Everton v Liverpool - A Quick Liverpool Perspective

Everton v Liverpool A Liverpool Perspective



This was one of those days were the result is much more important than the performance, which is lucky as Liverpool were poor, once again playing football that is a shadow of the level they were at in recent years. In the early minutes, LFC failed to deal with Everton's physicality and were struggling to really create anything until after Everton had a goal disallowed. While the Toffees swarmed the man on the ball in midfield and chased and harried, Liverpool's attempts to press were disjointed, at best. At times it just consisted of one man moving himself into the general vicinity of the man on the ball, but without really putting pressure on him to make a mistake. There were rarely, if ever, enough bodies involved in the press to make it difficult and it failed to really push up onto Everton.

Liverpool's passing was generally poor, lacking precision and usually pace on the ball, making it easy to cut out even when on target. That was not aided by a real lack of movement, so often you could see a player having to roll it backwards or sideways and then scream and shout at the players in front of him to move. Defensively the team is all over the place, Virgil is setting a line which Konate is ignoring and is sometimes miles deeper and other times wandering around midfield yards in front of it. Added to that, the team does not do enough to close down crosses, allowing balls to be easily played into the box.

Most frustrating of all was the way the team seemed to settle for the draw and made little real effort to attack as the second half wore on. In fact they were time wasting and passing it slowly around at the back. Luckily Everton seemed to have the same idea and also backed off and settled for a point. Which all led to the late drama, and the most important thing - a winning goal. That made the entire 100minutes plus before irrelevant, it no longer really mattered how bad the performance was, all that mattered was that moment which killed the Everton dream and gave Liverpool the result they needed and the all important bragging rights until next season.



Everton


The Toffees started off really well, their high-intensity press and swarming of Liverpool players in midfield every time they got the ball worked and they were clearly the better team early on. Then they had a goal disallowed and made a terrible error to give a goal away within a couple of minutes, that seemed to take the wind out of their sails. Suddenly they were a bit slower to everything and they allowed the Reds a bit of time on the ball. Added to that, they also reverted to Moyesball in attack - it was lump it up to the forward and look to pick up the second balls from that. Even against a team in such poor defensive form as Liverpool, that approach was not making them many good chances.

Beto's strengths are not hold up play, he wants a ball over the top, in behind, to run onto, but the ball kept being aimed to him, making it difficult for him to do much. It is strange as Liverpool's biggest weakness at the back is Konate's positional sense, he is all over the place, and Beto's running in behind could have made good use of the space he often leaves. Though Beto did make a complete mess of the one chance he did get that way, nearly hitting the corner flag with his effort.

It was also clear to see Everton's players were tiring, after their efforts in the first half, but Moyes made just one substitution that was not forced on him by injury. From around the 60 minute mark onwards, they were crying out for fresh legs to enable them to lift their game again and close down quickly again. Instead they gradually dropped off more and more, giving space and allowing time. It was almost as if Moyes had settled for a draw, even though they were at home against a Liverpool team low in confidence. In the end, that attitude cost them.



Liverpool


Mamardashvili - made a couple of good saves, but his kicking is still worrying. Unlucky to get injured.


Jones - playing at right-back he did have a mixed game. Some good balls were mixed with loose touches, loosing the ball and failing to try and get back, making little attempt to close down players and stop crosses. He played the inverted full-back role, often popping up between the centre-backs or in central midfield, which left a lack of width for long periods of the game. Overall though, Ndiaye did not have a major impact on the game, which is a testament to him.


Konate - all over the place positionally, not aware of the opposition player for long periods, leaves gaping holes behind him as he lacks awareness of runners, and then what is he doing ahead of the Tarkowski header? On the disallowed goal he sprints a tiny distance and then stops while everyone else is still charging out, almost playing O'Brien onside because of it. He is brainless. He was badly at fault on the Everton goal, making no real effort to cut the cross out.


van Dijk - his communication with Konate is sorely lacking, he rarely makes an effort to offer himself for a pass when the keeper or Konate has the ball but he can still defend well, when he stops just backing away and instead makes a challenge. There is a reason why he is so often the player that meets a corner, at either end, his positioning is excellent still. And he can still pick up the odd goal from a set-piece, even if it takes until the 100th minute!


Robertson - right on half time fails to make an overlapping run which means Gakpo's pass ends up running out of play, the run was on for him no idea why he stopped after laying it off to Gakpo. It was the kind of run that he built his career on. In general his all-round play is showing a lot of signs of deterioration. He no longer has the same energy and clearly faded as the second half went on. It is clear that it is the right time for him to move on, but his contribution over the years has been massive. He will be sadly missed. Most of all his infectious personality will be a big loss.


Szoboszlai - he had a decent game, but there were opportunities for him to take this game by the scruff of the neck that he failed to take.


Gravenberch - awful passes, he is so much better in a deeper role protecting the defence, where the only passes he needs to make are simple, short ones.


Gakpo - great ball to Salah and a generally good all-round performance. Probably his best of the season.


Wirtz - messed up crossing chance, dwells on ball looking for some movement and so loses it, he is really struggling to impose himself on this team. He thrives on movement, but there is none.


Isak - looks lethargic, so clearly miles off fitness it is insane to keep starting him.


Salah - good finish, chased across the pitch at times, but loose touch at other times. What matters most though, is of course his goal, the first in a Merseyside Derby at the Hill Dijkinson Stadium (yes, I did crib that one from Ekitike!).


Woodman - replaced the injured Mamardashvili in 58th minute. Did well, especially for a 3rd choice keeper coming into such a huge pressure situation following an Everton equaliser.


Ngumoha - was brought on in the stead of ghost that was Isak in the 72nd minute. Lots of flash but little substance.


Mac Allister - took the place of Wirtz in the 84th minute. Probably the best thing Slot did was to not start with Mac Allister!


Frimpong - came on for Gakpo in the 84th minute. Made little impression on the game.


Kerkez - took over from Robertson in the 86th minute. Like Frimpong, he was unable to make much of an impression on the game in the short time he had.

Written by Tris Burke April 20 2026 19:08:32