Everton vs Liverpool Player Ratings

By ESPNSTAR.com staff

Liverpool looked to be coasting after an own goal by Leighton Baines and a Luis Suarez strike put them 2-0 ahead early in the first half but buoyed by the vociferous home crowd, Everton managed to draw level with both Leon Osman and Steven Naismith on target.

The Reds appeared to net the winner in injury time via the boot of Suarez but his goal was controversially disallowed for offside, which meant both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Here, ESPNSTAR.com takes a look at the players from Sunday's game at Goodison Park.

Everton

Tim Howard - 7

Liverpool were unable to really test Howard and the American international had a relatively untroubled night. He could not be faulted for the two goals he conceded and even had to bail his team out once when he made a smart save from a fierce Gerrard drive midway through the second half.

Seamus Coleman - 7

The 24-year-old right back was a very active presence in the attacking third of the pitch for his side and his constant forays forward kept Enrique pegged back, although on the flip side, he was caught out defensively on a few occasions.

Leighton Baines - 7

Baines was credited with an own goal after Suarez's fierce shot was deflected off him and into the back of the net but the England international could hardly be faulted for it given how hard Suarez struck the ball. He was overall stable in the left-back position and managed to keep the usually effervescent Sterling quiet for majority of the game.

Phil Jagielka - 8

Jagielka displayed excellent reading of the game to snuff out numerous of Liverpool's attacks before it could materialise and he was also nearly unbeatable in the air. A fantastic block late in the game to deny Gerrard's goal-bound shot was nothing short of heroic and there is no doubt the Toffees would have suffered without him in their side.

Sylvain Distin - 6.5

Distin was slightly suspect in defence and allowed Suarez to run in behind him on a few occasions but he did manage to win his fair share of aerial challenges.

Phil Neville - 6.5

The former Manchester United player used his experience to great effect in this game to marshal the Everton midfield from deep. The Toffees captain was a calming presence in midfield and was a quietly effective in his role as a defensive midfielder.

Leon Osman - 7

The 31-year-old put in a hardworking shift in the middle of the pitch and was always an available option for his team-mates both defensively and offensively. He also sparked the Everton comeback with a powerful strike from just outside the box and Moyes will be very pleased with his overall performance.

Marouane Fellaini - 7.5

Fellaini produced a typically powerful display upfront for the Toffees and kept both Agger and Skrtel on their toes throughout the game. He got himself an assist after his low, hard cross was tapped in by Naismith for Everton's equaliser.

Steven Naismith (85' off) - 7

In the team only because of the suspension to Steven Pienaar, the 26-year-old ensured his South African's team-mate was not missed with an industrious display in midfield and capped off a decent performance with a well taken predatory goal.

Kevin Mirallas (45' off) - 8

Mirallas was undoubtedly the livewire for his side, tormenting Wisdom on the left flank throughout the game and asking all sorts of questions of the Liverpool defence. His pace, trickery and dribbling was a joy to behold and he was at the heart of everything good the Toffees did. Everton certainly suffered a little offensively when he was taken out at half-time due to injury.

Nikica Jelavic - 7.5

The Croatia international worked his socks off for the team and although he did not manage to get onto the scoresheet, he always looked a threat upfront and also helped his team out immensely defensively by not allowing Liverpool's defenders any time on the ball.

Subs

Magaye Gueye (45' on) - 5

It was always going to be a tough ask of Gueye to fill the immense boots of Mirallas but Moyes will be disappointed that the 22-year-old failed  to ask more questions of the Liverpool defence.

Bryan Oviedo (85' on) - N/A

Liverpool

Brad Jones - 5

Eyebrows were raised when Jones was selected in goal ahead of the more established Pepe Reina, who was deemed fit enough to start on the bench but not fit enough to start. However, Rodgers must have been rueing his decision after Jones' mistake gifted Everton their opening goal and the Australian looked shaky in goal thereafter.

Luis Enrique - 7.5

Enrique showed great strength to outmuscle Fellaini on numerous occasions, no mean feat given how big and strong the Belgian is. The Spaniard was also an attacking threat on the left flank and he was instrumental in Liverpool's opening goal, providing the decisive cross for Suarez to fire the ball into the back of the net. He was however, culpable for Everton's second goal as he left Naismith totally unmarked in the box to score.

Andre Wisdom (70' off) - 3

Wisdom looked really out of his depth in his maiden Merseyside derby and was constantly caught out of position. Mirallas toyed with him in the first half and the fact that Rodgers had to bring on Shelvey at half-time to offer more defensive protection for the hapless right-back spoke volumes of the 19-year-old's performance.

Martin Skrtel - 7

Skrtel looked assured in defence and was able to impose his presence on the Everton forwards. Like his defensive partner Agger, he made several important interceptions and did well to cover for the Wisdom at times and was able to mark Jelavic into making a few errors.

Daniel Agger - 7.5

Agger was once again imperious in the heart of defence for Liverpool and he was also one of the few players from his team who showed any urgency and desire to win the game, driving forward from defence with the ball and trying his best to make things happen.

Steven Gerrard - 7

The talismanic midfielder was once again the engine for the Reds but his dominance and influence waned as the game wore on. However, Gerrard's set-pieces always looked dangerous and it was from his free-kick which provided Suarez with a simple tap-in to score Liverpool's second goal.

Joe Allen - 6

The Liverpool "pass master" seemed slightly overwhelmed by the occasion and was unable to keep possession for his side as well as in previous games, although in all fairness to him, Everton worked really hard to apply pressure on him and did not allow him time and space on the ball.

Nuri Sahin (45' off) - 3

Sahin was nearly anonymous for the Reds and gave away possession too many times in dangerous positions to put his side under undue pressure. He was deservedly taken off at half-time and doubts still persist over whether the Turkish international can handle the intensity of the Premier League.

Raheem Sterling - 6

Sterling's youthful enthusiasm almost got him into trouble and could consider himself very lucky to remain on the field after several poor challenges. Offensively, the 17-year-old was quieter than usual and could not make much of an impact for the Reds. A poor miss early in the second half when one on one with Howard summed up his afternoon.

Suso (45' off) - 3

Yet another player who never really got to grips with the pace and intensity of the game, Suso was rightly hauled off at half-time after an ineffectual performance for the Reds which saw him barely touch the ball.

Luis Suarez - 8

The inflammatory comments made by Moyes about Suarez's diving in the build-up to this game certainly fired up the Uruguayan and he certainly showed the Everton manager what he thought of him with a goading celebration in front of the Toffees bench after his first goal. For a striker who has been criticised for not showing enough ruthlessness in front of goal, Suarez certainly silenced his critics with a two predatory strikes which resulted in both of his side's goals and nearly won the game in stoppage time but his effort was incorrectly ruled out for offside.

Subs

Jonjo Shelvey (45' on) - 6.5

Shelvey was brought on to shore up the Reds defence and he did what he was supposed to do well, sitting back deep and mopping up effectively in front of the Liverpool backline.

Sebastian Coates (45' on) - 6.5

Coates had several nervy moments (especially against Fellaini) after coming on but generally did not do too badly in this game and was more than a match for Gueye.

Jordan Henderson (70' on) - 5

There are many who do not foresee a future for Henderson at Liverpool and he did nothing to dispel that notion with yet another mediocre display.