London (AFP)

Well helped by the video refereeing, Everton stood up to their neighbor and rival, the English champion Liverpool (2-2), on Saturday during the 5th day of the Premier League, while Chelsea, who led 2-0, broke late in the match against Southampton (3-3).

- Liverpool still feverish -

After four wins in four matches, Everton confirmed their excellent start to the season with a draw in the Merseyside derby.

This poster, fought over in a city facing England's toughest anti-Covid-19 restrictions, could have tipped over to the Reds' side in the very last seconds if the video arbitration (VAR) had not canceled a Jordan Henderson's goal for an unclear offside.

Carlo Ancelotti's handsome Everton were led twice but did not deserve to lose, especially after a better managed second half.

Still leader, but under the threat of Aston Villa (4 points but with two games less), Everton can envisage the continuation of the championship with ambition, in particular thanks to the Colombian James Rodriguez who seems to have found his best level after several difficult seasons. at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Liverpool, yet second, remains feverish, especially defensively.

After conceding 7 goals at Aston Villa two weeks ago (a first since 1953), the Reds have conceded their twelfth and thirteenth goals in five league games this season, as many as the promoted West Bromwich.

The exit on injury of the essential Virgil Van Dijk, from the 11th minute, did not help, particularly in the air sector.

Jürgen Klopp's nervousness in a post-match interview was also significant.

The draw at Everton (1st, 13 pts), the fourth in a row at Goodison Park, prevents Liverpool (10 pts) from coming back up to the Toffees at the top of the standings.

- Chelsea show their limits -

Three days before the reception of Sevilla in the Champions League, Chelsea also showed their limits, also defensive, during the reception of Southampton at Stamford Bridge, ended in a prolific draw (3-3).

With the absence of his new goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, injured in the right thigh during the gathering of the Senegalese selection, Chelsea coach Frank Lampard had to establish Kepa, the most expensive goalkeeper in history (recruited for 80 M EUR) but author of several blunders in the London cages.

And it was the Spanish goalkeeper who, while the Blues were leading 2-1, made another mistake by letting a ball slip into his area and then, after a first misfire from Che Adams, failed to grab of the ball, allowing the Southampton striker to dribble it and equalize.

The visitors, again led a few minutes later, came back to score again in the very last minutes thanks to a goal from Jannik Vestergaard.

By collecting just one point at home, the Blues have to settle for sixth place in the standings, 5 points behind leader Everton.

Frank Lampard nevertheless retains two reasons for satisfaction: with a double at the start of the match and a goal per hour, respectively, the club's star rookies, the Germans Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, have unlocked their counter at Chelsea.

The fifth day continues at the end of the afternoon with the Manchester City-Arsenal clash (16:30 GMT), followed by the trip from Manchester United to Newcastle (19:00 GMT).

© 2020 AFP