Liverpool may have to wait a little longer for their Premier League title celebrations after they were held to a 0-0 draw at Everton in the behind closed-doors Merseyside derby on Sunday.
But it could have been worse for the leaders after Tom Davies hit the post in the 80th minute for Everton, who will feel a little disappointed they didn't take full advantage of a below-par peformance from the European champions.
Juergen Klopp's Liverpool side went into the game, their first competitive match in 103 days, knowing a victory would allow them to secure their first league title in 30 years on Wednesday with a win at home to Crystal Palace.
With eight games remaining of the season which has resumed after the novel coronavirus stoppage, Liverpool need five more points to be sure of their first title of the Premier League era, unless Manchester City lose at home to Burnley on Monday.
Mike Dean was the bearded man in the middle.
There were few chances in a tight and ultimately disappointing game at Goodison Park but it was Everton, without a win over their local rivals since 2010, who came closest to taking the points.
With 10 minutes remaining Dominic Calvert-Lewin's clever flick from a low Gylfi Sigurdsson cross was pushed out by Liverpool keeper Alisson and Tom Davies' follow-up shot hit the post.
¡SE SALVA DE MILAGRO EL LIVERPOOL!@Alissonbecker atajó un taconazo de @CalvertLewin14 y después Tom Davies la estrella en el palo
Everton 0-0 Liverpool pic.twitter.com/7B5qk6pL8S— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 21, 2020
Liverpool, who left Mohamed Salah on the bench, lacked their usual potency in attack with their best opening coming in the 35th minute when Roberto Firmino screwed a shot wide from a promising position while Fabinho went close late on with a curling free-kick.
Both Klopp and his Everton counterpart Carlo Ancelotti handed players first league starts with Japan's Takumi Minamino in the Liverpool attack and 19-year-old Anthony Gordon up-front for the home side - although neither were able to make much impact.
Everton striker Calvert-Lewin felt his side should have shown a little bit more self-belief.
"We take the point but I thought there was a big chance there for us today," he said. "We had a few chances but it wasn't our day. We should have backed ourselves more in the battle."
