Everton 2-2 Liverpool player ratings: Derby debutants Rodriguez and Thiago sparkle


While the latest edition of the Merseyside derby ended in a fourth consecutive draw between the sides at Goodison Park, the match was packed with more drama and indeed quality performances than the previous three combined.

EVERTON - 6.52

Jordan Pickford: 6.97 - Incredibly fortunate to get away with what now seems a customary moment of madness for Everton with a horrendous challenge on Van Dijk. Produced great saves from Alexander-Arnold and Matip but shouldn't have been on the pitch to make them.

Seamus Coleman: 6.21 - Beaten too easily by Robertson for Liverpool's opener before being forced off early through injury. Ben Godfrey: 6.71 - Replaced the Everton captain and adjusted to the pace of the game out of his favoured position well on debut.

Yerry Mina: 5.30 - Some strong challenges throughout the game but a performance that will be remembered for a weak clearance that Mo Salah punished.

Michael Keane: 7.52 - Headed home his third goal of the season to level the scores in the first half and was positioned well all game, completing four clearances.

Lucas Digne: 7.84 - Typically superb delivery from the left-back, who hung up a superb cross in each half for Calvert-Lewin, the second of which the in form striker scored to earn Digne a second assist of the season.

Allan: 5.83 - Broke up play , by hook or by crook, producing four tackles but also committing three fouls and found himself unsurprisingly booked as a result.

Abdoulaye Doucoure: 5.99 - An anonyomous display from the midfielder on his Merseyside debut, completing just 26 passes in 78 minutes and failing to protect his defence either.

Andre Gomes: 6.09 - Overrun in midfield and while he broke forward well at times, never really looked confident in the final third.

James Rodriguez: 7.87 - Pulled the strings for the hosts and was head and shoulders above his teammates in terms of his passing, creating three chances, including an inch perfect cross for Michael Keane's goal.

 

 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 7.33 - Missed a glorious chance early in the second half but didn't let it effect his ever-growing confidence to score what is now becoming a trademark header. Held up play well all game and was just unstoppable in the air.

Richarlison: 5.43 - A frustrated showing which boiled over late on as the Brazilian was deservedly sent off for a poor tackle on Thiago. Hit the post with a good chance in the second half but otherwise quiet.

Gylfi Sigurdsson (5.43), Alex Iwobi (6.14)

LIVERPOOL - 6.73

Adrian: 6.17 - Could have kept out Michael Keane's header but the power on the effort made it difficult and was somewhat surprisingly rarely put under too much pressure thereafter.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6.57 - Still a long way short of his best and not really come close since the return from lockdown. Tested Pickford with a good free-kick in the first half but Liverpool looked more threatening down the left.

Joel Matip: 6.34 - Denied a potential match winning goal by a fantastic Pickford save in an otherwise steady if unspectacular display.

Virgil van Dijk: 6.38 - Forced off very early due to horror challenge from Pickford. Joe Gomez: 6.40 - An improved performance following a dire display at Villa Park but like Alexander-Arnold is still short of his best form.

Andrew Robertson: 7.01 - An excellent cutback saw the Scotland international assist Sadio Mane's early opener and he repeated the feat later in the first half only for the Senegalese forward to fire wide. Strong in general going forward but had a tough ask in shackling Rodriguez.

Fabinho: 6.68 - Disrupted Everton's flow in the middle of the park all game with six tackles but was booked late on and wasted possession on occasion.

Thiago: 7.34 - Cashmere in footballer form. The Spaniard's passing was smooth and crisp all afternoon, and he was at the heart of everything Liverpool did well, finding Salah in particular with ease and regularity, completing 92 per cent of his passes and completing four dribbles.

 

 

Jordan Henderson: 6.52 - Denied a last gasp match winner by the most marginal of offside calls. With the assurance of Thiago and Fabinho beside him, the captain got forward well but also failed to connect with a number of passes.

Mohamed Salah: 7.69 - A relatively quiet display burst into life with an instinctive left-footed rocket for his 100th goal in a remarkable Liverpool career to date, but he found pockets of space consistently and was always found in said space by the outstanding Thiago.

Roberto Firmino: 6.66 - Some typically nice touches but the Brazilian just isn't carrying anything like the threat of those either side of him. While Liverpool fans may say that's not his job, Firmino is capable of far better.

Sadio Mane: 8.02 - Excellent on his return to the side, scoring inside three minutes but should really have doubled his own tally on the day before the break. Four shots, three tackles, two key passes, two dribbles earned a man of the match rating.

Diogo Jota (6.36), Georginio Wijnaldum (6.08)

Everton 2-2 Liverpool player ratings: Derby debutants Rodriguez and Thiago sparkle