Everton: Dyche points out at £25m player error allowed Liverpool to secure 2-0 win

Everton manager Sean Dyche was handed his first defeat as Everton boss as Liverpool walked away with all three points in the Merseyside derby. The 51 year old manager pointed out at the error from Jordan Pickford that helped the Reds take the lead in the first half.

After securing a resilient win over Arsenal last weekend, Everton were filled with hope that they could extract a positive result against Jurgen Klopp’s side, especially because of their turbulent run that had seen them secure just one win in last five games.

Liverpool were resurgent, looking for a win, and Dyche’s men felt short of quality. Klopp’s men stuck twice, scoring both goals on the counter as the Blues left the door open to Liverpool to attack on the counter. Mohammed Salah opened the scoring in the 36th minute and Cody Gakpo doubled the lead in the second half, netting in the 49th minute.

The Toffees were already short of options as Dominic Calvert-Lewin was ruled out of the game after feeling a tight hamstring. Ellis Simms started up top but was not quite effective as the Toffees looked a bit blunt in while going forward.

Everton manager Sean Dyche points out Jordan Pickford error in 2-0 loss to Liverpool

Dyche’s system relies on defensive shrewdness but the rearguard was not at their best as individual errors also allowed Liverpool to gain the upper hand. Pickford did make a misjudgment that allowed Salah to score the opening goal after which the momentum shifted.

The 28 year old had very little to do in the opening half until the 35th minute when Darwin Nunez lofted a ball in the middle and Pickford rushed a bit too early to claim the ball but the Englishman was soon in no man’s land which allowed Salah to hit the ball home in an empty net.

"The game wasn’t defined in one moment but it was a big moment obviously. We had just calmed the game down. They were on top a little bit without opening us up too many times. The shape was decent, they hadn’t opened us up too many times with the ball.But then you cause trouble at the set piece, you want that to be part of your game. Disappointed with the counter and it was misread for Jordan [Pickford] and that was the story of the first half. (via The Express)"

With the 12th loss of the season, Everton are still 18th in the table with 18 points in 22 games. EFC will next face direct relegation rivals Leeds United, who sit 17th in the table with 19 points on the board.

Was Jordan Pickford at fault in the first goal?