Mohamed Salah (C) warms up before the English Premier League
football match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in
Liverpool, north west England on October 17, 2020. (Photo by
Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)
Liverpool were denied a cathartic victory against
Premier League leaders Everton by VAR and Chelsea drew 3-3 with
Southampton on another day of breathless drama in the English
top-flight on Saturday.
Manchester City beat Arsenal 1-0 as Pep Guardiola got the better
of former assistant Mikel Arteta, while misfiring Manchester United
prepared to take on Newcastle in the late kick-off.
Jurgen Klopp’s champions were desperate to atone for their 7-2
mauling against Aston Villa before the international break but were
forced to settle for a 2-2 draw after Jordan Henderson’s late
strike was chalked off for offside.
Everton, who have not beaten Liverpool since 2010, remain three
points clear of their Merseyside rivals at the top of the table
after a number of controversial calls went their way at Goodison
Park.
But Klopp was mystified that Henderson’s potential winner in
added time against 10-man Everton was ruled out for a barely
perceptible offside decision against Sadio Mane.
He was also at a loss to explain how Everton goalkeeper Jordan
Pickford had not been dismissed and had not conceded an early
penalty for a knee-high challenge on Virgil van Dijk.
“There were a number of big moments in the game,” said a baffled
Klopp. “The only situation I saw back is the Henderson goal and I
didn’t see offside. The picture I saw is no offside, but it was
offside because somebody decided it.”
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti was delighted with his side’s
performance, even though they were denied a fifth straight Premier
League win.
“We competed with them,” he said. “We were 1-0 down and
equalised, 2-1 down and equalised. It was a good test and I have a
good feeling.
“To know we can compete with the champions of the last season it
gives us more confidence for the future.”
Sadio Mane, who missed the Villa Park mauling after testing
positive for coronavirus, put Liverpool ahead in the third
minute.
But the pivotal moment in the match came when Van Dijk was on
the receiving end of a dangerous late lunge from Pickford inside
the box minutes later.
However, no penalty was awarded after a VAR review because Van
Dijk had been marginally offside and Pickford was lucky to avoid a
red card.
The Dutchman was substituted and his towering presence was
missed at the other end as Michael Keane equalised in the 19th
minute.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool back in front 18 minutes from time
but Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted his 10th goal of the season to
pull Everton level again.
Richarlison was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle
on Thiago Alcantara in the 90th minute and Everton were grateful
for the intervention of VAR in the final seconds.
Thiago Alcantara (C) warms up before the English Premier League
football match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park in
Liverpool, north west England on October 17, 2020. (Photo by
Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)
Chelsea drama
Chelsea looked to be in total control after cruising into a 2-0
lead against Southampton at Stamford Bridge, courtesy of new
signing Timo Werner’s first Premier League goals.
But a goal from Danny Ings shortly before half-time and a
second-half strike from Che Adams wiped out their lead.
Frank Lampard’s side rallied immediately to regain the lead,
Werner teeing up Kai Havertz for a neat dinked finish to make it
3-2.
But Southampton were not to be denied and Jannik Vestergaard
bludgeoned home an added-time equaliser for Saints from a free-kick
that Chelsea failed to clear.
Lampard said his side had to tighten up at the back after
conceding three goals for the second time this season.
“We are seeing lots of goals across the league and no manager is
happy” he said.
“I don’t know why it is. There are attacking players in this
league and maybe pre-season and lack of working time plays a part.
But we have to get better at it.”
City returned to winning ways after an indifferent start to the
season, courtesy of a first-half goal from Raheem Sterling.
Aguero drove forward and fed Phil Foden on the left, with the
England midfielder cutting in to shoot. Bernd Leno could only parry
his effort, which fell kindly for Sterling to sidefoot home.
-AFP