16 conclusions as the Goalkeepers Union wins the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool

Everton and Liverpool played out a goalless draw in the Merseyside derby, a game won by two outstanding goalkeeping performances.

1. No sooner has the transfer window closed for the summer than the next round of fixtures is upon us, and this weekend kicked off with a Merseyside derby that couldn’t provide any goals, but will provide both Frank Lampard and Jurgen Klopp with plenty to think about.

Local derbies are different. Struggling teams can find inspiration from out of nowhere, while red-hot favourites can find themselves freezing under the intensity of the atmosphere.

And on this occasion, both times deserved a point, and it says a lot for the gap that has opened up between the two clubs in recent years that this represents progress for one of the teams and a cause of concern for the other.

2. This year’s Goodison Park Merseyside derby marked an ominous anniversary for Everton. On the 6th November 1982, almost 53,000 people packed in for the annual Merseyside derby, and what followed was calamitous, from an Everton perspective.

Ian Rush had already put Liverpool a goal up when Glenn Keeley, making his debut for the Toffees after arriving at Goodison Park on loan from Blackburn Rovers, was sent off for pulling Kenny Dalglish back as he ran through on goal.

Liverpool went on to win 5-0, with Ian Rush scoring four times, Keeley never played for Everton again, and the whole disaster was played out for the nation on that night’s Match of the Day.

Considering Everton’s dismal start to the season and Liverpool having picked up a little pace after a stuttering start, there will have been many expecting this lunchtime derby to end in a very similar way.

3. If you have to replace a shithouse, maybe it’s best to replace them with a shithouse. Everton were never going to be able to get a direct replacement for Richarlison, but the arrival of Neal Maupay from Brighton does continue their trend for having a player with the ability to wind up the opposition, if nothing else.

And Maupay brought about the best chance of the opening 20 minutes, a low ball across the six-yard area that an attack with more experience of playing together would likely have finished off.

On days like this, Goodison Park can be a place with an atmosphere bordering on frantic, and the sound of the crowd increased by several decibels with this close shave.

4. It is also worth remembering that sometimes, a player not leaving a club can be as galvanising as a new player…