Premier League: Everton 2 Liverpool 2

The Merseyside rivals shared the points after a pulsating encounter with Brendan Rodgers’ side blowing a two-goal lead.

Two early Liverpool goals – with Luis Suarez at the heart of them – left David Moyes’ team shell-shocked, but the Toffees responded superbly with Leon Osman and Steven Naismith cancelling out a Leighton Baines own goal and Suarez’s header.

Marouane Fellaini returned after recovering from a knee injury, while Kevin Mirallas replaced the suspended Steven Pienaar.

Brad Jones continued in goal for the visitors despite Pepe Reina being fit enough for the bench, with Jose Enrique starting for the injured Glen Johnson.

After a slow start the game sprang into life after 13 minutes with the visitors getting a fortuitous early lead.

Raheem Sterling appeared to be pushed over by Baines as he shaped to finish an Enrique cross, but referee Andre Marriner waved play on, and Suarez’s fierce strike across goal hit the England left-back Baines and ricocheted into the net.

The Uruguayan forward ran the risk of inflaming tensions further with a mock dive celebration in front of Moyes, who had criticised the striker for exaggerating challenges.

Suarez quickly added a second, nodding in a fine Steven Gerrard free kick with the home defence nowhere to be found.

The two-goal cushion was short-lived though – Fellaini went close with a deflected shot later, and the following corner saw Leon Osman fire the hosts back into contention.

Jones could only punch the ball to the edge of the area, and the midfielder struck in from 20 yards courtesy of a flick off of Joe Allen.

Suarez almost added another with a rasping 25-yard volley, but Everton drew level after 35 minutes. After winning a contentious throw-in, Kevin Mirallas’ cross hit Fellaini, but the tall Belgian reacted well to hook in a low ball which Steven Naismith tapped in unmarked from two yards.

Mirallas’ fine display continued as the winger almost put the hosts ahead after 42 minutes, spinning away beautifully from Wisdom but injuring himself as the shot was deflected wide. He was replaced by Magaye Gueye at the interval.

Sterling had a golden opportunity three minutes after the break following a delightful pass from Enrique, but the youngster got the attempted chip all wrong, leaving an unmarked Suarez furious on the penalty spot.

Martin Skrtel did brilliantly to deny Nikica Jelavic on the hour mark as Coleman passed in from the right after fine link play with Fellaini, and the striker could only head wide after 65 minutes following a great Baines delivery.

Gerrard could have won it for the visitors with eight minutes remaining but his drive from the edge of the area was well blocked by Jagielka, and Suarez thought he had won the game in the 93rd minute, but his finish was chalked off after a foul on Jagielka.