VAR Denies Liverpool Derby Win, Sloppy Chelsea Held By Southampton

LONDON, United Kingdom- Jurgen Klopp was mystified as to why Jordan Henderson's late strike against Everton was ruled out by a VAR review for offside as a pulsating Merseyside derby ended 2-2 on Saturday.

Everton clung on to their unbeaten start to the season to remain three points clear at the top of the Premier League as a number of controversial calls went their way.

Jordan Pickford was lucky to escape a red card early in the first-half for a dangerous lunge on Virgil Van Dijk, which forced the Dutch captain off injured.

"There were a number of big moments in the game," said Klopp. "The only situation I saw back is the Henderson goal and I didn't see offside. The picture I saw is no offside, but it was offside because somebody decided it."

Liverpool were smashed 7-2 by Aston Villa in their last game before the international break, but the English champions started like a side keen to make amends.

Mane missed the Villa Park mauling after testing positive for coronavirus and the Senegalese showed why he was badly missed with a smart finish from Andy Robertson's cut-back to open the scoring.

"The performance was the response. I wanted to see if we stay the team (from) before even after the knock we took," added Klopp. 

"The performance was top, you could see that was a top game, a good game from both teams. We were clearly dominant against a side that is full of confidence.

"It was probably the best away game since I am at Liverpool at Goodison. In the end it's still a 2-2 for different reasons."

Frank Lampard demanded Chelsea cut out their costly mistakes after Jannik Vestergaard snatched a stoppage-time equaliser for Southampton in a dramatic 3-3 draw on Saturday.

Germany forward Timo Werner scored his first Premier League goals to put Chelsea two up in the first half at Stamford Bridge.

Danny Ings got one back for Southampton before mistakes from Kurt Zouma and Kepa Arrizabalaga gifted an equaliser to Che Adams in the second half.

Kai Havertz appeared to have spared his team-mates' blushes when the Germany midfielder restored Chelsea's lead.

But Lampard's side were denied when Southampton defender Vestergaard headed home following more poor defending in the closing moments.

Chelsea have just two wins from five league games and have already conceded nine goals, leaving Lampard to plead with his team to be more efficient at the back.

"We need to be more solid. Making individual mistakes gives other teams chances," he said.

"We are seeing lots of goals across the league and no manager is happy.

"There are attacking players in this league and maybe pre-season and lack of working time plays a part. But we have to get better at it."

Lampard was encouraged to see Werner score for the first time in the league in his fifth appearance in the competition since his move from Leipzig.

"They are great goals. The second in terms of the team was class but it is a lot to do by Timo. Those moments will come from him and other players," Lampard said.

But, as ever with Chelsea, the miscues from Zouma and Kepa underlined problems that remain unsolved at the back and could prove fatal to their chances of mounting a title challenge.

With Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy injured, Kepa was making his first Chelsea appearance in almost a month after being dropped following an error-strewn start to the season.

Kepa's latest blunder is likely to see him exiled again and Zouma may be axed as well once Thiago Silva returns.