Everton Res. 0-0 Liverpool Res. 0

Neither side could find the net as they both had to settle for a point a piece as they did two weeks ago at Kirkby.

Everton’s Jan Mucha was responsible for the point with four quality saves but his opposite number Brad Jones was rarely troubled at the other end.

For the second successive week Alan Stubbs fielded a strong starting eleven including injury victims Phil Jagielka and Victor Anichebe, with Seamus Coleman and Leon Osman on the comeback trail both being involved with the first team at QPR last Saturday.

Many fans were in attendance all congregated in the Upper Bullens road stand as Everton kicked off the first half attacking the Gwladys Strret end and it was the home side that made the first threat as McFadden fed Osman who had a shot was blocked then from the rebound Coleman drove the ball outside of the left hand post.

It was the visitors who took an opportunity only four minutes later when Raheem Sterling the scorer of the equaliser two weeks ago that took off down the left cut inside the box to curl his effort past the left hand post. The opening stages had the makings of an exciting game as Liverpool started to press and Jagielka showed his Premiership experience to time a tackle and deny Kriztiak Adorjan.

On the quarter of an hour mark Seamus Coleman will have been disappointed that he never did better with his effort after Osman had played him through and really it should have been 1-0.

Mucha was called upon after racing from his line to prevent Eccleston from converting Sterling’s pass after Liverpool had broke on the counter from an Everton corner.

Everton’s defence was looking uncomfortable as Liverpool attacked with Sterling being the main threat and again Mucha was able to receive a much deserved round of applause for the save from Sterling who at this stage of the contestLiverpool should possibly have been in front.

Nearing the end of the first period Osman got into the Liverpool penalty area but applied one touch too many as Everton failed to test Jones.

Mucha’s hat trick of first half saves was complete to this occasion thwart number 7 Jesus Fernandez after full back for the blues Touray was turned inside out.

Anichebe had an appeal for a penalty turned down near the end of the period and looked frustrated not to get the decision but Referee Matthew Parry was not convinced it was.

Sterling must have been thinking it wasn’t his day watching his effort come off Mucha’s left hand post again taking advantage of the counter attack for the last piece of action before both teams retired for the interval.
A disappointing half that was played at a casual pace and only for Mucha the game could have been all over.

HALF TIME

EVERTON RES 0 LIVERPOOL RES 0

The early stages of the second half failed to offer anything of any notable worth. Osman wriggled inside the box making himself available to head just over from a Coleman cross.

Eccleston came close for the reds after breaking away quickly following Everton pressure turning his marker Browning inside out to narrowly miss the target.

Osman for the second week and was probably Everton’s liveliest outfield player was substituted on the hour under the watching eye of David Moyes and was replaced by Junior the recent recruit.

A promising Liverpool move which was instigated by Fernandez who rolled the ball with his studs to full back McLaughlin then the cross eluded the Everton back line to find Sterling in space who could only hit the side netting.

Defending for the blues was a concern as Fernandez who was guilty for selfishly adding one touch too many during Liverpool’s attacks and not for the first time eventually found Conor Coady to hammer the ball low to be met again by a two handed punch from the Slovakian international.

In the latter stages of the game Everton could only manage to force long range shots from distance from Junior and Barkley without troubling Jones as Liverpool will be wondering as to why they never got the maximum points from this mini derby but Mucha will delighted with his efforts and will take the award for the man of the match.

FULL TIME

EVERTON RES 0 LIVERPOOL RES 0

Everton; Mucha, Browning, Touray (McAleny 75), Rodwell, Duffy, Jagielka, McFadden, Barkley, Anichebe, Osman,(Junior 60) Coleman. Subs Davies (GK), Silva, Dier,

Liverpool: Jones, McLaughlin, Gomis Mendy, Sama, Wisdom, Coady, Jesus Fernadez, Roberts, Ecclesto,, Adorjan, Sterling, Subs: Ward (GK), McGiveron, Roddan,, Morgan, Ngoo