Liverpool Struggle to Find Rhythm in Scoreless Derby Draw vs. Everton

Liverpool and Everton shared the spoils after running to a 0-0 stalemate in Saturday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, where a second-string Reds lineup almost succumbed late after dominating most of the Premier League clash.

Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings were two of the players drafted in place of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, but the visitors couldn't find the finishing touch despite being camped in Everton's half for long periods.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp left injury doubt Salah out of his squad altogether, with one eye on Tuesday's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City, which they lead 3-0 on aggregate.

Here are some of the main talking points from Saturday's derby duel:

Liverpool Lacking in Salah's Absence

Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo reported Salah was "winning his battle" to be fit for Tuesday's second-leg meeting against the Citizens, but his groin injury was nevertheless deemed a needless risk to feature on Saturday.

Without the Premier League's top scorer starting and Firmino moved to the bench, the Reds didn't possess the same efficacy where it counted.

Liverpool writer Joel Rabinowitz criticised replacement Solanke in particular after he missed a chance on Jordan Pickford's goal:

He started alongside Ings in attack, two of the five changes Klopp made from the side that beat Manchester City 3-0 on Wednesday, but football writer Jonny Sharples wasn't impressed with the alternatives:

Liverpool had a large majority of possession and chances at goal, and while one can't expect every option to be on Salah's level, Liverpool's attackers really should have put Saturday's fixture to bed several times over.

Toothless Toffees

It's a credit to Liverpool that they could impose themselves so confidently upon Everton away from home, but Sam Allardyce likely won't encounter any better opportunities to win a Merseyside derby at Goodison.

Klopp's guests finished with 62 per cent possession, per WhoScored.com, and the disconnect between Everton's midfield and forward line was at times all too gaping, as illustrated by the Daily Mail's Dominic King:

Save for a few late chances for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun, Everton were second-best in every area, and ESPN's Alex Shaw made a harrowing prediction for their future in this rivalry:

Wayne Rooney's withdrawal from midfield appeared to improve Everton's attacking play in the second half, but Allardyce cops some blame for a limp and uninspired display from the hosts. 

Southgate On Surveillance

One of the attendees in the picture on Saturday was England manager Gareth Southgate, who is in the final phases of drawing up his England squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer.

There perhaps weren't many who will have made too grand an impression following a tense 0-0 stalemate, especially with Solanke and Ings failing to make the most of their rare chances in Liverpool's starting XI.

MailOnline's Patrick Boyland lamented Walcott not being given more of a chance to capitalise:

Toffees stopper Jordan Pickford will have done some good to his chances of earning the No. 1 jersey in Russia following a string of saves, pulling off four in total to keep Everton level.

Everton defenders Leighton Baines, Michael Keane and Phil Jagielka will be pleased to have kept a clean sheet in front of the international coach, albeit against weakened opposition and not completely assured in their work.

Keeper Capers

Loris Karius' evolution into a reliable stopper is developing nicely, and Klopp will have been encouraged by some match-defining moments from his No. 1 on Saturday.

It wasn't long ago he and Simon Mignolet were neck and neck in their bid for a starting spot, but a superb save from Yannick Bolasie helped illustrate that the German is firmly in the lead now, per Copa90 US:

Karius' command of the Liverpool area has grown along with his confidence in dealing with opposition opportunities, raising the question as to whether the club should still invest in an upgrade this summer.