Daniel Sturridge came off the bench to grab an equaliser as Liverpool drew 3-3 at Everton in the 221st Merseyside derby.
A see-saw encounter at Goodison Park
finished honours even, but could have
gone either way with both clubs having
chances to take all three points even after
Sturridge's 89th-minute strike.
The Toffees climb to fifth in the table,
three points behind their city rivals who
stay second.
England striker Sturridge was not deemed
fit enough to start for the Reds after
playing 90 minutes against Germany in
midweek with a dead leg.
Prior to his intervention, it appeared
Everton's Kevin Mirallas would be the
man to remember as the home side
twice came from behind.
The Belgium international may have been
outdone by compatriot Romelu Lukaku,
who scored twice in the second half, but
he had a hand in all three goals.
However, the debate will rage as to
whether he should have been on the
pitch for the last two assists for a knee-
high challenge on Luis Suarez which could
- and probably should - have seen red.
The scoring started after just five
minutes. Steven Gerrard swung over a
cross from the left, Suarez could not get
the significant touch to direct it goalwards
but it was enough to send it to Philippe
Coutinho who smashed home a shot at
the far post.
But within three minutes, Ross Barkley
somehow got to Leighton Baines' free-
kick ahead of Martin Skrtel and diverted it
to Mirallas who nipped in front of Gerrard
to stab home.
That was the boost the home side
needed and, when Lukaku raced forward
after Steven Pienaar had robbed Gerrard
on halfway, only the speed of goalkeeper
Simon Mignolet coming off his line
snuffed out the danger.
However, Liverpool regained the
advantage on 19 minutes. Fouled by
James McCarthy, Suarez picked himself up
to curl a brilliant free-kick through the
tiny gap left between the end of the wall
and Pienaar. Tim Howard appeared to
have it covered but some late spin saw it
creep in.
Mirallas then sparked what could have
been a pivotal moment when he clattered
into Suarez's right knee as the pair
challenged for the ball leaving his
opponent in a heap on the floor.
The only excuse referee Phil Dowd could
surely have had for just showing a yellow
card was that he was unsighted.
While the Liverpool striker eventually
lasted 90 minutes, Baines did not and just
after the break was substituted,
presumably injured, for the first time in
the league since 2008.
With Gareth Barry moving to left-back,
substitute Gerard Deulofeu, on loan from
Barcelona, had the chance to make
himself an instant hero after outpacing
the defence but mis-hit his shot and
Mignolet saved.
Joe Allen, starting his first Premier League
match since March, could have put the
game to bed after Suarez's dribble fell to
him with only Howard to beat but from
10 yards out he missed the target.
Mignolet was the goalkeeper who was by
far the busier and he denied Lukaku three
times as Everton pushed for the
equaliser.
However, from the last effort the Belgium
international could only parry his
compatriot's free-kick and, when Mirallas
crossed back in, Lukaku seized on
McCarthy's deflection to ram home.
Still the chances came; Howard producing
a brilliant block to keep out Suarez's
close-range header and Mignolet denying
Deulofeu.
But there was no stopping Lukaku's
powerful header from a corner - taken by
Mirallas - eight minutes from time.
That appeared to have settled it until
Sturridge nodded home Gerrard's free-
kick to level it up again.
In stoppage-time, Victor Moses headed
just wide from Suarez's cross, and
Sturridge had the ball in the back of the
net again only for the goal to be
disallowed for offside.
And at the other end, Deulofeu was again
denied by Mignolet while McCarthy's final
shot was blocked for a corner before
Dowd brought an end to proceedings.
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