Liverpool 1-1 Everton - Player Ratings
Liverpool hosted Everton in one of the biggest games of the weekend hoping to extend their recent run of good results. For Everton and Sam Allardyce, it was all about eking out an away result.
However, it looked as if Liverpool would run away with the game after Mohamed Salah yet again put them in the driver’s seat in the 42nd minute with a sublime effort.
The Reds continued to mount pressure on the Everton goal but failed to breach the Toffees' defence and were duly punished when Dejan Lovren was adjudged to have fouled Dominic Calvert-Lewin and boyhood Evertonian Wayne Rooney converted a penalty in the 77th minute.
Everton
Jordan Pickford - 6
Though Liverpool dominated the game, Pickford was only required to make a couple of saves. However, there was very little that he could have done to prevent the Liverpool goal from going in. Overall, Pickford was calm and collected and did not make any mistakes to keep his side in the game.
Cuco Martina – 4
To say that the former Southampton man had a tough game would be an understatement. Martina failed to contain the likes of Mohamed Salah, Dominic Solanke and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and it came as no surprise to us that a lot of Liverpool’s attacking moves originated from the right flank.
Ashley Williams – 5
The Welsh international, like Martina, had a poor game as he failed to lead his defensive troops and was guilty of offering the Liverpool attackers time and space on the ball. He looked hurried, struggled against the pace of Liverpool’s attack and largely had his partner Kenny to thank for containing the damage.
Jonjoe Kenny - 8
Jonjoe Kenny was by far the best Everton player on the pitch. The 20-year-old made several crucial blocks through the game and was also available to thwart Liverpool’s attempts on the Everton goal and it was a calm performance from the centre-back that defied his age.
Mason Holgate – 6
Another one of Everton’s young brigade, Holgate had a mixed game. While he was calm and composed on the ball, he offered very little resistance to the Liverpool attack on the right flank as they found time and space on the ball on several occasions. Perhaps his biggest moment in the game came late in the first half when he kept his head on his shoulders to not commit to a challenge on Sadio Mane.
Idrissa Gueye - 7
Gueye was perhaps the only Everton midfielder to put up a fight in the Merseyside derby. He put in an athletic shift that saw him win 4 tackles and 3 interceptions while also being tidy with his passing. While he earned himself a yellow card, he would not be too bothered as his side eked out an important point away from home.
Gylfi Sigurdsson – 5
The Iceman found it tough to leave his mark on the game as he was largely restricted to his own half. Sigurdsson completed just 7 passes through the game, failed to create any goal scoring opportunity and was largely restricted to being a spectator for a large duration of the game.
Tom Davies – 5
It was a very poor performance from Davies as he was constantly bullied around by the Reds and failed to link up well with his colleagues. His inability to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm cost his side the bragging rights in the middle of the park and it was a tough learning experience for the 19-year-old who was withdrawn at the stroke of the halftime.
Wayne Rooney – 6
Rooney was largely restricted to being a spectator due to Liverpool dominating the proceedings. However, he needs to applauded for keeping his calm to convert the penalty that came his way to register his first goal in a Merseyside derby in 5th attempt.
Oumar Niasse – 4
Niasse began the night as one of Everton’s two-man attack. However, he spent a considerable time on the left-flank and failed to put any kind of pressure on the fragile Liverpool defence and was deservedly replaced by Aaron Lennon at the break.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 6
Calvert-Lewin will be given a hero’s welcome at the Goodison Park tomorrow for it was the 20-year-old who earned Everton a penalty late in the second half to help them gain an unlikely point from the home of their fiercest rivals.
Substitutes
Aaron Lennon – 5
The England international failed to add to his side’s attacking prowess after coming on at half-time and it seems unlikely that Everton will offer the 30-year-old a new contract in the upcoming summer.
Morgan Schneiderlin – 6
Schneiderlin was brought on in a bid to add some mettle to the Everton attack and while he made his decisions wisely, he failed to add to his side’s attack.
Phil Jagielka – NA
Jagielka came on in the 82nd minute in a bid to secure Everton’s position in the game.