Honours even in Merseyside derby draw

Romelu Lukaku cancels out Danny Ings' opener Everton and Liverpool share a 1-1 draw

Danny Ings heads in Liverpool's opening goal against Everton

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Everton forward Romelu Lukaku struck in first-half stoppage time to cancel out Danny Ings’ opening goal to ensure the Merseyside derby ended in a draw for the sixth time in seven meetings.

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had made two excellent saves in the first half and the visitors capitalised on the Belgian’s interventions when Ings headed in for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

But Lukaku equalised on the stroke of half-time after a mistake from Emre Can and nothing could divide the two city rivals in a goalless second half.

There were flashpoints between the two teams in a match that certainly was not lacking in passion, even if goalmouth action was at a premium after the break.

The result means Everton extend their poor derby record; they have now won only one of their last 18 encounters with Liverpool in the Barclays Premier League.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have only one victory from their last six league outings after a performance that was low on goalscoring opportunities.

The big team news ahead of kick-off revolved around players who were not passed fit to play, as both sides named the same line-ups from their previous league matches.

Seamus Coleman and John Stones were both unavailable for Everton, while Christian Benteke did not make it back in time to play for Liverpool, who started with Daniel Sturridge after he was rested in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

Liverpool started the brighter of the two teams, Martin Skrtel off-target with a header and Ings lashing a shot narrowly over the crossbar, before James Milner forced Tim Howard into a low save after a clever one-two with Philippe Coutinho.

Everton had not produced an early attacking threat but came closest to opening the scoring when Ross Barkley's free-kick was headed towards goal by Steven Naismith, who was denied by an excellent one-handed save from Mignolet.

Mignolet was at it again with a good diving stop from James McCarthy's drive as the home side started to move into the ascendancy.

But the first goal arrived at the other end on 42 minutes. Milner's corner found Ings unmarked just three yards from goal and the forward netted with a simple header.

However, Everton mounted an instant response as Can made a poor clearance from Gerard Deulofeu's cross and Lukaku converted with an accurate low finish for his fifth BPL goal of the season.

Tyias Browning sent a header just over the crossbar as the second half started more quietly than the frantic finish to the first, while a curling effort from Barkley dropped just past the post.

The home side were looking by far the most likely to find a winner and a right-footed Lukaku shot was repelled by Mignolet.

Coutinho then cut inside and shot straight at Howard and Milner headed wide from a decent opportunity as Liverpool finally threatened, but the match finished level after a second period that failed to match the drama of the first.