Liverpool vs Everton Player Ratings: Blues go down 2-1 after awful first half | OneFootball

Everton were left wishing they could emulate the spirit and onus shown in the second half for the entire contest after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Anfield on Saturday.

On a bitter and rainy afternoon, the Blues were made to regret a slow start to the game as clinical strikes from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike saw Arne Slot’s side heading into the break with a two-goal advantage.

The second-half performance from David Moyes’s side was far better and Idrissa Gana Gueye scored just before the hour mark to bring the Blues back into the game. However, despite a few odd chances here and there, Everton failed to restore parity.

They weren’t helped by referee Darren England, who let a million fouls on Jack Grealish go unpunished and stopped Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Garner from taking quick free-kicks on two separate occasions in the second half.

Moyes was also guilty of making late changes and made his first substitution after halving the deficit with just four minutes left on the clock.

The expected goals (xG) battle reads 0.96 in favour of Everton, compared to the 0.95 managed by Liverpool over 90 minutes. The hosts scored twice from the only two great chances they created in the game, while Everton’s frustration in front of goal spilled over from their performance against Aston Villa.

Here are the player ratings from the first Merseyside derby of the season:

Jordan Pickford: 5

There wasn’t much to do about Gravenberch’s opener but Pickford will probably be disappointed by how the ball went between his legs for Ekitike’s goal. Everton also relied on him launching long balls to Beto for large periods of the first half, many of which weren’t accurate.

Jake O’Brien: 5

O’Brien’s defensive qualities stood out in this game as he kept both Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz quiet on his flank. Had little scope to venture forward and participate in the buildup. O’Brien was also an imposing presence in the opposition box from crosses and set-pieces and was closely followed by Milos Kerkez.

James Tarkowski: 7

Tarkowski had a gritty performance at the back and was required to make a couple of sliding tackles to thwart danger. An assured display in defence.

Michael Keane: 6

Much like Tarkowski, Keane also had a decent game and made clearances and interceptions when called upon. In the case of the goals scored by Liverpool, both Gravenberch and Ekitike exploited the space between Keane and Tarkowski with pace and elite movement and there was little either could do about it.

Vitalii Mykolenko: 4.5 (subbed off for Charly Alcaraz at 86’)

Brought into the starting lineup after missing the last few weeks due to injury, Mykolenko didn’t exactly look fit and ready. He had a torrid time facing Mohamed Salah in the first half and was guilty of not getting close to the Egyptian, allowing him to lob the ball for Gravenberch’s first goal.

Idrissa Gueye: 6

The veteran midfielder scored with a thunderous finish to bring Everton back into the game. Idrissa Gueye also had a great chance in the first half from a Dewsbury-Hall cutback but failed to connect properly with his left boot. He had an improved performance in the second 45.

James Garner: 7

James Garner was a towering presence in midfield once again, especially in the second half, and helped his side regain and keep possession on several occasions.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 5

The summer signing from Chelsea had a decent chance to score in the first half after being played in behind by Grealish but skied his shot. He had some positive moments here and there but was largely a passenger in his first Merseyside derby.

Iliman Ndiaye: 6 (subbed off for Tyler Dibling at 86’)

Despite trying his best, Iliman Ndiaye struggled to get going in the first half and was often isolated and overcrowded on the right flank. He had a better second-half performance and made the smart move to tee the ball off to Gueye for the Everton goal.

Jack Grealish: 7

Grealish was a constant threat for Everton down the left flank and was not helped by the referee allowing physicality on him going unpunished on several occasions. He fed a lovely ball to Dewsbury-Hall in the first and it was Grealish’s deep cross that led to Gueye scoring for Everton. His crosses were particularly threatening in the second half and required special attention from the Liverpool defenders.

Beto: 3 (subbed off for Thierno Barry at half-time)

The hoof it to Beto and hope approach rarely works and Moyes’s side were guilty of a passive approach for the first half hour. Beto was hardly involved in the game, and neither did he press the opposition centre-backs well nor win any of his duels against them when scrapping for the ball. Was subbed off at half-time.

Substitutions

Thierno Barry: 5

Had a better showing than Beto, which isn't saying much to be honest.

Charly Alcaraz: N/A

Tyler Dibling: N/A

Reader Comments (37)

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Nicolas Piñon 2 Posted 20/09/2025 at 16:09:19

Pickford 5O'Brien 4½Tarkowski 6Keane 5½Mykolenko 4½Gana 6Garner 7Dewsbury-Hall 5½Grealish 6½Ndiaye 6Beto 3

Barry 4½

Moyes 3: once again, against a tired team, no changes when the match asked for them and he has the players available.

Mike Powell 3 Posted 20/09/2025 at 16:32:29

I thought Keane played well, and Grealish was the best player by a mile.

Awful first half, we were better when Beto went off. The ref was woeful.

Shaun McGough 4 Posted 20/09/2025 at 16:36:24

Grealish 9 and surprisingly Keane 8.

Beto is on a minus especially after Villa last week.

Proud but poor first 30 minutes. Red Shite playing for time in the last few minutes at home! Through thick and thin.

Mick O'Malley 6 Posted 20/09/2025 at 17:10:01

Anthony agreed, I thought Mykolenko done okay, especially considering he's been injured recently.

Mike Gaynes 7 Posted 20/09/2025 at 17:22:17

Wow. Vehement disagreement with some of these ratings.

I'd give Gana a 9 out of 10. He was everywhere with big, important tackles to prevent RS chances -- I credited him for preventing two more clear opportunities in the first half -- and that was a top-class finish.

Totally agree with Anthony #1 on Myko -- just off an injury layoff, he did another fine job on the best winger in the world. 7 for me.

At least a 6 for O'Brien, who did a shutdown defensive job on the other flank. Nobody got past the guy. Just needs to learn to lift his crosses.

And I'm not buying the 7 for Tarkowski at all. Yes, he had two superb saving tackles, but to me they were both necessary because he reacted late to obvious danger. I don't blame him and Keane for not being able to keep up with the pace of kids like Gravenberch and Ekitike, but the move for the second goal in particular could have been better anticipated.

Julian Exshaw 8 Posted 20/09/2025 at 17:38:03

The first half was truly awful; it was like being back in September 2024! What exactly was the plan for that first half?

It is so frustrating watching us sometimes; the back passes to Pickford, the hoof forward knowing that there is a 1 in 10 chance that we'll regain possession from it. The full-backs, good defenders as they are, are simply not suited to the modern game, they don't 'bomb forward' in football parlance.

There is very little creativity coming from centre-midfield, there's is nothing spontaneous; it's always the predictable wide ball out to Grealish. There is still a lack of pace. It all seems so stale.

That all being said, in the second half, we were the better side and I thought they looked quite average and not as dynamic as they were under Klopp. Moyes should have made the last changes earlier, I mean, what can you expect the subs to do to do in 5 minutes?

First half 2/10. Second half 7/10.

Mike Gaynes 9 Posted 20/09/2025 at 17:54:26

Julian #8, agreed, lack of pace is still this team's biggest weakness. Grealish and KDH bring quality, but not speed. We just couldn't keep up in the first half.

Jay Harris 10 Posted 20/09/2025 at 19:48:49

I thought Keane was guilty of ball-watching for both goals. On the second one he let Ekitike run in behind him and Tarkowski had to come across to try and block but was too late.

Keane has been a big improvement this season but we continue to leak goals with him in the side. Hurry back, Jarrad, we need you.

I thought as a team we bottled it for the first half hour, standing off them and giving them too much room to play. As we grew into the game, confidence grew and with some luck and better goal scoring ability, could have had that game.

Never mind... January isn't far off.

Peter Moore 11 Posted 20/09/2025 at 20:19:48

When in truth they have an expensive and accomplished team, league champions, at home and on a winning streak; why did we allow them so much time and space on the ball in the first half?

They were right on us every time we had the ball. That basically gifted them the game. Another wasted opportunity. Plucky fightback, yes, but too little too late.

Moyes needed to instill more belief, confidence and footballing aggression in the lads from the first whistle. It's like we played with an inferiority complex until we had nothing to lose as the game was gone already.

I like Moyes overall, but it's a massive weak spot in him to seemingly have damage limitation as his first priority in games away at top sides.

Fortune favours the brave.

Andy Meighan 13 Posted 20/09/2025 at 21:29:44

If Branthwaite plays, we don't concede that 2nd goal, I truly believe that.

His return can't come quick enough. Keane has done okay but lacks pace and awareness, and away we leak goals with him in the side.

Mike Morgan 17 Posted 20/09/2025 at 21:39:30

I think after years of going into games like this and hoping to get a 0:0 that Moyes was progressive today.

There were a number of times we pressed with 5 players up field, trying to trap Liverpool in their area. In the old days, we would have had 9 men standing on the edge of our area.

It's a horrible fixture, history shows this. I think we are making progress; a natural scorer and a proper right-back would be the next steps.

I wonder what Calvert Lewin thinks, given the number of chances being created.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Definitely much better than recent seasons.

Andrew Merrick 18 Posted 20/09/2025 at 21:55:26

Mike 9

Illy gives us improvised speed of change, Jack gives us craft, both give us intelligent creative football, Kdh, Alcaraz, Rohl, Garner and Gana give us an enviable mid.

So what didn't work today?

The answer is somewhere in why did we start so poorly, was it the managers tactical direction, was it the players lack of belief, or was it that Liverpool got at us so effectively for the first quarter?

Probably a bit of each.

The officiating didn't help us much, but we could have been more proactive in game management, which I feel puts the onus more on the management than the players.

But here we are, for the most part playing like a proper team, so far ahead fom the start of this year, the questions for Everton are where to look in the next transfer window, the other questions are for the governing bodies of our beautiful game..

John Pendleton 20 Posted 20/09/2025 at 23:07:39

Yes, Robert, Kopite love-in in full flow.

We never got a mention.

Andy Crooks 21 Posted 20/09/2025 at 23:10:39

I like Beto's attitude but, for me, he is like Rondon without the silky touch, pace and guile.

Kieran Kinsella 22 Posted 20/09/2025 at 23:26:00

I guarantee if we'd signed Beto for the same money from the RS or Glasgow Rangers, nobody would be defending him.

I get the “you get what you pay for” argument, but the “he's not rubbish” argument makes no sense. But bias always comes into it.

People let Tom Davies get away with murder for years cause he was “one of us”. If Mykolenko was Russian, he wouldn't have been given the benefit of the doubt either. Rubbish is rubbish.

Jakob Herd 23 Posted 21/09/2025 at 00:47:12

People on here giving Beto a 2 or 3 should be ashamed of themselves and I wonder if they were watching the same game as I was?

I would have rated him between 0 and ½ for his contribution. He simply can't read the play, has no first touch and no sense of position.

We have three very good creative players playing behind him and he just doesn't have a clue where any of them are or what they may produce at any time.

Gone in January, I hope.

Mike Gaynes 24 Posted 21/09/2025 at 01:48:49

Andrew #18, those are all great. No denying the improvement in depth, skill and quality in our midfield.

But the simple fact is that, at every position, the RS players are faster than ours, sometimes dramatically so -- Szoboszlai, Salah, Gravenberch, Ekitike and Kerkez are among the paciest players in the world at their positions. (Frimpong, who didn't play today, is reportedly the fastest defender on earth.)

They used that speed to cut us up for the first 30 minutes today, with our own fastest player (Branthwaite) desperately missed.

Nicolas Piñon 25 Posted 20/09/2025 at 02:01:17

We were better than in previous seasons but they played mid-week. Don't know what would've happened in the first half if they didn't do so...

We need Branthwaite and a good striker to make real progress.

26 Posted 21/09/2025 at 02:31:13

That's the first really high quality side we've played this season.

It exposed all sorts of known weaknesses and, frustrating though this is, it's not unexpected:

• Without Branthwaite we lack pace and mobility at centre-back. That negatively impacts the defensive and attacking positioning of the team. It's a massive weakness not just because Branthwaite is good, but because we just can't play the same way without him.

• Without a new right-back we can't manage that weakness by playing the more mobile O'Brien at centre-back.

• Our full-backs are very limited and, though our wide attacking players are skilful, we lack pace and quality on the flanks. Although they have their moments, our full-backs would be strong candidates for the worst pairing in the Premier League. This is even more the case from an attacking perspective.

• All of the three things makes it much harder to counter atttack — and also to carve out chances when dominating possession. Being both slow and immobile in defence (and therefore necessarily deep) creates space between the lines for fast, mobile and skilful opponents.

• Beto isn't very good. He can score goals and make physical nuisance of himself but he's not a good footballer. Barry isn't an especially polished footballer either. Strikers with technical ability and decent physical attributes cost a lot more than the small sums spent on Beto and Barry.

So ultimately there isn't some magic tactical shape or approach that can overcome these things. It's a huge disadvantage, especially when you come up against a well drilled team with such squad depth and quality.

The stats don't lie. Moyes does offer meek resistance against the top clubs away especially the RS but this one isn't on Moyes tactically.

Branthwaite back in the side fixes a lot of these issues. A new quality and fast right-back fixes other issues. The remainder of the issues get resolved with each £100M that can be spent on better players, especially better quality strikers and wing forwards.

Today's game for me shows why Moyes should be able to over perform our way to the Top 10 and maybe as high as 8th. But also why we're unlikely to make Europe. Ultimately, the lack of quality and structural problems create a glass ceiling that can only be broken through recruitment (and expensive recruitment at that).

Ernie Baywood 28 Posted 21/09/2025 at 04:22:36

Every goal we concede has someone blamed. I think with those goals, it's a bit unfair — they were very good goals set up and finished by some very good players.

As was ours.

I thought Keane was very good. And relative to his ability and pace, he was probably outstanding. He was isolated one-on-one repeatedly and dealt with the threat well.

Jake did a very good job defensively, but every now and then, the lack of quality really shows up. Same for Mykolenko. They're gutsy, they're committed, but they are not quality full-backs.

Beto doesn't warrant a rating for me. He's so far out of his depth. His crowning achievements were being presented with a similar chance to Gravenberch and failing to even judge where the ball was going, and the 10-yard pass to him that he controlled with a 12-yard touch.

I'm hoping, and I believe, that the dragging of Beto at half time was a sign that Moyes is done with him. No opportunity was given to lift his game as everyone else got — there was no point.

Our two deeper midfielders played really well... but I can't get over the nagging doubt that we might be able to do better. If we're a lower midtable side then they'll be fine. If we want to go further then we need some proper quality in midfield to help control games.

We're very early in what is hopefully a period of investment and improvement in the team. It's a lot to expect this side to match that opposition.

Matt Smith 29 Posted 21/09/2025 at 05:24:05

I started watching the game in the 2nd half and, when I saw Barry, I thought Beto had not started. I thought Barry didn't look great and thought Beto should come on in the last 10.

Little did I know… I now wonder if we should have kept Calvert-Lewin with Barry as understudy? But, then again, I think he had gone stale at Everton. But Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall may have given him a new lease of life.

Anyway, it's a bit of a mess the way it worked out.

Alan J Thompson 30 Posted 21/09/2025 at 07:08:20

I suppose it is possible and just needs rephrasing as to how a player can be isolated and overcrowded at the same time, of course, one is by us and the other by them.

Now would be a good time for Everton to show if they've grown a spine and balls and challenge the yellow cards especially Dewsbury-Hall's,; Grealish's after-the-game card, and why Ndiaye was carded but not the opposition for similar and repetitive challenges, and why the rules allow for play to continue instead of a set-piece but quick free kicks aren't allowed.

Derek Knox 31 Posted 21/09/2025 at 09:18:59

Alan J, firstly I totally agree with your comments, but we see this almost every week, mainly with Liverpool, regardless of who they are playing. It is definitely time for all affected teams to make a complaint.

If we do it singly, pound to a pinch of the brown stuff, we will no doubt incur all refs' (aka, as bent bastards) wrath in future matches.

Rob Williamson 32 Posted 21/09/2025 at 09:23:13

Robert #19..

I thought MotD showed a good example of BBC balance.

Murphy drooling about how good Liverpool were... and then Rooney offering his views on how bad Everton were.

That's balance, isn't it??

Shane Pamplin 33 Posted 21/09/2025 at 10:22:10

Proud of the fight the boys put up after going 2-nil down.

Please get rid of Beto.

Dean Johnson 34 Posted 21/09/2025 at 10:28:05

In non "I hate the shite" terms, we nearly got a result at one of the best teams in Europe.

Our problems are obvious but surely, the priority is a striker.

We have never been so shit up front, and we keep making decisions to bring in increasingly worse impostors.

Can we look in the academy? No, coz they're full of League One crap.

I hope The Friedkin Group appreciates this no-win situation we're in and somehow changes the narrative

Mike Powell 35 Posted 21/09/2025 at 10:32:46

I hope Beto never plays again, he is truly awful.

Kirk McArdle 36 Posted 21/09/2025 at 10:50:38

With Beto being subbed at half-time, then I think Moyes feels the time is running out for him.

Barry was better but the only thing of real meaning he done was fouled Allison on a looping ball.

Thoughts on playing Ndiaye up front with Dibling on the right instead? Without a 6'-4" or 6'-5" target man to lump it up to, then maybe a bit more build-up from the back too.

Mike Powell 37 Posted 21/09/2025 at 10:56:41

I never watch MotD, hate the love-in with the RS.

It's supposed to be neutral, but we all know it's anything but!

Mark Murphy 38 Posted 21/09/2025 at 11:06:23

The live feed I had on yesterday credited the Liverpool fans with a loud rendition of “Marching down the Goodison Road”!And Jim Beglin was in full biased flow.

Every red going to ground was a clear foul and every blue went down at the slightest vague hint of contact.

It's gone beyond parody.

Ian Jones 39 Posted 21/09/2025 at 11:24:30

Going against the popular view, I seem to remember we got most decisions in the last Everton v Liverpool Goodison game and possibly the previous Goodison derby too.

On a sad and serious note, off topic. Saw Matt Beard, ex Liverpool women's manager has died at 47. No mention of illness. His son (or stepson) has tweeted a message which infers he may have taken his life. Very sad for his family and all who knew him.

Mike Doyle 40 Posted 21/09/2025 at 11:26:24

Kirk #36,

Having just bought him, I expect Barry will at least be given a run of games to see what he can contribute.

I raised, on another thread this week, the idea of trying a formation that did not include an orthodox centre-forward... perhaps the best recent example being our neighbours using Salah, Mane and Firminho to great effect.