Liverpool missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Merseyside rivals Everton at Goodison Park
Only a victory would have seen Jurgen Klopp's side reclaim top spot from Manchester City after their win at Bournemouth, but the Reds came up short against a stubborn Everton side who took great pride in halting their neighbours' title challenge
Mohamed Salah had two clear opportunities to send Liverpool back to the summit but his touch in front of goal was characteristic of a game lacking real attacking quality
Liverpool stay second, a point behind champions City with nine games remaining
 Everton, who are now without a win against their rivals in 19 games in all competitions, remain in 10th position
This Merseyside derby was no different to the 232 that had come before, full of passion and conducted at a relentless pace, but it lacked one thing - end product
Salah fired a shot straight at Jordan Pickford on the quarter hour and it was another 15 minutes before the next chance arose
Sadio Mane released Salah through on goal, but Pickford prevailed for the second time, staying big to thwart the Egyptian's strike before Jordan Henderson's attempted rebound was blocked
Theo Walcott fired wide at the near post as Everton registered their first attempt on goal seven minutes before half-time
 Seven minutes after the break, Dominic Calvert-Lewin found the target for the first time, but his header was straight at Alisson
Liverpool responded as Trent Alexander-Arnold fired a free-kick straight at Pickford and Divock Origi pulled a shot wide at the near post, before Joel Matip released Salah through at the end of a marauding run, only for Michael Keane to nick the ball off his toes just as he prepared to pull the trigger
Roberto Firmino was introduced after the hour-mark and he almost had an immediate impact as he combined with Mane and Salah on the counter and lofted a cross to the back post, but Mane failed to find the target with a header
Fabinho spurned a gilt-edged chance to put Liverpool into the lead on 67 minutes when he opted against shooting first time after Virgil van Dijk's knockdown in the Everton area, allowing Seamus Coleman to intervene with a last-gasp challenge
Both sides pushed for a late winner, Van Dijk unable to stretched far enough to get his head on a cross into the Everton area, but there was no late drama like the reverse fixture in December, a frustrating draw handing City the initiative in the Premier League title race
"Both teams wanted to win, both teams had dangerous crosses, but we were the better team in the second half
 What I wanted to give the fans was the three points, but we gave them a good performance and desire
 We showed a good attitude and they want to see that always
 The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic
 The fans can push our team to win, not just this game but any game - they were the 12th player on the pitch
""It was a difficult game for different reasons and a wild opponent
 It was a game that was difficult to control yet we had three or four really big chances with Salah and Fabinho, I don't remember them having any chances
 We have to take the situation as it is
 We have to show stability and fight for the result
"It wasn't the result Liverpool wanted but yet another flawless performance from the Dutchman would have eased any lingering disappointment
 Everton were full of effort and energy and up for the battle as their title-chasing neighbours made the trip across Stanley Park, but Van Dijk's calming influence at the back singlehandedly kept them at arm's length as the Reds claimed a 17th league clean sheet of the season
Everton travel to Newcastle on Saturday (3pm GMT) while Liverpool host Burnley on Sunday (12pm GMT) in the Premier League
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