Honours ended even in an action-packed 237th Merseyside derby.

Liverpool managed to draw first blood with just three minutes on the clock when Andy Robertson teed up Sadio Mane for a drilled close-range finish.

Parity was restored some quarter of an hour later as Michael Keane met James Rodriguez’s corner with a bullet header that Adrian could not keep out.

But Mohamed Salah capitalised on a poor clearance from Yerry Mina in the early second half to unleashed a powerful volley past Jordan Pickford in goal.

With nine minutes remaining, Dominic Calvert-Lewin put Carlo Ancelotti’s side back on level terms with a towering header from Lucas Digne’s left-side cross.

A fiesty encounter was further livened up in the closing stages as Richarlison was sent off for a reckless challenge on Reds midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

The visitors appeared to have snatched a stoppage-time winner when Jordan Henderson’s shot squirmed under Pickford only for it to be disallowed by VAR.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Pickford’s rashness clouds redemption

 

Jordan Pickford must dread Merseyside derbies more than most within this Everton side.

Taunts about his wingspan have emanated from across Stanley Park before, during and after them, such has been his misfortune between the sticks.

The England international’s latest outing went down in derby folklore for a very different reason after his early lunging challenge on Virgil van Dijk.

VAR saw his flawed attempt at damage limitation go unpunished due to the visitors straying offside in the build-up but the debate continued to rage.

It provided a sizeable blot on Pickford’s copybook in a game where he produced a string of impressive saves to thwart Liverpool’s persistent attacks.

Neville Southall in his peak would have been proud to call the effort Pickford clawed off his line from Joel Matip’s goal-bound header one of his own.

Unfortunately, his tackle on Van Dijk has already become the abiding memory than the efforts he kept out and will remain for years to come.

Blues finally get a rub of the green

 

Late Liverpool winners are third only to death and taxes in life’s certainties.

So when Jordan Henderson managed to get the better of Pickford from close range in front of the Park End, absent Evertonians were fearing the worst.

A potential offside decision still offered little guarantees; technology regularly conspired against the Blues last season under Marco Silva and Carlo Ancelotti.

But to the amazement of everyone inside a sparsely populated Goodison Park, referee Michael Oliver overturned what appeared to be a legitimate goal.

Between that stoppage-time controversy and Pickford’s lucky escape, the Premier League leaders may finally be getting an overdue a rub of the green.

DCL just can’t stop scoring

 

History seems written for Dominic Calvert-Lewin already this season as Everton’s no.9 simply cannot stop scoring for both club and country.

Fresh from a golden international debut, the striker found himself back among the goals and joined illustrious company in the late, great Tommy Lawton.

Scoring in all five of his opening league games puts Calvert-Lewin on par with Lawton’s feat from 1938/39, a campaign when the title returned to Goodison.

Better chances than his equaliser may have gone begging earlier in the game but there can be no disputing the quality of his headed 81st-minute finish.

A towering leap and pinpoint execution was further proof that Calvert-Lewin possesses all the tools to become one of the best homegrown marksmen.

Not that anyone who sees Everton regularly enough needed telling that.

Godfrey excels in baptism of fire

 

Rarely are Everton players handed their debuts in a Merseyside derby, especially when the select few have tended not to survive to tell the tale.

Ben Godfrey, however, can look back on his baptism of fire as the first of what is likely to be many appearances for the defender in a royal blue shirt.

Ancelotti had earmarked his new recruit for potential inclusion against Liverpool if either Yerry Mina or Seamus Coleman failed to pass fitness.

Although both started, the Everton captain’s early withdrawal saw Godfrey deputising at right-back, a position he clearly has no qualms about filling.

Vital interceptions were complimented by a burrowing one-man counter attack which left Liverpool on the back foot before squaring to Richarlison.

The Brazilian’s finesse eluded him but Godfrey’s role in the build-up capped off an impressive start which proved he will not be another Glen Keeley.