Everton still top after derby draw
FOOTBALL
LONDON: English Premier League leader Everton maintained its unbeaten start to the English Premier League season with 10 men yesterday after the Toffees sealed a controversial 22 draw with Liverpool, which had Jordan Henderson’s late strike ruled out.
Elsewhere, Manchester City eked out a hardfought 10 win over Arsenal, Chelsea and Southampton shared a 33 draw at Stamford Bridge and three late goals earned Manchester United a flattering 41 victory at Newcastle.
In the day’s big Mersey derby, Liverpool captain Henderson thought he had scored an injurytime winner but his strike that looped over Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was controversially ruled out for a marginal offside by the video assistant referee.
Sadio Mane, who made his return to the Liverpool lineup after recovering from Covid19, struck the opener before Everton defender Michael Keane’s 19thminute header saw the city rivals all at time.
Mo Salah restored the visiting side’s lead in the 72nd minute as he collected his
100th Liverpool goal with a snapshot volley, but Dominic CalvertLewin continued his scoring streak to salvage a point for Everton nine minutes from the final whistle.
Everton finished the match with 10 men after Richarlison was sent off late on for a challenge on Liverpool’s Spanish midfielder Thiago.
The Blues were fortunate not to have received a red card sooner, after Pickford clattered into Virgil van Dijk, ruling the Dutch defender out for the rest of the game.
Manchester City welcomed back key striker Sergio Aguero and the team’s alltime record scorer played 65 minutes in his square
halffirst match since June.
Raheem Sterling proved the matchwinner, slotting a rebound into an empty net in the 23rd minute after City midfielder Phil Foden had a shot parried away by Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Chelsea will rue another missed chance after Timo Werner netted twice to put it 20 up and fellow new signing Kai Havertz later added a third against Southampton.
But strikes from Danny Ings, Che Adams and a late header from Jannik Vestergaard earned the Saints a share of the points.
Manchester United could have been forgiven for thinking it was not its day when, after falling behind to a Luke Shaw own goal in the second minute, Bruno Fernandes missed an early penalty.
But troubled central defender Harry Maguire levelled the scores after 23 minutes before a late flurry of goals from Fernandes (86), Aaron WanBissaka (90) and Marcus Rashford (six minutes into added time) gave the scoreline a flattering look.