Alex Iwobi played full-time as Everton held Liverpool to a goalless at an eventful Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The Super Eagles player was once again handed a starting place by manager Frank Lampard and did his best in the game to ensure his side share the points with Liverpool.
Tom Davies for Everton and Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz for Liverpool also struck the woodwork in a contest that was close throughout.
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Jordan Pickford, the goalkeeper for Everton, made a superb save to deflect Nunez’s shot onto the bar.
He also made three saves to deny Roberto Firmino, a replacement for Liverpool, while Mohamed Salah again struck the post in the dying moments.
Conor Coady, a former Liverpool defender, turned in debutant Neal Maupay’s shot and appeared to have given his team the lead, but the goal was overturned after a protracted VAR review.
Alisson, the Liverpool goalkeeper, made two superb stops in addition to stopping Coady’s disallowed goal, save shots from Maupay and Dwight McNeil, whose shot was deflected toward the top corner.
He displayed great athleticism to turn Nunez’s shot on to the bar in the first half, showed great reflexes and agility in denying Firmino three times, and then pounced at his near post to touch Salah’s shot on to the post with virtually the last kick of the game.
It would have been harsh on Pickford to end up on the losing side after a performance that must rank among the finest of his career.
Even though Jordan Pickford has played flawlessly for England, he still has to contend with persistent rumors that his job is in jeopardy.
Pickford is arguing his case by putting on the best performance of his career at Everton, but manager Gareth Southgate chooses to ignore him.
Pickford was superb in this scoreless draw, making several outstanding saves to keep Everton in the game. However, there were many other aspects of Frank Lampard’s team to love as well.
The team that chased four trophies right up to the end of last season, winning the FA Cup and EFL Cup, still lacks something despite consecutive Premier League victories against Bournemouth and Newcastle United.
Even though Jurgen Klopp’s team had many opportunities here and was worried by Everton, some of Liverpool’s star players aren’t even close to being at their best.
Fabio Carvalho, who played alongside Fabinho for barely 45 minutes, and Harvey Elliott, both young players, toiled once more in the middle of the field.
Even though the woodwork and Pickford’s great acting prevented the visitors from entering three times, this was still far from their finest.
Virgil van Dijk was given a yellow card for a rough charge on Amadou Onana, and while Liverpool carried threat, they were also exposed at the back. Trent Alexander-Arnold once again disappointed before being replaced.
With only two wins and nine points—the German’s lowest point total with Liverpool after six Premier League games—Klopp will be pleased to see Diogo Jota back in action as a substitute late on. However, the overall outcome will disappoint a manager so experienced in triumph in recent years.