Liverpool 0-0 Everton player ratings: Toothless Reds well off the pace

Defense

Trent Alexander-Arnold did his usual routine of providing an option out wide on the right as he mixed up his delivery with a variety of crosses but largely failed to hit targets in the box.

Those balls into the box were decent deliveries, but Liverpool lacked a presence in the box to make the most of them. Alexander-Arnold did okay defensively, but looked like he lacked match fitness.

The defence didn’t really have much to do and van Dijk is included in that. His leadership, composure and pace were all evidence here, though. His composure was highlighted by the calm manner in which he turned behind Tom Davies’ shot that hit the post and ricocheted at him at pace.

Was given the nod ahead of Joe Gomez, much to everyone’s surprise, but was taken off injured with 20 minutes to go. Given the form Gomez was in before the break in the season, this was the sort of selection curveball that Klopp likes to throw at times but it worked fairly well.

However, the former Schalke man proved to be brittle and was replaced by the poor Dejan Lovren after 73 minutes.

James Milner was given the nod to start as Andy Robertson was rested due to his slight injury concerns, but Milner failed to finish another Merseyside Derby as he was replaced by Gomez just before half time.

Gomez made excellent use of his pace down the left, but struggled to get in behind Everton’s defence and supply the forwards in the manner that Robertson does.