Danny Murphy impressed by Everton after what David Moyes told players in Anfield dressing room vs Liverpool
Danny Murphy has given Everton fans a reason to be positive after what was a disappointing, narrow loss in the Merseyside derby.
Everton lost 2-1 to Liverpool, with first-half goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike proving enough for the home side.
The Toffees got a goal back through Idrissa Gueye in the second half, but could not get back on level terms despite their pressure.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was bizarrely booked for taking a quick free-kick, in what was a refereeing performance from Darren England that attracted criticism from David Moyes.
Keith Hackett told Goodison News that Iliman Ndiaye was fouled before Liverpool’s opening goal, with the Scot appearing justified for his frustrations.
Danny Murphy praises Everton structure
Moyes’ record of having never beaten Liverpool at Anfield is now extended to 23 games, but this was among the closest games the Scot has overseen there.
Everton fans might have expected a long day when Ekitike slid the ball past Jordan Pickford to make it 2-0 in the 29th minute.
But Arne Slot’s side enjoyed very few chances following the goal, with the Toffees dominating much of the action in the second half.
| Liverpool | Match stats | Everton |
| 57% | Possession | 43% |
| 11 | Shots | 9 |
| 3 | On Target | 2 |
| 1 | Big chances | 0 |
| 0.90 | Expected goals | 0.70 |
| 5 | Corners | 4 |
Gueye’s superb finish gave the visitors hope, but there was no way through the Liverpool defence in the closing minutes.
Murphy praised Everton’s response following the half-time team talk, praising the way Moyes’ side dealt with the Liverpool attack.
“To be fair to Everton in the second half, they must’ve talked about it because they were more compact,” the former midfielder told BBC Match of the Day on Saturday.
“They won more second balls, they condensed that space more and didn’t get too preoccupied with what was ahead of them, and from there they got a foundation into the game. But job done first half.”
Positives to take for David Moyes at Anfield
Whilst it will be little consolation for Moyes, there were plenty of positives for the Scot to take from Saturday’s loss.
Everton’s positive start to the season was backed up by their ability to stand up against the Premier League champions, ultimately running the Reds close.
The performances of Ndiaye and Jack Grealish were strong, whilst defensively, the Toffees restricted Liverpool to just three shots on target.
The loss marks the end of Everton’s four-game unbeaten streak, but confidence will not be knocked ahead of the trip to Wolves in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Everton news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @goodisonnews