Everton 2-2 Liverpool: Thrilling Merseyside derby ends all square after late Calvert-Lewin goal

Calvert-Lewin rose above Liverpool's defenders to earn Everton a point
PA
Tom Doyle17 October 2020

Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his impressive start to the Premier League season with a late header to earn Everton a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in Saturday's Merseyside derby.

There was plenty of drama from the opening minutes to a frantic finale, though a point apiece was a fair reflection of a thrilling contest between Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp's city rivals.

Everton had already escaped a red card and a penalty for goalkeeper Jordan Pickford early in the first half for a knee-high challenge on Virgil Van Dijk, which ended the Netherlands captain's afternoon, but there was no VAR reprieve for the Richarlison's lunge on Thiago Alcantara with 10 minutes to go.

Jordan Henderson thought he had won it in the five minutes of added time against 10 men when Pickford fumbled his shot, but the goal was ruled out for the tightest of offside decisions against Sadio Mane.

It was another contentious decision which meant the defending Premier League champions made the short trip home aggrieved at what they perceived a failure of VAR.

Mohamed Salah put the Reds 2-1 up with 18 minutes to go with his 100th Liverpool goal only for it to be cancelled out by the in-form Calvert-Lewin with a trademark far-post leap.

Mane had put the visitors ahead in the third minute only for Michael Keane to equalise with a header midway through the first half.

Additional reporting by PA.