Everton, Liverpool draw 1-1
LIVERPOOL: Everton and Liverpool drew 1-1 on Sunday in the Premier League to keep Brendan Rodgers unbeaten in Merseyside derbies but still struggling to get his Reds properly firing.
Liverpool went ahead in the 41st minute after James Milner’s corner saw Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard stuck to his line and Danny Ings left unmarked to head home from four yards.
Liverpool characteristically let its lead disappear when Emre Can blasted Gerard Deulofeu’s cross at teammate Martin Skrtel and Romelu Lukaku reacted quickest to fire home in first-half stoppage time. Everton dominat- ed the second half but couldn’t clinch the win at Goodison Park.
The Toffees have 13 points, one more than midtable Liverpool, from eight games.
ADVOCAAT STEPS DOWN LONDON: Dick Advocaat has stepped down as head coach of Sunderland, the Premier League strugglers announced on Sunday.
Advocaat, 68, was appointed last March and successfully steered Sunderland clear of relegation, but they have made a poor start to the current campaign and sit second-bottom with three points from eight games.
“I want to thank everyone who has stood behind me,” Advocaat said in a statement released by the club. “This is a very special football club, with so many great people, but I feel it is the right time to do this — not for me, but for the club. I have made the decision to go after only eight games as I felt it was important to give everyone time turn things around — like we did last year.”
The experienced Dutch coach announced his departure from Sunderland at the end of last season, following a 0-0 draw at Arsenal that secured the club’s top-flight status and left him in tears. He reversed his decision in June, signing a new one-year contract, but Sunderland have made a dismal start to the season and Advocaat hinted after Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to West Ham United that he had decided to leave the Stadium of Light.