Everton 0 - 0 Liverpool

The 224th Merseyside derby ended in stalemate as
Everton and Liverpool played out a 0-0 draw at
Goodison Park.
Everton and Liverpool could not be separated on
Saturday as the 224th Merseyside derby at
Goodison Park ended in a 0-0 draw.
The visitors created more chances, and
went closest to a breakthrough when Jordon Ibe –
making only his second Premier League start –
rattled the post with a drive from distance midway
through the first half.
Steven Gerrard, featuring in what could be his final
league derby, also went close on a couple of
occasions but even the introduction of Daniel
Sturridge early in the second half could not help
Liverpool find a winner.
A tense affair threatened to boil over 12 minutes
from time when a disagreement between Muhamed
Besic and Ibe sparked a brief altercation between
the two sets of players. Referee Anthony Taylor
cautioned Besic, Steven Naismith and Jordan
Henderson before tempers were calmed.
For Everton, it was a 10th consecutive Merseyside
derby without victory in all competitions, dating
back to their last success in October 2010.
The draw leaves Roberto Martinez's men 12th in
the table with just two Premier League wins in 12,
while Liverpool are five places better off having
lost just one of their past dozen top-flight outings.
Liverpool were first to threaten in the 10th minute
when Joel Robles tipped away Gerrard's free-kick
that was heading for the top corner.
The visitors suffered a blow when Lucas Leiva had
to be withdrawn on the quarter-hour with what
looked like an injury to his left thigh. He was
replaced by Joe Allen.
Two minutes later, Raheem Sterling's deflected
shot rolled across the box and Robles had to rush
smartly across his line to deny Ibe from close
range.
Ibe went even closer in the 27th minute when he
raced forward into space and thumped an effort off
the left-hand post with Robles beaten.
Kevin Mirallas sent a free-kick narrowly wide from
30 yards at the start of the second half, although
Simon Mignolet looked to have it covered at his
near post.
Liverpool hit back with Sterling twice shooting
straight at Robles before an acrobatic
Gerrard effort was headed over the crossbar by
Naismith.
With 55 minutes gone, Brendan Rodgers brought on
Sturridge in place of Philippe Coutinho in a bid to
break the deadlock.
Everton responded with a change of their own as
Aaron Lennon, signed on loan from Tottenham on
transfer deadline day, replaced Mirallas.
With five minutes remaining there was one
final chance for the hosts when Seamus Coleman
saw his effort parried behind by Mignolet, as the
game ended with honours even.