Liverpool 1 Everton 1 : Solanke Sparkles, Lookman On The Bench

A Wayne Rooney penalty denied Liverpool all three points in a 1-1 draw, after it looked the Reds would edge their rivals in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Sunday.

Dominic Solanke made his second start of the season for Liverpool, starting upfront alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane for Jurgen Klopp's side while Ademola Lookman started was on the bench for the visitors after his heroics in the Europa League last time out.

The Reds who toiled for a breakthrough for much of it in the first period, Milner scampering into the opponent's final third to square for Solanke with eight minutes on the clock, but Ashley Williams made a timely interception to deny the young striker.

Liverpool spurned a golden chance to open the scoring again in the 28th minute, Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross towards the back post failing to meet the head of any of of his teammates before James Milner cracked a sizzling shot off Tom Davies and out for a corner two minutes later.

Salah eventually broke the deadlock three minutes before the interval, Joe Gomez finding the Egyptian with a slipped pass, with the Reds summer signing slaloming through the opposition defence, shrugging off Cuco Martina before bursting past Idrissa Gana to send a curling shot past  the outstretched arms of Jordan Pickford and into the top corner.

Six minutes after the restart, Solanke latched onto a through ball before trying cleverly to tee up Mane in the middle but Jonjoe Kenny did just enough to thwart him and stop the pass from getting to the attacker.

Liverpool continued to dominate the game in a much free rein attacking indulgence against their visitors and Salah nearly unlocked the Everton defence again, picking up a one-two pass with Mane but the final ball was disappointing as he curled his effort well over few minutes later.

Everton continued to struggle to contain the menace of the Liverpool attack, with Joe Gomez next to threaten, the fullback getting onto the end off a dangerous Salah cross from a set-piece into the box but could only direct his header wide five minutes after the hour mark.

But the Tofees were offered a lifeline to draw level from the spot twelve minutes later after Dejan Lovren had brought down Calvert-Lewin in the box, and Wayne Rooney made no mistake with his effort, blasting in down the middle to make it 1-1.

Dominic Solanke came off for Danny Ings in the 82nd minute while Ademola Lookman was confined to the substitutes bench throughout the clash.

Emmanuel Chinaza

Photo Credit : liverpoolfc.com