This was level 3 entertainment full of goals and fire

However, the crucial moment of the game was that Pickford apparently had his way with Van Dijk and confusion still reigned after the match as to whether a mistake had been made.

The VAR ruled that the Dutchman’s shoulder had been offside in preparation, but the new PA agency understands that video officer David Coote failed to verify a possible red card despite having the power to do so and called ‘ full verification ‘.

Had he ruled that the England goalkeeper was guilty of serious foul play, Everton would have been left with 10 men and faced a penalty against him, already behind Mane’s quick goal, which he struck at the near post from an Andy Robertson center.

If he was lucky, Everton benefited twice, as Liverpool’s defensive backbone, who hadn’t missed a Premier League minute since January 2018, was unable to continue and was replaced by Joe Gomez after 10 minutes.

His presence was greatly missed when Everton drew nine minutes later. Adrián, who had stopped Calvert-Lewin’s shot from behind, was only able to push Keane’s header from James Rodriguez’s corner towards the ceiling of the net despite putting two hands on the ball.

Pickford kept the score level with a full stop to deny Trent Alexander-Arnold before Everton suffered a defensive injury of their own when Seamus Coleman, the lone survivor of his last derby win, left with a hamstring injury. Corva to give new the signing of Ben Godfrey in his debut.

Mane scrutinized him harshly, who almost scored in a similar style to the first, but opted for the far post instead of the close one and saw the ball drift off another Robertson cross.

Both parties were celebrating anniversaries on this day – for Liverpool they marked an extraordinary five years under Jurgen Klopp, in the week of the 10th anniversary of ownership of Fenway Sports Group.

For Everton it was sadder: a decade had passed since their last derby win and five years had also passed since the death of former coach Howard Kendall.

It made sense that the second half was more of a competition, with Henderson’s half volley slightly more followed by better chances for Calvert-Lewin, who completely missed Lucas Digne’s low cross into the six-yard box, and Richarlison, who he nodded against the post.

The match needed a quality moment and it came from Salah, although it was preceded by a mistake when Yerry Mina’s weak punt fell on the Egyptian international who flew home.

Salah turned his century up in his 159th game, making him the third-fastest in three figures for the club behind Roger Hunt and Jack Parkinson, and Joel Matip nearly made it 3-1 with a powerful header that Pickford managed to stay out.

Bur Calvert-Lewin, with his 10th goal in seven Everton games, also reached a milestone of his own after becoming the first Toffees player since Tommy Lawton in 1938 to score in his first five games of a league season.

There was more drama to come when Richarlison became the 22nd red card in 57 Merseyside Premier League derbies before the VAR denied Henderson a late winner.

The point meant that Everton, who entered a derby at the top of the table for the first time since 1989, maintained their place at the top even if the winless streak against their neighbors was extended to 23 matches.