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Liverpool found themselves in a real battle during the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday evening.
Finally playing their game in hand after more than two months, the Reds had the chance to go nine points clear in the Premier League table with a win.
Things did not start well for Liverpool, though, with Everton keen to take advantage of a hostile atmosphere at Goodison.
And just as they did last season, the Toffees got themselves into a first-half lead.
This time it was Beto who delivered for Everton, sliding in between the Reds defence a little too easily to fire beyond Alisson Becker.
As spotted by Ally McCoist on commentary for TNT Sports, though, the goal was an incredibly fortunate one from Everton’s point of view.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
It was a terrible way for Liverpool to start Wednesday’s game.
Nobody was alert for Jarrad Branthwaite’s quick free-kick and it was far too easy for Beto to finish.
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However, there was certainly an argument that the free-kick should never have been awarded in the first place.
It was Iliman Ndiaye who won it, ghosting away from Alexis Mac Allister and going to ground.
READ MORE: Luis Diaz’s dad spotted in amongst Liverpool supporters during the Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park
But replays showed that there was clearly no contact made from Mac Allister on the Everton man.
Watching it back after the fact, McCoist agreed that Liverpool had a right to be aggreived.
“They’ve got a point there,” said the co-commentator.
There was no contact here whatsoever.
Surprise surprise.
“I think when you slow it down it doesn’t look like there’s much contact but we see these free-kicks given on a weekly basis,” said former Everton captain Phil Jagielka.
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