He’s wreaking havoc out on the right.
Oxlade-Chamberlain fires the ball across the face of goal but Mane is unable to make contact.
Robertson sends in a cross but it’s behind Solanke.
As dominant as Liverpool have been throughout this game, you get the feeling that they could do with a second goal just to be sure.
Gomez heads behind and it’s a corner for Everton. A rare, rare chance for Sam Allardyce’s men.
GOAL! Liverpool 1 Everton 1 (Rooney penalty, 76)
Incredible! Completely against the run of play, Everton are level.
Lovren wasn’t happy with the decision but it was certainly clumsy from the Liverpool defender as he placed a hand on Calvert-Lewin’s back when there was no immediate danger.
Rooney smashes the ball down the middle and it’s 1-1.
Jagielka comes on for Everton in place of Rooney.
Ings replaces Solanke for Liverpool.
Schneiderlin takes out Milner just outside the Everton box and Liverpool have a free-kick.
Coutinho replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 78th minute, by the way. Just spotted that the gremlins in the system ate that update.
Chance! Robertson sends a cross to the far post but it’s just a little too heavy for Firmino.
Coutinho tees up Henderson on the edge of the box but the shot is miles off target.
Full-time: Liverpool 1 Everton 1
Klopp and Lovren furious with the referee at full-time over the awarding of Everton’s equalising penalty.
It ended in a draw but it’ll feel like a win for Everton…
So it’s a 35 day gap then!
Awwwww poor Frank.
Liverpool fans in 3,2,1……
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: any kopite arsed about this needs their head checked. Best team in the world should be enjoying it we should
@ollie: you would think so, but that touchline fracas with their messiah Klopp who can do no wrong has really sent them into a spin.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: rent free buddy
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: I’m just happy out me. Don’t comment here anymore cuz it’s full of 40 year old fellas wearing jerseys with beer bellies playing Fifa and owning their personal account with Mo Salah as the profiler. (It’s ok your the real Noel). No point arguing with fans 30 odd points behind
Stop crying Frank Lampard
Much going on at the weekends Noel?
Frankie is the new moanurinho
Frank the Diva