Manchester City are now in control of the Premier League title race as Liverpool were frustrated by Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
City now sit one point clear at the top of the table after Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw at the home of their local rivals.
Positives
Any threat of Everton securing their first victory over Liverpool since 2010 were thwarted by Virgil van Dijk‘s outstanding performance. He has a real chance of becoming the first defender since John Terry in 2004-05 to win the PFA Player of the Year Award.
Negatives
It looks like the pressure of the title race is beginning to set in on some of Liverpool’s players. Liverpool, particularly their front three, faltered on the big stage for the second weekend in a row. The biggest chances of the match fell to Liverpool’s main man, but it is now four games without a goal for Mohamed Salah. He squandered glorious opportunities in both halves due to poor touches when through on goal.
Manager rating out of 10
4 – Klopp opted for the same setup as the midweek thrashing of Watford, with Sadio Mane deployed up front and Salah and Divock Origi to the side of him. However, it was not working and the game called for the manager to make changes. Sixteen second-half minutes passed before he decided to bring Roberto Firmino on and shift Mane out left. There was a strong argument to make those substitutions earlier and change formation entirely. Bringing on James Milner and Adam Lallana were also questionable decisions from the Liverpool boss.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating.)
GK Alisson, 7 — Again, did not have much to do but was there in the rare moments when he was called upon. Superb concentration.
DF Trent Alexander-Arnold, 6 — Ventured forward plenty, although he did not display the delivery that earned him a hat trick of assists against Watford.
DF Joel Matip, 6 — Everton afforded him the space to go on as many awkward-looking, mazy runs as he liked.
DF Virgil van Dijk, 10 — Unsurprising to see he was the calmest man of the pitch. A colossus display from the world’s most expensive defender.
DF Andrew Robertson, 6 — Relatively comfortable defensively until Richarlison came on in the second half.
MF Fabinho, 5 — It looked like there was a clear tactic from Everton to starve the Brazilian of possession. Still managed to wriggle himself free quite often to have an impact on the game and should have scored from close range.
MF Jordan Henderson, 7 — Played the No. 8 midfield role and did it very well. An excellent response to being taken off early against Manchester United and starting on the bench in midweek.
MF Georginio Wijnaldum, 5 — As good as Wijnaldum has been this season, the positions he found himself in this game would have been more suitable for Naby Keita or Xherdan Shaqiri.
FW Mohamed Salah, 4 — He will have nightmares about this game if Liverpool do not win the title.
FW Sadio Mane, 5 — Too quiet both as a No. 9 and left-side forward. Telling that he was taken off in the 85th minute with Liverpool desperate for a goal.
FW Divock Origi, 6 — Toiled hard on the left once again, but it was no surprise that he was brought off for Firmino.
Substitutes
MF James Milner (62), 6 — Brought on to relieve a tiring Wijnaldum and it was pretty much like-for-like.
FW Roberto Firmino (62), 5 — Looked very rusty and probably still is not 100 percent fit.
MF Adam Lallana (84), N/R — A surprise to see him brought on instead of Shaqiri.