Rooney not happy after a dour derby stalemate
Wayne Rooney did not return to his boyhood club to be substituted from a Merseyside derby after 57 minutes.
But that was the fate that befell the ex-england captain as Everton manager Sam Allardyce hooked him from the field.
He certainly voiced his displeasure and snatched at his tracksuit top as he departed before the final action of this goalless game took place without him.
But Allardyce wasn’t bothered about Rooney’s reaction and insisted that Everton actually improved after their No.10 left the field.
“Our three subs gave us legs, and then a bit more quality and we started to drive Liverpool back,” he argued.
“The substitutions are my responsibility and they made a difference for us. I would hold my hands up if they made it worse, but I thought they made the team better.
“Wayne can say whatever he wants to me in the office. That’s not a problem. I would be disappointed if he wasn’t upset because he’s an Evertonian through and through.
“I wouldn’t expect him to smile and laugh and say, ‘ Well done, gaffer.’ I would expect a reaction from him and that’s fine by me.”
But despite the uplift in Everton’s performance, they couldn’t get a winner and it’s now 17 derbies since they last tasted victory over their rivals from across Stanley Park.
For Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, it was job done.
The point kept their top-four prospects ticking over, at the same time as resting half the team ahead of the Champions League second leg with Manchester City.
With this sandwiched in between those two duels with City, it was a game that needed managing and there were no injuries as Liverpool now look to see the job through with their 3-0 first leg advantage on Tuesday evening.
It wasn’t the sort of display we have come to associate from Klopp’s Reds, but he was satisfied nonetheless.
“It was a good performance, if not a brilliant one,” he said. “But it was maybe the most mature we have played since I’ve been here.
“To come here, play football and get a result and not get involved in any fights. That is a big compliment to my team, but it will not always be like this.”
Klopp opted for five changes from the side that blitzed City and he took no chances with Mohamed Salah as the Egyptian nursed his groin injury ahead of the trip to the Etihad.
The real precaution was on the bench as Klopp named three teenagers – Curtis Jones, Conor Masterson and Rafael Camacho – without a single first-team appearance between them.
Danny Ings made his first Premier League start since this same fixture on October 4 2015, in Brendan Rodgers’ final game in charge of the Reds, and Nathaniel Clyne also made his first appearance for 11 months after a long-standing back problem.
There was a rare start for Dominic Solanke, in for the rested Roberto Firmino, so there was definitely an unfamiliar look to the Reds’ strikeforce, which was shorn of around 60 goals.
The first half was a tale of two goalkeepers as Jordan Pickford made fine saves to deny first Solanke and then James Milner.
Sandwiched in between was an even better one at the other end as visiting custodian Loris Karius tipped Yannick Bolasie’s 20-yard curler behind.
Yannick Bolasie benefited from some generous refereeing by Michael Oliver, who gave the winger the benefit of the doubt when he left a foot in on a sliding Ings near the touchline.
Liverpool had controlled possession for large periods, but they lost their attacking impetus as the game ticked on after the break.
Rooney was replaced by Idrissa Gana Gueye 10 minutes into the second half, while Klopp’s first switch gave a nod to Tuesday as Milner came off to be replaced by Alex OxladeChamberlain, before Sadio Mane made way, with Firmino sent on for a brief run-out.
By this stage, Everton sensed a late winner was up for grabs and twice in the last few minutes they could have scored.
First, Turkey international Cenk Tosun headed wide of the far post when he looked certain to score and then as the ball fell to substitute Dominic Calvert-lewin, the chance of derby glory was there, but he shot wide and stalemate was confirmed.
“I’m not satisfied with a point,” said Allardyce. “We finished on the front foot and put them under a lot of pressure.
“We’re in the dressing room disappointed that we haven’t won for the fans because it’s such a long time since Everton have beaten Liverpool.”