London (AFP)

Saved by video arbitration, Everton made a level playing field with their illustrious neighbor, the English champion Liverpool (2-2), during the fifth day of the Premier League, which allows Carlo Ancelotti's men to keep the lead of the rank.

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

The derby, contested 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 refereeing (VAR) had not canceled a Jordan Henderson's goal for an unclear offside.

"In the image I saw, there is no offside. But it was offside because someone decided it," summarized Jürgen Klopp, the coach of the Reds.

Carlo Ancelotti's training was led twice but did not deserve to lose, especially after a better managed second period.

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

"It's frustrating but, in more general terms, we get a point and we continue to build," reacted Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the match, at the microphone of the channel BT Sport.

- Release of Van Dijk -

Liverpool, which is provisionally second, struggles to regain its flamboyance from last season.

After conceding 7 goals at Aston Villa two weeks ago (a first since 1953), and two more this Saturday, the best defense in Europe of the last two seasons no longer displays the same serenity.

Jürgen Klopp's team made a perfect start to the match with a goal from Sadio Mané in the 3rd minute.

But the exit of Virgil Van Dijk on injury, after ten minutes of play, following a shock with the goalkeeper Everton Pickford, destabilized the defense, often dominated then in the aerial duels, in particular on the two equalizations (Michael Keane in the 19th, then Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 81st).

In the meantime, Mohamed Salah had scored against the run of the game (72nd), in the middle of a second period where the Reds seemed particularly slow, even exhausted, compared to their usual standards.

Difficulties that Jürgen Klopp did not recognize.

"We dominated against a team full of confidence and with a clear plan," the 53-year-old German manager told BT Sport.

"It was probably our best away game since I came to Liverpool" in 2015, he added.

Matchday 5 continues on Saturday afternoon, with a major Manchester City - Arsenal (16:30 GMT).

A victory for the Gunners, 6th, would allow them to overtake Liverpool.

© 2020 AFP