We’ll try make our ratings more entertaining than the game.
If you managed to stay awake for the entirety of this evening’s Merseyside derby then congratulations. It was hard going at times. Steven Gerrard’s final Premier League game against Everton was a painfully dull 0-0, definitely not one for the purists but probably a point both managers will be happy with.
Here’s how we rated both teams:
Everton
Joel Robles – 6
Robles made a few standard saves and bar a wobbly moment early in the game, when he rushed out as Sterling was through on goal, had a comfortable game.
Seamus Coleman – 7
Almost won the game in the final minutes after breaking from defence, running the length of the pitch, only for Mignolet to deny him. A positive performance from the Killybegs’ native, who broke forward when the opportunity presented itself.
John Stones – 6
A steady performance from the young defender, Stones looks to have fully cemented his place in Everton’s defence and is an exciting talent. This could be the most comfortable Merseyside derby he’ll ever have.
Phil Jagielka – 6
A solid, if not too stretched, display, Jagielka managed an effective block late on.
Bryan Oviedo – 5
The full-back comfortably lost his duel with Jordan Ibe and was beaten a numbers of times by the youngster. Everton will eagerly await Leighton Baine’s return judging by Oviedo’s performance today.
James McCarthy – 6
The Republic of Ireland midfielder was neat in possession, tackled effectively and offered his side a defensive shield. Everton are a better team for McCarthy’s presence.
Muhammed Besic – 6
Performed well in first-half, Besic seemed to fade in the second period and began misplacing a number of passes.
Gareth Barry – 5
The midfielder played his part in Everton’s solid midfield. However, Barry struggled when Liverpool pressed him, at times losing the ball and rarely showing for it, forcing Everton’s defence to go wide or long. Improved after half-time.
Steven Naismith – 6
Showed some clever touches, but unable to have a meaningful impact on the game
Kevin Mirallas – 5
Anonymous, but would’ve undoubtedly popped up if Everton had won a penalty.
Romelu Lukaku – 5
Everton only managed a single shot on target and although Lukaku wasn’t totally at fault for that, as he played wide left for the majority of the game, the Belgian didn’t put in a vintage performance. Arguably lost the physical battle to Emre Can.
Subs
Ross Barkley – 5.5
Played a clever pass to set-up Coleman.
Aaron Lennon – 5
Aaron Lennon’s impact today can be summed up by the picture below.
Roberto Martinez bringing on Aaron Lennon to add some dynamism to the Everton attack. pic.twitter.com/uqG4J5J00p
— The Sun Dream Team (@dreamteamfc) February 7, 2015
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet – 6
We’re probably being a little bit generous here, as he was barely made to break a sweat, but Mignolet deserves an extra point for his save from Seamus Coleman late in the game. A month or two ago that probably would’ve went in and although he isn’t the long-term answer, Mignolet’s markedly improved lately.
Emre Can – 7
Classy in possesion and strong in the tackle, Can continued his impressive recent form with another accomplished display, bar a few nervous moments late on. The converted midfielder won all his tackles, along with a few interceptions and looks the best of Liverpool’s defenders.
Playing on the right side of Liverpool’s three-man defence, the German looked comfortable stepping out of defence with the ball and dealt well with the physical presence of Romelu Lukaku.
Martin Skrtel – 6
A solid performance, if under-worked, performance.
Mamadou Sakho – 5.5
Looked more like the Mamadou Sakho of last season than the defender who’s being in good form recently. Played a few sloppy passes and was almost punished in the first-half when dispossessed just outside his own penalty area.
Jordan Ibe – 7
The 19 year old winger was a surprise inclusion in the Liverpool starting line-up and almost had a dream Merseyside derby debut.
Ibe collected the ball near the half-way line after 26 minutes and drove at Everton’s defence, unleashing a fierce drive that had Robles beaten, but smashed off the post. Ibe showed plenty of promise for Liverpool throughout. A lot of the side’s first-half play in the final third was slow, but Ibe injected pace and drive when he got on the ball.
The winger also looked to have the beating of full-back Oviedo, forcing Everton to double-up on Ibe at times.
Jordan Henderson – 6
Liverpool needed more creativity from centre of the pitch, Henderson knocked the ball around but couldn’t find the pass to open up Everton’s defence.
Lucas Leiva – n/a
Went off injured after 15 minutes.
Alberto Moreno – 5
An effective outlet for Liverpool down their left-side, the Spaniard created three chances and was tidy in possession in the first-half. However, Everton seemed to target his flank and he was also suspect in Coleman’s late chance that almost lost Liverpool the game.
Philippe Coutinho – 6
The Brazilian midfielder looked dangerous when he got involved and hardly misplaced a pass throughout, playing Sterling in on goal with one particularly clever pass. However, Couthinho was substituted just after half-time for Daniel Sturridge. A strange decision considering the excellent recent form of the midfielder.
Steven Gerrard – 5
Largely anonymous. Tested Robles with a decent free-kick in the first-half, and had an acrobatic bicycle kick narrowly deflected over, but otherwise looked lost in the advanced position behind Raheem Sterling. All the talk pre-game was about this being Steven Gerrard’s final Merseyside derby, and the game itself proved why it will be his last against Liverpool’s city rivals.
Raheem Sterling – 6
A muted performance compared to recent outings, Sterling tested Robles with close range effort early in the second half but shot to the keeper’s near post. This wasn’t the game for flair players like Sterling to shine in.
Subs
Joe Allen – 6
Sloppy at times in the first half, Allen improved as the game progressed, making some useful interceptions.
Daniel Sturridge – 5
Despite last week’s heroics, Sturridge today looked like a player finding his way back to match fitness.
Rickie Lambert – n/a
Apparently he was on the pitch, although you may have fallen asleep by then.
