Everton frustrated Liverpool to play out a 1-1 draw at Anfield in a game which saw attacking only from one side. The Toffees enjoyed just 21% of possession and had to stay focused, composed and defend tirelessly. No one knows how they dug a point out of this fixture, which means Sam Allardyce is still unbeaten as Everton manager.
He kept asking his players to stay in their positions and not commit too often. They held back and depended on the long ball and set pieces. Rooney’s penalty meant Everton snatched a point and as a result, the Toffees are now in the top half of the table. Here are the ratings.
Here are the ratings:
Jordan Pickford: 8.5/10
He got down really well and made a few saves look easy. He couldn’t have done anything for Salah’s strike. If not for his intelligence in goal, Everton would have been on the wrong side of the result for sure.
Jonjoe Kenny: 7/10
Kenny stood his lines, defended smartly and won aerial battles.
Mason Holgate: 7/10
Got a couple of crucial blocks in and kept his cool. His positioning got better as the game went on, which forced Liverpool into playing quicker passes.
Ashley Williams: 7.5/10
He defended neatly. Williams, characteristically, was strong in the air and sharp while defending set pieces.
Cuco Martina: 3/10
Liverpool exercised free-flowing football down his side and Martina left too much space for the wider players. For Salah’s goal too, he was awful as he went down way too easily.
Tom Davies: 5/10
He struggled to find the right places and was slow without the ball, to get back in time or read a pass. No wonder he was substituted out.
Idrissa Gueye: 4/10
Gueye didn’t allow the Liverpool attackers too much space and won possession a few times. However, he should have done better for the opening goal as Salah got past him a bit too easily.
Wayne Rooney: 8.5/10
Deployed more like a central midfielder who sways around to shield the back line. Rooney’s long balls were creative and his penalty was, well, smashed into the net.
Gylfi Sigurdsson: 6/10
He wasn’t able to release the ball quickly or pick the right pass but defensively, his contribution was vital.
Oumar Niasse: 4/10
A horror show by him. He never looked like he was in the game, right from the start.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 8/10
His hold up play in this kind of a game was impeccable. The desire to keep the ball, run at defenders and not let them have any time to pass was illustrated in the best way by the 20-year old.
Substitutes
Aaron Lennon: 6.5/10
Not too much time on the ball but kept it well and created a chance in the game. He added more spark and it was a good move by Big Sam to bring him on.
Morgan Schneiderlin: 7/10
The holding midfielder just sat back in front of the back four or five and patiently defended.
Phil Jagielka: NA
He came on just to add more defensive cover.