Everton 0-0 Liverpool
The irony is that Everton fans probably would have accepted this result before kick-off.
Given their heroes last tasted success in the Merseyside derby in October 2010, given that they were torn apart on their own turf seven days ago, many in the blue half of Merseyside would have settled for a draw pre-match.
Yet on reflection, they won’t need football betting backers to tell them this was a glorious opportunity missed against much-changed opponents.
Not only were the 90 minutes of live betting at Goodison Park largely tame, but aside from a couple of flashpoints, we didn’t even have a feisty affair to compensate.
There has rarely been any love lost when it comes to this fixture.
Indeed, in Premier League clashes between the two city rivals over the past 25 years, there have been 21 red cards (14 of them to Everton).
However, this was something of a bore draw.
On saying that, Liverpool should be happy with their afternoon’s work and a fine point in the middle of a heavy schedule.
Considering this was sandwiched between a Champions League double header against Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp was always likely to rest some key players.
This is, though, the strongest squad Liverpool have had for some time and they controlled long spells of the match before, understandably, tiring somewhat late on.
Confidence is key in football and the contrast between the two clubs was evident.
As early as the third minute groans could be detected from a minority of home fans, far from ideal for such a clash.
Victory would have been a perfect riposte for ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce who has unfairly been criticised by Evertonians, despite overseeing improvement since he took the helm in late November after the failed David Unsworth experiment.
But they were very much second best until applying pressure late on and, deep down, Allardyce will realise this was a great chance missed to end a run of 17 Merseyside derbies without victory (Liverpool have triumphed in eight meetings with the other nine encounters ending with honours even.)
Ultimately a day of frustration for Everton whose wait for a derby win goes on.
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