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LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) – VAR frustrated champion Liverpool when it was limited to a 2-2 draw in a Premier League derby with Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday after a late effort by Jordan Henderson was ruled out.
Everton remained at the top of the table with 13 points, three ahead of Liverpool, after an eventful finish in the 237 Merseyside derby.
The game was closed at 2-2 after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 10th goal of the season in all competitions brought Everton level in the 81st minute.
But in injury time, Thiago Alcantara found Sadio Mane with a skillful pass and a low cross from Senagalés was delivered by Henderson, only for the VAR to find the narrowest offside.
To add to Liverpool’s disappointment, he suffered an injury to key defender Virgil van Dijk that forced the Dutchman out of the game in the 11th minute.
Liverpool were humiliated 7-2 by Aston Villa just before the international break, but quickly set out to fix things when Mane scored in the third minute, firing home a low cross from Andy Robertson.
Liverpool suffered a blow eight minutes later when defender Van Dijk fell and had to be replaced after a reckless tackle by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Everton took advantage of the Dutchman’s absence when, from a corner, Michael Keane got up at the near post to drive a header that beat Adrian.
Liverpool were on top for long stretches and Mohamed Salah regained his lead in the 72nd minute, attacking a header from Yerry Mina and punching a drive past Pickford for his 100th goal for the club.
But Everton, determined not to lose their unbeaten record, rebounded when James Rodriguez sent Lucas Digne down the left and his perfectly floating center was directed home by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Everton Brazilian forward Richarlison was sent off in the 90th minute after a wild challenge on Thiago Alcantara.
Then came the VAR drama that left Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp baffled.
“I saw the goal disallowed at the end and in the photo I saw that it was not an offside. Can someone explain that to me?” Said the German.
(Reporting by Simon Evans, edited by Ed Osmond)
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