The 229th meeting between these two sides was combative rather than classic as the Toffees delivered the discipline expected from a side managed by Sam Allardyce.

Although Liverpool dominated possession and had the bulk of the chances at Anfield, Klopp’s decision to leave out Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino – both were introduced as substitutes – was on the lips of frustrated Liverpool supporters as they made their way to the exits. With only two of the ‘Fab Four’ starting, they were a little off tune. 

Klopp has only selected the same team for consecutive games once this season – the first two matches of the campaign against Watford and Hoffenheim. Nevertheless, his decision to make six changes from the side which thrashed Spartak Moscow 7-0 raised eyebrows.

Was he concerned about Liverpool’s capacity to maintain their attacking intent for the whole 90 minutes? Or was it a psychological Trojan Horse, a selection to encourage Everton to show more ambition?

Either way, it backfired as Rooney converted from the penalty spot after Dejan Lovren’s daft shove on Dominic Calvert-Lewin following Mohamed Salah’s stunning opening goal.

Allardyce was the last manager to leave Anfield with a win, while in charge of Crystal Palace in April when his side came from behind to triumph 2-1.

The Everton boss could be forgiven for caution with his approach. Liverpool have scored 40 goals in their last 11 matches in all competitions before this meeting.

Everton, after all, had not won at Anfield in 18 years stretching back to September 1999 when Kevin Campbell scored the only goal of the game in a feisty derby which saw players – Steven Gerrard among them – shown red cards.

It was no shock Everton pulled down the shutters.

The start was typical of the Merseyside derbies of yore; feisty tackles, misplaced passes, no chances taken with clearances booted into row Z if required.

Liverpool looked to show the early attacking intent, with Salah and Sadio Mane eager to run at Everton’s defence, while the visitors’ two banks of four were happy to sit deep and seek to frustrate the home side.

Everton fought their corner, with Rooney using his strength to shoulder barge James Milner into the advertising hoardings to the approval of the visiting supporters. It set the tone for the Toffees.

Gylfi Sigurdsson took things a little too far and received the first booking of the contest for a late challenge which left an imprint on the ankle of Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

Allardyce, with a long black coat and customary earpiece, chewed his gum intently, happy with the start his side had made and pondering his interval team talk as a tight first half wore on.

Klopp, in tracksuit and trainers, paced more nervously in his technical area. But the German was back to his animated self three minutes before half-time with the influential Salah, Liverpool’s most effective attacking player, the source.

Salah was fed the ball by defender Joe Gomez on right flank, and with Cuco Martina going to ground too easily he cut inside on his left foot and spied a shooting opportunity.

The Egypt international dropped a shoulder to move past Gueye and then curled a sublime finish into the top corner of the net with Jordan Pickford grasping at thin air.

A moment of brilliance and Salah has now scored a remarkable 19 goals in 24 appearances for Liverpool this season.

The Reds should have been two goals ahead by the break when Mane stole possession and found himself through on goal. However, the Senegal forward dragged his shot wide when he could have given passed for a tap in.

Allardyce introduced Aaron Lennon and Morgan Schneiderlin at half-time with Oumar Niasse and Tom Davies the men to make way. Rooney shifted to a more central position.

For all his qualities Salah’s heading is perhaps not his forte, and from Milner’s cross early in the second half he headed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Liverpool’s frustration at not being able to find a second was punished when Everton were awarded a penalty with 15 minutes left after Calvert-Lewin was needlessly shoved to the ground by Lovren. It was daft from the Croatian, who always seems to have a moment of madness in him.

Rooney stepped up confidently sent Simon Mignolet the wrong way with an emphatically dispatched spot-kick.

Coutinho was belatedly introduced and brought a save from Pickford with a curling effort from a free-kick. It was too little too late and Everton held on.

Liverpool ultimately equalled their longest unbeaten run in all competitions of 15 games. That will have been of little comfort to Kopites at the final whistle.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Mignolet 6; Gomez 7, Lovren 5, Klaven 6, Robertson 6; Milner 6, Henderson 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 5 (Coutinho 78, 6); Salah 8 (Firmino 67, 6), Solanke 5 (Ings 82), Mane 6. Booked: Lovren. Goal: Salah 42. NEXT UP: West Brom (h) Wed, PL.

EVERTON (4-1-4-1): Pickford 7; Kenny 7, Holgate 6, Williams 6, Martina 5; Rooney 7 (Jagielka 83, 6), Gueye 7, Davies 5 (Lennon 46, 6), Sigurdsson 6; Niasse 5 (Schneiderlin 46, 6), Calvert-Lewin 7. Booked: Sigurdsson, Gueye, Schneiderlin. Goals: Rooney 77 pen. NEXT UP: Newcastle (a) Wed, PL.

Referee: C Pawson (South Yorkshire).