- Defeat at the hands of Liverpool has left a sour taste in the mouths of many Blues.
- On a day when Blues had a chance, the fashion of defeat made things worse.
- As the dust settles, Toffees can move forward by focusing on the positives.
Everton’s loss against Liverpool was fairly routine based on their encounters in the Premier League era.
Although the derby was hosted at a new ground, the usual elements of questionable refereeing and the Reds leaving it late were present, to the disadvantage of David Moyes’ side.
The Blues could have been better, but it was a game of fine margins, and Liverpool were to do what Everton could not, and punish the mistakes made by their opponents.
There is work for Moyes and his men to do, but with five games to go and European football on the line, here are some reasons why the Toffees can maintain positivity.
They lost by fine margins against a superior opponent
Even though they haven’t looked like it this season, Liverpool are the reigning Premier League champions, and they blew away the transfer market by spending over £400 million in the summer transfer window.
Despite this, they relied on sloppy mistakes from those in royal blue and struggled to get much joy out of their lone striker, Alexander Isak.
The Reds taught the Toffees a lesson in how to punish mistakes, but given their superior investment capabilities and existing quality, that is their bread and butter.
Everton are a team that have lacked investment and have been treading water in recent years, but at Anfield and in Sunday’s encounter, they matched Liverpool on the pitch, with both games decided by a single goal.
Moyes stated that he felt his team did not deserve to lose, and while his side were punished for mistakes, the game hinged on fine margins that kindly fell in favour of Arne Slot’s men.
The race for Europe continues
In the grand scheme of things, Everton remains firmly in the race for European football.
The Blues have not featured in a European competition since 2017, so to achieve qualification would be a real achievement.
Considering they have been battling to preserve their Premier League status in recent years, credit must be given to the fact that the Toffees have turned things around relatively quickly.
Derby Day defeat is going to be a tough one to take for Moyes’ team, but if they can remove themselves from the drama of the outcome, they should be fuelled by the fact there is time for redemption by securing Everton a place in a European competition.
Hill Dickinson Stadium is starting to feel like home
The pre-match spectacle at Hill Dickinson Stadium was an impressive sight to see.
Modern stadia get accused of being soulless and sanitised, but the Merseyside Derby showed that Everton’s new ground is a cut above the rest.
A combination of the tifo, banners, cards and passionate support spotlighted that supporters are claiming the stadium as their own, and are starting to make it Everton’s ground, not just an arena to host a plethora of events.
Hill Dickinson Stadium will be central to the club’s development, and it will drive their ambition to become a global powerhouse in football.
But Sunday’s match showed a ground that is starting to come alive, and once results improve on the pitch, more memorable atmospheres will follow.
