Liverpool denied derby win by VAR as Chelsea held in six-goal thriller
Liverpool was denied a cathartic victory against Premier League leaders, Everton, on Saturday when Jordan Henderson's late strike was controversially eliminated for offside as Chelsea shared the spoils with Southampton in a six-goal thriller.
Jurgen Klopp's champions were desperate to atone because of their 7-2 humbling against Aston Villa before the international break but had to stay for a 2-2 attract an incident-packed game at Goodison Park.
Everton stayed unbeaten this year to stay three points clear near the top of the table after a number of controversial calls went their way.
Klopp was mystified as to the reasons Henderson's goal was ruled out by VAR.
"There were a number of big moments in the game," he said. "The only situation I saw back is the Henderson goal and I didn't see offside. The picture I saw is no offside, but it was offside because somebody decided it."
Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti was delighted along with his side's performance, despite the fact that these were denied a fifth straight Premier League win.
"We competed with them," he said. "We were 1-0 down and equalized, 2-1 down and equalized. It was good to ensure that I have an excellent feeling.
"To know we can compete with the champions of the last season it offers us more confidence for future years."
Sadio Mane missed the Villa Park mauling after testing positive for coronavirus and the Senegalese showed he was badly missed, with a good finish from Andy Robertson's cut-back to open the scoring in the third minute.
The pivotal moment came when Virgil van Dijk was on the getting end of a dangerous late lunge from Jordan Pickford inside box minutes early in the overall game.
However, no penalty was awarded after a VAR review because Van Dijk has been marginally offside and Pickford was lucky to avoid a red card.
The Dutchman's towering existence was missed at the other end as Michael Keane equalized in the 19th minute.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool back front with a magnificent strike with 18 minutes to go but Dominic Calvert-Lewin headed Everton level again.
The house side was reduced to 10 men after Richarlison was displayed a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Thiago Alcantara and looked to have conceded in the dying seconds.
However, the drama did not end there as VAR deemed Mane to be offside as he provided the cross for Henderson, despite television set replays proving inconclusive.
- Chelsea drama -
Chelsea looked to maintain total control after cruising right into a 2-0 lead against Southampton at Stamford Bridge, courtesy of two goals from summer signing Timo Werner.
But a goal from Danny Ings shortly before half-time and a second-half strike from Che Adams wiped out their lead.
Frank Lampard's rallied immediately to regain the lead, Werner teeing up Kai Havertz for a neat dinked finish to create it 3-2.
But Southampton wasn't to be denied and Jannik Vestergaard bludgeoned home an added-time equalizer for Saints from a free-kick that Chelsea failed to clear.
Manchester City takes on Arsenal later Saturday after an indifferent beginning to the growing season while Manchester United will be desperate to make amends for their 6-1 hammering by Tottenham earlier this month.
Sergio Aguero returned for City for the very first time since June but Aymeric Laporte was missing from the squad, together with the injured Kevin De Bruyne.
Arsenal could actually include left-back Kieran Tierney after his amount of self-isolation because of Covid-19 protocols and new signing Thomas Partey was among the substitutes.
