Everton in derby draw, Giroud saves Gunners

WAYNE Rooney’s late leveller gave Everton a 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday, while Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal also left it late to share the points with Southampton at St Mary’s.

At Anfield, Liverpool had taken the lead in the 229th meeting of the old rivals when Mohamed Salah spectacularly curled home from the edge of the penalty area in the 42nd minute.

It was the Egypt winger’s 13th goal in 12 games and 19th of season, but the Reds were unable to find a killer second in a strangely subdued Merseyside derby.

Everton kept their discipline and refused to wilt, and were awarded a spot-kick when Dejan Lovren barged over Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Rooney, who rejoined his boyhood club from Manchester United in July, claimed the first Merseyside derby goal of his career as he drilled the penalty down the middle with 13 minutes left.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp was furious with the penalty decision.

“I don’t understand why the ref is doing that – Lovren doesn’t make a challenge. If you think it is a penalty, say so,” Klopp demanded of the journalist in a tetchy television interview. “Does my opinion change anything? I only want to speak to people with a little bit of understanding about football.”

Klopp’s surprise decision to rest inform forwards Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino backfired, but the German refused to accept blame, opting to criticise Everton for a defensive display.

“Only one team is trying over 95 minutes to win it. The other team are not in our box and didn’t have a shot on target bar the penalty,” he said.

In the day’s early game, Olivier Giroud’s la st-ga sp header sa lvaged a point for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw away at Southampton.

Wenger’s side appeared destined to follow last weekend’s home loss to Manchester United with another setback when they trailed to Charlie Austin’s third-minute goal.

But France striker Giroud conjured a response with two minutes left when he directed Alexis Sanchez’s cross past Fraser Forster shortly after appearing as a substitute.

A single point, though, denied Arsenal the chance to climb into the top four.

“It was a difficult game and I felt that we paid a heavy price for a slow start. We kept going. It was a game of high intensity,” Wenger said.