David Moyes identifies Merseyside derby turning point with 'undeserved' Liverpool verdict

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Everton boss David Moyes insisted his side deserved something from its game against Liverpool after falling to defeat in the first Merseyside derby at its new home

Everton boss David Moyes felt his side deserved more against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)

Everton boss David Moyes felt his side deserved more against Liverpool, and pinpointed Jarrad Branthwaite’s injury as the turning point in game.

The Reds claimed bragging rights from the first ever Merseyside derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Virgil van Dijk scoring deep into stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory.

Mohamed Salah had earlier given the visitors the lead in the first half, just moments after Iliman Ndiaye saw his effort ruled out by VAR, with Beto equalizing after the break before Liverpool’s captain supplied the most dramatic of finishes to strengthen his side’s Champions League qualification hopes.

Giving his reaction to Sky Sports, Moyes agreed with his defender Jake O’Brien that his side didn’t deserve to come away empty-handed from the game.

"I thought the players played great today, they didn't get the result they deserved,” Moyes said.

“We deserved more from it than we did. They did a great job. Disappointed with the last goal but in the main the players did a brilliant job.”

Virgil van Dijk scores against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium (Image: ( Gareth Copley/Getty Images))

On Ndiaye’s disallowed goal, the Everton boss added: "The game was quite chaotic. In that period, it looked like a good goal for me but we trust the people that they got it right. We're not here to make any excuses, we should have got more, we didn't."

Everton lost Branthwaite late on in the game, with the defender left in tears as he was stretchered off, having appeared to have pull his hamstring.

"It doesn't look great,” Moyes said on Branthwaite. “It caused problems because we had already made a couple of subs so we were down to our last one.

“Jarrad was head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch, I thought he played so well."

Liverpool’s win leaves it well placed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with the Reds now sitting seven points clear of its nearest rival for fifth place following Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.

Everton’s hopes of catching its neighbor look as though they could be over now, having missed the chance to cut its own gap to two points.

"There's no shame in how we performed today, we're playing against one of the teams in the league who expect to be challenging for Champions League and trophies,” Moyes concluded.

“I think we gave them a good run for their money. I want this team to always be competitive. They didn't have it their own way."