Everton 0-0 Liverpool

Roberto Martinez will be happy with a point

Everton and Liverpool played out a goalless draw as the bragging rights were shared in the Merseyside derby.

Steven Gerrard led Liverpool in what is likely to be his final Merseyside derby, but it was surprise inclusion Jordon Ibe who was the star of the show for the Reds at Goodison Park.

Liverpool started the stronger of the two teams and had a couple of chances to take an early lead. Raheem Sterling beat Joel Robles to the ball but the keeper stood tall as Sterling hit it into the side netting, before Gerrard almost took the headlines as his free-kick had to be tipped over by the Everton keeper.

The teenager Ibe was a constant threat for Liverpool down their right-hand side and he almost made a dream derby start on 17 minutes when Sterling's shot deflected into his path at the back post, but Robles was out quickly to deny him.

After Steven Naismith missed a golden chance for Everton, when he failed to make a proper connection with his head when unmarked in the box, Ibe came closer than anyone else did all game to breaking the deadlock.

He ran at the Everton back-line and had them on the retreat before hitting a powerful shot from 25 yards that moved in the air and had Robles beaten, only for the ball to smack against the post. It was so unlucky on a young star that stood out on only his second league start for the Reds.

Robles was called into action again 10 minutes before half-time as he had to keep out a curling effort from Phillipe Coutinho to ensure the scores were level at the break.

Liverpool came out on the front foot for the second half while Everton were slow to get going. The visitors were completely on top and had a couple of half-chances to score. Both fell to Sterling and both times he was denied by Robles, firstly when the keeper palmed away an angled drive and then when the keeper stood tall at his near post to keep out Sterling's shot from a tight angle.

The Reds had a stranglehold on the game and dominated the ball, but a lack of creativity and ideas in the final third thwarted them. Brendan Rodgers brought Daniel Sturridge on 10 minutes into the second half, but not even his addition could carve open a well-organised Everton defence.

Everton came into it later in the second half but they also struggled to create any real gilt-edged chances. The game looked to be petering out until a bit of handbags between Muhamed Besic and Ibe - which escalated as players from both sides got involved - sparked the crowd and the match into life.

Late substitute Rickie Lambert had a half-chance but fired straight at Robles from just inside the box, before Everton had one late opportunity to snatch all three points which what turned out to be their only shot on target of the entire game.

Ross Barkley wasn't brought on until the 85th minute but had an instant impact as he played Seamus Coleman into the box with a lovely pass. The defender's effort looked to be going towards the top corner until Simon Mignolet intervened with a diving save.

In the end it was honours even as the two rivals cancelled each other out. A draw seemed a fair result after an even game between two closely-match teams. Liverpool stay seventh in the table, while Everton sit 12th in the Premier League.