JORDAN PICKFORD and Everton brought Liverpool right back down to earth with a gritty derby display.<br /><br />It could have been even worse for the Reds as VAR technology narrowly denied former Anfield trainee Conor Coady an opening goal with 20 minutes to go.<br /><br />And Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson did superbly to keep out a late effort by home substitute Dwight McNeil.<br /><br />But Blues 'keeper Pickford made a number of excellent saves that ultimately stopped Liverpool from following up their dramatic win over Newcastle with another victory.<br /><br />One of them was in the final minute of stoppage time, as Pickford touched Mo Salah's shot on to the post.<br /><br />Despite those chances, Jurgen Klopp’s side deserved nothing more than a point from a game that was much<br /><br />They were superior in terms of possession, but second best in most other areas in another underwhelming performance.<br /><br />Everton looked hungrier and came close to recording their first derby day win at Goodison for 12 years.<br /><br />The draw means they have now gone six games without a win at the start of the season, their worst beginning to a campaign since that 2010/11 season.<br /><br />But Frank Lampard will come away from this game the happier manager as his side showed the commitment, desire and energy they will need if they are to avoid - or win - another battle against relegation.<br /><br />Liverpool dominated the ball and territory from the start, but until late in the first half Everton had much the better chances.<br /><br />All three opportunities came from the Blues showing more desire than their opponents when play broke down.<br /><br />Debutant Neal Maupay dragged a shot badly, Alisson confidently held Anthony Gordon’s shot and then Tom Davies hit the Brazilian’s right-hand post following a Joe Gomez error.<br /><br />The Reds had struggled to create openings and Darwin Nunez, back from suspension and preferred to in-form Roberto Firmino, was underwhelming.<br /><br />But after two poor headers off target from good positions, the Uruguayan striker showed his qualities in the 42nd minute. Nunez ran the right channel and hit a fierce shot that took a deflection, only for Jordan Pickford to tip it on the crossbar.<br /><br />Luis Diaz followed up and hit the inside of Pickford’s left-hand post.<br /><br />It was a close thing, but Everton deserved to go into the break on level terms.<br /><br />Liverpool’s late late hero of Wednesday night, Fabio Carvalho, had to go off at half time after taking a knock in a foul by Amadou Onana.<br /><br />Klopp sent on Firmino to turn an already attacking line-up into something that threatened to be borderline reckless, with Harvey Elliott alongside Fabinho in a two-man central midfield.<br /><br />But being on the front foot suited the Reds. Kostas Tsimikas had a half chance and Pickford was grateful that Nunez hit a snapshot straight at him.<br /><br />Before the hour, though, the Liverpool boss took off both full backs and the game changed again, becoming really end to end.<br /><br />Virgil Van Dijk made a crucial block on a Nathan Patterson shot, but then Pickford denied Liverpool three times in quick s
