Goodison Park was united before kick-off as Everton fitness coach Jack Dowling received applause from all corners of the stadium — including the away end — for a mega-achievement of completing 26 marathons in 26 weeks in honour of his brother, Liverpool fan Tom.

Dowling raised more than £70,000 for Macmillan after his brother sadly passed away earlier this year, midway through the fundraiser.

Dowling was presented with a shirt from both clubs as he entered the pitch sporting his London Marathon finishers’ medal. Well done, Jack.

ROONEY BANTERS WITH CARRAGHER

Old Evertonian Wayne Rooney was the guest speaker on Sky Sports’ coverage on Wednesday night.

He had some good banter with old foe Jamie Carragher in the studio as the pair went over some old clashes in Merseyside derbies.

‘That’s a disgrace,’ they laughed about one tackle from 2000.

ONE IN THE GUEYE FOR THE REDS

Liverpool had a lack of creativity in midfield from the off — and much of that was thanks to Idrissa Gana Gueye.

The Senegalese midfielder put in a huge shift. He broke up attacks with important interceptions, hustled Liverpool’s players to give them no space and passed progressively.

SEAN DYCHE CHANGES IT UP

Sean Dyche has managed nearly 550 games at Watford, Burnley and Everton. For many he will have been suited and booted, often with a dark blazer and club-coloured tie.

He has switched up this week to a club tracksuit — he said he wanted to ‘change the feel’ around Finch Farm — and he must see it as a lucky charm.

VAR AUDIO RELEASED AT TALKS

Referees’ chief Howard Webb will hold peace talks with Nottingham Forest’s owners this week at which the VAR audio of three penalty appeals from their trip to Everton will be played to the club.

Forest requested access to referee Anthony Taylor’s conversations with VAR Stuart Attwell earlier this week after criticising the latter’s appointment for the game at Goodison Park on the grounds that he is a ‘Luton fan’ — with refereeing body PGMOL happy to oblige.

NEW ARRIVAL FOR LIVERPOOL

Good news on Wednesday in Liverpool’s camp. Dutch forward Cody Gakpo had to pull out of the squad as his wife, Noa, went into labour.

Gakpo, who this week was part of a €50million investment scheme into sports start-up firms, had his best game in a while on Sunday so he was a miss for the Reds.