JORDAN PICKFORD was the hero AND the villain of the piece as Everton twice came from behind to guarantee top spot in the Premier League for another week.
Pickford made three world class saves to prevent the Toffees crashing to yet another Merseyside derby defeat.
Jordan Henderson thought he had scored Liverpool’s winnerCredit: Reuters
But VAR adjudged the goal to be offside, with Sadio Mane the guilty partyCredit: BT Sport
But he should have been shown a red card after just five minutes for a horror challenge on Virgil van Dijk.
This led to the Liverpool defender limping off a few minutes later.
The Everton keeper took out van Dijk with a two-footed lunge at the far post that was every bit as bad as the shocker that saw Richarlison sent off in the 88th minute for chopping down Thiago.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin rescued a point for Everton with his seventh goal of the seasonCredit: Eddie Keogh Telegraph Media Group
It looked alike an automatic red card for Pickford too.
The incident was sent to VAR – but amazingly, they did not regard it as serious foul play, and Michael Oliver did not even book the error-prone Toffees keeper.
And after making the most of his escape by proving his brilliance as a shot-stopper, VAR came to Pickford’s rescue again.
He flapped at Jordan Henderson’s stoppage time shot, and allowed it to squirm into the net.
But Mane was controversially ruled offside before he squared the ball to his captain, and the goal was ruled out.
Virgil Van Dijk came off injured early on in another blow to Liverpool’s title defenceCredit: Reuters
Sadio Mane continued his fine start to the season by netting the openerCredit: Reuters
Mane had opened the scoring after just three minutes, smashing home a first time shot after Andy Roberston had skinned Seamus Coleman down the left flank.
But the Liverpool defence looked increasingly shaky after Joe Gomez replaced van Dijk.
And Michael Keane headed home his third goal of the season after 20 minutes.
Michael Keane powered Everton to the equaliserCredit: Reuters
Mo Salah scored Liverpool’s second after a quiet gameCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It looked like justice would be done when Mo Salah smashed home his 100th goal for Liverpool 18 minutes from time.
But another man who cannot stop scoring, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, levelled again with a thumping header nine minutes later.
That was his tenth goal of the season for the Toffees – on top of his first international goal for England against Wales.
Richarlison could have no complaints when he was sent off a couple of minutes before the end, and there was still time for that final piece of controversy surrounding Henderson’s potential winner.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
