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Date: 10 December 2017 Times Telegraph Echo December 10 2017 Guardian Mirror BBC Opposition: Everton Competition: League Independent Mail Wasteful Liverpool have themselves to blame Wayne Rooney penalty earns Everton unlikely derby point at Liverpool Jurgen Klopp knew the question was coming and, equally, everyone knew the Jürgen Klopp turned on the referee, his assistants, the media and even a member answer he was going to give. of Everton’s press team over the penalty that cost Liverpool victory in the 229th There had been no Philippe Coutinho from the start for Liverpool, no Roberto Merseyside derby. Everyone appeared in the firing line for the Liverpool manager Firmino and as the 229th Merseyside derby ended in a onesided stalemate was he except those ultimately responsible for Sam Allardyce’s pre-Christmas miracle: still sure he had selected the right team? himself and his team. "I thought before the game yes," said the Liverpool manager. "After the game, Put simply, Liverpool gave victory away. The home side dominated at Anfield but still yes. Even when the result doesn't show it. We can change as much as we departed with only a point against an Everton team that came with only want when we win games. When we don't win, I take the blame. I have no containment and a draw in mind. Klopp’s team missed gilt-edged chances, gifted problem with that." Wayne Rooney an opportunity to equalise Mohamed Salah’s 20th goal of the Klopp was right and wrong. Correct in stating that the omission of his Brazilian season from the penalty spot and their manager made life easier for the local duo was not the main reason Liverpool frittered away two points against a supine rivals by resting Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino on the bench until the Everton side, but misplaced in thinking that by thrusting his hand in the air and second half. trying to take the rap he would deflect attention. Rotation resembles flawless management when it works, needless caution when The reality is that culpability lay all around. When Sadio Mane slalomed beyond it does not. Needless caution offered Everton hope of a reprieve that their Ashley Williams as if he was not there in first-half stoppage time it allowed him to performance did not deserve. Rooney seized it, emphatically converting only bear down on Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal. Everton’s second penalty at Anfield in 80 years, to the obvious fury of Klopp. Liverpool had just taken the lead through Mohamed Salah's latest howitzer, a “The guy in the Everton jacket, are you happy about your game?” asked the moment out of nothing which ended with a shot beautifully arced into the top Liverpool manager as he disputed Craig Pawson’s decision to penalise Dejan corner, and Mane had the opportunity to push the contest beyond their Lovren for a slight push on Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The guy in the Everton jacket neighbours. said he was happy with the point. Klopp, bizarrely, replied: “That’s what my To his right, and unmarked, were Dominic Solanke, Salah and Alex Oxlade- mother said when I came from school.” Chamberlain streaking into space but the Senegalese backed himself. For once, Not even Allardyce could claim he was happy with Everton’s performance. The his sight proved skew-whiff and his effort drifted beyond the post. It was to prove visitors’ lack of quality in possession “really did worry me”, he admitted, but he a turning point. had no complaints about the gift-wrapped point or a defensive display that Had he squared the ball, it would have been 2-0. There would have been no way restricted Liverpool to three shots on target. back for Everton, who had been shocking until that point (and for much of the Until Salah illuminated a chilly Merseyside afternoon with his latest touch of class, game thereafter), retreating into a defensive shell and conceding possession even the derby had been a relative non-event. Just how Allardyce wanted it. His team if there had not been a cluster of clear-cut chances for the hosts. were set up with two banks of four purely to contain Liverpool and hit Calvert- While the decision to rest Firmino and Coutinho invited pressure, Liverpool knew Lewin and Oumar Niasse with first-time long balls. But even the long ball proved a win would have seen them move level on points with third-placed Chelsea. It beyond Everton, who had all week to prepare while a makeshift team played was not the manager who failed the test. Apollon Limassol in the Europa League and Liverpool routed Spartak Moscow in What can be said with rather more certainty is that it is Klopp's coaching that the Champions League. brought Mane's chance in the first place; press high up the pitch, win the ball and Allardyce knew his team would have minimal possession – they managed only dispatch the chance. Only the last bit failed to materialise. 20% in the first half – but was understandably alarmed by how careless Everton Salah, too, glanced a header wide immediately after the break, as another were when they had it. From the kick-off Mason Holgate swept an aimless ball out opening was wastefully passed up, and for Liverpool this was back to the start of of play. By the sixth minute Jonjoe Kenny, with a free-kick, and the goalkeeper the season when they lacked a little ruthlessness and were punished at the other Jordan Pickford, with three clearances from his area, had also kicked straight into end by their opponent's first attempt. touch. Calvert-Lewin had a thankless task with such a pitiful supply, and Niasse They have only themselves to blame, yet an inquest does not need to be struggled simply to hold up play in the 45 minutes he was involved. conducted in open fury. Liverpool dominated, but for all their efforts and occasional success in getting Liverpool remain fourth in the table, will await the draw for the last 16 of the behind the visiting full-backs, they rarely troubled Pickford before Salah struck. Champions League today with interest, and are still on a good way. Allardyce’s stifling tactics were succeeding. Anfield was growing restless. Then Similarly, the penalty Wayne Rooney plundered after Dejan Lovren was punished their outstanding Egypt international changed the mood entirely. for a challenge on Dominic Calvert-Lewin could not disguise the work Sam Salah’s 13th Premier League goal of the campaign originated from a Liverpool Allardyce has to oversee. free-kick deep in the Everton half, conceding by Idrissa Gana Gueye with a foul There had been a moment just after Pickford shanked a goal-kick straight into from behind on Sadio Mané for which he was booked. The ball was worked out to touch for the umpteenth time in the first half, leaving Rooney and Allardyce in the impressive Joe Gomez, who found Salah on the edge of the penalty area. competition as to who could shake their head the hardest, that it seemed Spinning away from a weak challenge by Cuco Martina, the summer signing pertinent to wonder just what Everton had spent the past week doing. advanced into the box, cut inside Gueye and lofted a superb finish around Ashley They ended the contest having successfully completed just 101 passes, mustering Williams into the far, top corner. Pickford was left grasping at snow. only 21.3 per cent of possession, and yet that was enough to pilfer a point. Having created little, Liverpool should have put the contest beyond their rivals by Liverpool's supporters can blame Lovren for putting his hand on Calvert-Lewin's half-time. Klopp’s careful rotation policy has worked well throughout a hectic back, blame the midfield for not doing more with all the ball they had, they can recent schedule but it was not hard to imagine the havoc his team could have blame Mane and Salah. But just blaming the absence of Coutinho and Firmino wreaked with Firmino and Coutinho on from the start. Liverpool’s territorial misses the point. dominance and Everton’s meekness would have suited them perfectly. In fairness Dominic Solanke and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain worked tirelessly in their absence. They were left as bewildered as the Liverpool bench when Mané sprinted clear of Ashley Williams in first-half stoppage time and elected to shoot with the pair, and Salah, unmarked to his right. Mané dragged his effort wide and the second half followed the same pattern with Liverpool in control yet unable to find the comfort of a second goal. The misses lent an air of inevitability to Everton’s equaliser, although they had not altered their negative approach after falling behind. Rooney, on a rare foray forward, swept a long ball into the path of Calvert-Lewin. The young striker brought it under control and was running away from goal when Lovren pushed him in the back with two raised hands. It was a soft but needless shove, and Pawson had a clear view of the incident before pointing to the spot. Everton’s captain for the day steadied himself and fired the spot-kick down the centre of Simon Mignolet’s goal as the Liverpool keeper dived left. Not scoring in a Merseyside derby had always been one of Rooney’s great regrets in football. No longer. In the 229th encounter, regret belonged firmly to Liverpool and Klopp. Compiled by Graeme Riley Date: 10 December 2017 Times Telegraph Echo December 10 2017 Guardian Mirror BBC Opposition: Everton Competition: League Independent Mail BUNGLING KLOPP THROWS A STROP; Liverpool boss pays the price for Klopp rages against penalty call after Rooney saves point breaking up Anfield's Fab Four In a schoolmasterly fashion, Jurgen Klopp asked journalists for a show of hands.

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