We watched this exact match a week ago. It annoyed then, and it annoys even more now. Like Manchester United, a point's more than good enough for the home side. A point's great, not only because Liverpool have been a better side all season long and are higher in the table and can absolutely gut you if you let them (hi Watford) but because of where Liverpool are in the table and what Liverpool could possibly achieve this season.
Keeping Liverpool from achieving that is worth far more than three points. Which is exactly how I'd feel in the same situation.
So, yeah. 0-0. Again. The fifth draw in the last seven matches. 1-1, 1-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0. Not enough shots; just ten taken today with only three on-target. The lone clear-cut chance saved, Salah taking the angle too tight to Pickford. Three last-man tackles from Everton, from Coleman, Keane, and Digne on Salah, Salah, and Fabinho.
Liverpool profligacy and an opponent defending as if their lives depended on it. As if 0-0 was a World Cup winner. Again. Can't blame 'em.
As against United, Liverpool started well enough. And as in the M62 Derby, it's a typical start for a Merseyside Derby. Blood and thunder and pressing and running and it looks like there will be goals or red cards or maybe both and then everything just ebbs away. Liverpool get frustrated, Everton get emboldened.
So many passes go awry in the final third. There are the misses and those last-man tackles, all three due as much to poor Liverpool control as fantastic Everton defending. Alexander-Arnold's crosses are nowhere near as effective today. Mohamed Salah amazingly can't control in the final third. Nor can Mané. Joel Matip's Lego Head puts a free set play header off-target. Etc. Etc. Etc.
As against United, substitutions baffle. Of course you bring on Firmino and sure, Milner for Wijnaldum makes sense I guess, but Lallana for Mané? With Shaqiri and Keïta on the bench? Unsurprisingly, the game gets worse as the game goes on, both due to Liverpool's disjointedness and Liverpool's overwhelming frustration, while Everton's subs – Richarlison, Tosun, and Andre Gomes – actually improved their side. Everton are probably the better side over the final 20 or so minutes.
Of course, that's the point where Liverpool usually win it. See: Sadio Mané in the 94th minute, Divock Origi in the 96th. But no such luck today. And, yes, I absolutely mean luck. But I also mean bad attacking and worse finishing.
Liverpool had a seven-point lead on Manchester City when they met exactly two months ago. Now, City are a point clear, in addition to their superior goal difference. And it's the goals that have done it. Those 1-1s and now these 0-0s.
Yes, there are still nine matches left. There have been nine matches since Liverpool traveled to City. A lot can happened in nine matches. But we all remember the times we've been here before. Goals drying up and too many draws ruined Liverpool title charge in 2008-09. and you can't help but worry that it's happening again.
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