Everton right-back Seamus Coleman has said that the Toffees were disappointed that they were unable to end their winless streak in the Merseyside Derby following their 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Goodison Park on Saturday.
The scoreless draw extends Everton’s winless streak against Liverpool to 17 games with the Toffees last Merseyside Derby win stretching back to October 2010.
Coleman lamented his side’s missed chances but said that they started too slowly and did not get to grips with the game.
“We felt Liverpool would be happier than us with a point but we started slowly and did not get to grips with the game,” Coleman told the club’s official website.
“But in the second half we got tighter, pressed people more and played on the front foot.
“We are disappointed not to have come away with more after the chances we had at the end. Dominic is disappointed but he will work on that and I could have maybe got my toe on one at the end.
“It was a clean sheet against a good Liverpool side, though, and to get the fans behind us we need to play from the first minute. They react to us and if we are getting in amongst people you can see how positive the atmosphere is.
“Our two centre-halves were very good. Jags (Phil Jagielka) was immense and played a like a captain and leader. We owe it to ourselves and the fans and everyone at the club to finish as high up the table as we can.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said that the draw was the most mature performance during his three seasons at Anfield and that Liverpool did not head into the match looking to engage in a wild derby.
“It was a good performance, not brilliant,”Klopp told his postmatch news conference. “It was maybe the most mature we played since I’m here. Come here, play football, get a result, don’t get involved in any fights.
“Everybody spoke about in the week how Everton didn’t get a win [in a derby] I don’t know how long. We then deliver a game like this and it’s a big compliment for my team. But it will not always be like this, I’m pretty sure.
“I have to take the result, it’s no problem. I think it’s a fair result. We were better over most of the game and Everton in the last few minutes had a few very exciting moments in our box, which is never a good sign.
“Until then we controlled the game, we played the game we wanted to play.
“We were not here to play a wild derby today. That wouldn’t have made sense. It was quite difficult for Everton to get the game they wanted challenges, stuff like that.
“I really thought we did well in specific moments – passing, runs with a team that changed five positions.
“Maybe in the last 10 or 15 minutes the game changed. I’m not sure we were too lucky because they didn’t hit the target. Still, I would say a deserved result.”
