Everton 1, Liverpool 1: First Thoughts

Everton 1 Lukaku 45+1'
Liverpool 1 Ings 42'

• Pre-match thoughts: It's another Premier League game that looks like a pivotal one for Brendan Rodgers' future at the club. Liverpool were unchanged from the side that beat Aston Villa last weekend, but Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke were absent due to injury. Jordan Rossiter, who earned a place on the bench, was the local presence in the squad.
  
  
• The game was open in the early ten minutes with lots of space on Goodison Park pitch for both sides that prioritised width early on. Martin Atkinson was determined to ensure the derby wasn't a stop-start one, and the opening twenty minutes were fairly entertaining with an impressive tempo.
  
  
• Chances in first 30 minutes: an early chance for Sturridge made by Škrtel, a dipping shot from Ings that went over the bar, a few threatening Everton passes that were intercepted at the death, Milner forcing Howard into action at his near post, and a header from Naismith that forced a wonderful reaction save from Mignolet.
  
  
• Liverpool managed to negate much of Everton's threat by denying the home side the ball with nearly 60% possession.
  
  
• Another stone cold stunner from Mignolet to deny James McCarthy's stinging 20-yard strike. The Belgian goalkeeper keeps Everton at bay once again.
  
  
• Liverpool went ahead with a Danny Ings header from a James Milner corner. The defending from Everton wasn't great, but at least Liverpool didn't suffer from set piece maladies. Oh! Romelu Lukaku equalises after rotten Liverpool defending. 
  
  
• Half-time thoughts: Liverpool's dogged work was undone by disastrous defending. Roberto Martínez will be unhappy with how his side defended for Ing's goal. Liverpool need Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge.
  
  
• Everton started with confidence in the second half, which was unsurprising considering how they ended the first half with a late equaliser.
  
  
• The possession swing from 30 minutes to the hour mark was quite drastic and in Everton's favour. Liverpool began to struggle to contain Everton's attacks. Ross Barkley flashed a shot wide on 65 minutes, and four minutes later, Mignolet was called into action once again to deny a fierce Lukaku shot that was straight at him.
  
  
• The pace and direct running of Aaron Lennon, who came on for Deulofeu on the right, helped Everton push Liverpool back. Adam Lallana came on for Danny Ings with fifteen minutes to go.
  
  
• Arouna Koné on for Steven Naismith. Lucas Leiva replaced by Joe Allen to prevent a second yellow for the increasingly reckless midfielder.
  
  
• From 60 to 85 minutes, thee wasn't much in the way of ideas or entertainment as both sides ran out of steam. Everton seemed to find some impetus in the last five minutes with Barkley on the ball. Liverpool seemed to settle for a draw.
  
  
• Full-time thoughts: A draw. Rodgers remains undefeated in the Merseyside derby with a trip to Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.
  

We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.