GOODISON PARK, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool with scoring and assisting, looking to have sent his side nine points clear at the top of the table. But a late strike from James Tarkowski, eventually allowed to stand after a VAR check, made it 2-2 deep into stoppage time.

Beto put in front, but with 15 minutes played, Liverpool leveled through an header. The Argentine broke up a counter-attack before Salah crossed for him to head home unmarked.

In a game of few chances, it was once again Salah who looked to have made the difference. He set up the first and then poked home the second, clinically grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. With so little to separate the teams, he looked to have snatched the win until Tarkowski popped up with a stunner.

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In the middle of the pitch, Mac Allister was heavily involved. On a couple of occasions, he was unfortunate to hear the referee's whistle when he nipped in. Buzzing around, he looked like a player hugely benefiting from a rest, which he got, of course, in the previous two Liverpool fixtures.

Salah and others looked refreshed after sitting out the FA Cup tie last Sunday, but the full benefit of that is likelier to be seen long term. Salah, in particular, was the man with the potential to win his side the game. Just like at Bournemouth, a close battle and a real fight required the Egyptian to step up with some quality.

Liverpool battled well but was perhaps the one who looked like he could have done with seeing a bit more of the ball. The forward, playing up top against two big center-backs who who were always going to win the aerial challenges, got a little lost.

He was in need of a bit more support, and Darwin Nunez would have been watching from the sidelines, itching to come on. When he did, he made a difference and Diaz looked much better off the left.

Alisson Becker (7). Could not really do much with the Beto opener and definitely couldn't do anything with the second. Largely uninvolved aside from that with some good distribution.

Conor Bradley (6). Battled really hard down the right flank even though not everything came off for him. Supported Salah in attack and showed the required defensive intensity. Jack Harrison ended up giving him more problems than Iliman Ndiaye had. He put everything in for an hour.

Ibrahima Konate (6). Did well aerially and seemed to be left on the ball by Everton in the main. He showed why he simultaneously isn't as good at passing as his center-back partner and also why he isn't as bad as his gangly style can sometimes suggest.

Virgil van Dijk (7). Strong in the air and played some brilliant cross-field passes into the path of Salah. He needed to lead when Liverpool was under the cosh and he marshaled his defense well. Beto got the better of him a couple of times but he got through.

Andy Robertson (6). Picked up a silly booking for kicking the ball away but he did well to manage himself after that. Jesper Lindstrom didn't cause him too many issues or get in behind that often.

Ryan Gravenberch (6). Always making himself available for the ball in the middle, he was the fulcrum around which many Liverpool attacks began early in the game. Surprisingly taken off and replaced by Curtis Jones but that must be with a big run of matches in mind.

Alexis Mac Allister (8). Scored Liverpool's first goal and set up the attack for it with a good interception. Snapped into tackles and set the tone in the center of the field. Superb.

Dominik Szoboszlai (7). Typically energetic and helped match the intensity of the game with his physical prowess. In terms of an impact in the final third, though, he was unable to offer that much. Still vital.

Mohamed Salah (8). Crossed for Mac Allister to head home in the first half and held the ball up really well, sometimes with little protection from the referee in terms of his shirt being pulled. He assisted and scored in the same game for the 40th time and showed why he should be the favorite for every individual prize going. He might just pick up a Premier League medal too.

Luis Diaz (6). Ended up coming wide to get the ball having been running around without much in the way of a sniff for the opening portion of the game. He tried but he was fighting a losing battle in the center and instantly looked much more at home down the left.

Cody Gakpo (5). A strong and direct runner down the flank normally, but he didn't thrive here. He didn't have many chances to run at his man but looked to have the beating of Jake O'Brien when he did. Taken off over Diaz, which proved to be the right call.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (6). Did well to come into the game with such intensity. That is not easy when you are a substitute in these kinds of fixtures. Defended well and played some sensational passes.

Curtis Jones (6). Booked for a late tackle almost as soon as he came on and then, of course, saw red. Like Alexander-Arnold, had to step into the cauldron quickly. What looked to be the winner came when he reacted first to Tarkowski's unnecessary clearance.

Darwin Nunez (6). Ran and ran and was involved in the second goal with a composed pass inside the penalty area. A decent cameo from the Uruguayan forward.

Kostas Tsimikas (6). Slotted in nicely at left-back and snapped into a few tackles. Sometimes willing to give away a foul when he needed to.