Here are five talking points from Everton's goalless draw with Liverpool.
Everton miss opportunity to record long-awaited win over Liverpool in Merseyside derby bore draw
Everton missed a big opportunity to record a first victory over Liverpool since 2010 in a Merseyside derby low on quality and drama.
Jurgen Klopp made five changes to his side ahead of Tuesday's Champions League second-leg against Manchester City, but the hosts were unable to fashion the sort of quality necessary to capitalise.
Goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Loris Karius produced a number of excellent saves at 0-0 before a late charge from Everton saw Cenk Tosun and Dominic Calvert-Lewin spurn glaring chances to claim bragging rights.
Here are four things we learned from the game at Goodison Park.
Everton and Liverpool serve up dire derby fare
Perhaps, this was to be expected.
Hosts Everton, after all, came into the game off the back of a sound beating by Manchester City last weekend, while Liverpool made five changes in anticipation of Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City.
What followed was barely befitting of the Premier League, never mind a fixture as steeped in tradition as this.
For their part, Jurgen Klopp's men looked much the slicker of the two sides, even taking into account their changes in personnel.
Yet after assuming the ascendancy in the midfield thanks in large part to the impressive Gini Wijnaldum, Jurgen Klopp's men rarely looked like troubling the Blues in the final third.
Liverpool, though, at least had mitigating circumstances to fall back on.
Everton, by contrast, gave another tired, wasteful performance that showed just how far they have fallen this season.
No more was this the case than in the centre of the park, where a trio of Wayne Rooney, Morgan Schneiderlin and Wayne Rooney failed to provide any semblance of control or defensive solidity. This was hit and hope football as it's most basic, and another damning indictment of Sam Allardyce's credentials as Blues manager.
All that remains in the stands is apathy - and a growing belief that Allardyce's tenure needs to draw to close as soon as possible for the good of the club.
#EVELIV
Pickford reinforces England claims in front of the onlooking Gareth Southgate - and Karius shines too
Composed displays may have been few and far at Goodison, but two who did manage to stick their heads above the parapet were goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Loris Karius.
For Pickford, who was watched from the stands by England manager Gareth Southgate ahead of this summer's World Cup, this could not have come at a better time.
If the point-blank save to deny Dominic Solanke his first Premier League goal was good, the one to keep out James Milner's curler was even more noteworthy.
The Washington-born stopper was commanding throughout, and is surely now nailed on to take the Three Lions goalkeeping jersey in Russia.
Perhaps the standout save of the match, though, was from opposite number Karius, who magnificently tipped Bolasie's effort from range around the post. In truth, the German had no right to keep it out, such was the nature of the strike. But this only adds to the feeling that Karius is beginning to come good at Anfield.
Slowly but surely, the ex-Mainz man is now looking every inch the Liverpool keeper. A far cry from his early-season hiccups.
Given the poor football on display elsewhere, this was a game for the goalkeeper, if nothing else.
Pienaar return reminds Everton what they're missing as Bolasie frustrates
There was a spell in the first-half of Saturday's derby that more or less perfectly encapsulated Yannick Bolasie's career to date.
First, the ex-Crystal Palace man produced a stunning shot from range to test Karius, then moments later he failed to control the most basic of balls forward. A few minutes after that, Bolasie squandered possession in midfield before bringing down Jordan Henderson in a dangerous part of the pitch.
Frustratingly, that's been typical of his time on Merseyside so far.
It would have been interesting to know what former player Steven Pienaar - returning to Goodison as a newly-appointed club ambassador - made of it all.
In fact, all that Pienaar's pre-match introduction did was remind supporters of just what they're currently missing. An intelligent, technically gifted attacking midfielder during his time at Goodison under David Moyes, the South African was exactly the sort of player that Sam Allardyce's side is crying out for at present.
Blues fans would love to wind back the clock and have him back.
Certainly, current incumbent Bolasie is yet to get anywhere near emulating the fruitful left-sided partnership Pienaar developed with Leighton Baines over the years.
Double leg surgery has not helped the DR Congo winger's cause since his £28million move from south London, but there is still significant doubt as to whether he is a viable long-term option for Everton moving forward - as applause at his 61st minute substitution served to emphasise.
Solanke and Ings struggles point the way forward for Liverpool
It must be incredibly hard being Dominic Solanke or Danny Ings at the moment.
Indeed, such has been the nature of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino's achievements this season that opportunities for the likes of Solanke or Ings have become increasingly sporadic.
Not here.
Featuring in a much-changed lineup, the pair toiled during a difficult day at the office. All too often, the Liverpool attack struggled to provide any sort of platform or threat, save for Solanke's golden chance in the first-half.
Maybe, if a different player in red had been presented with the opportunity, Saturday's outcome would have been different.
Instead of impressing ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League game, what was most apparent was just how far the drop off in quality is between Liverpool's best and their rest. Salah and Firmino need not fear for their places any time soon.
At least Klopp now knows where he must strengthen over the summer if he is to follow through on this campaign of promise.
