Everton vs. Liverpool: 6 Things We Learned

Everton and Liverpool have played out a typically-frantic 219th Merseyside derby at Goodison Park and ended up with one point apiece after a 2-2 draw, in a game which taught both sides several things about their players.

The Reds took a two-goal lead thanks to a deflected shot and then a header from Luis Suarez, before goals from Leon Osman and Steven Naismith levelled matters up in an end-to-end first half.

Although no more goals were scored after the interval, there was no shortage of incident with several bookings, frayed tempers, good chances on goal and a late disallowed winner all providing entertainment.

Here are six things we learned from the latest Merseyside derby.

Liverpool's Defence Still Has Plenty of Room for Improvement

After three successive clean sheets in all competitions, it looked like Liverpool's back line was returning to its usual formidable way, stopping chances and keeping opposition forwards at bay.

A two-goal lead in the Premier League, then, should have signalled another three points were headed to Anfield—but the Reds let it slip after they allowed Everton a pair of goals of their own within 12 minutes of each other.

Brendan Rodgers opted to switch to a back three for the second half, with Sebastian Coates making up the additional number, and the Reds certainly looked more solid—but at the cost, for a long period, of controlling the midfield.

For the first time, Andre Wisdom looked like he was unable to cope at this level, but the young full-back should not be worried unduly; many an experienced and excellent pro has been bested on the occasion of their first Merseyside derby.

Jose Enrique, on the opposite side, was marginally better than in his previous starts against the likes of Young Boys, but he still cost the Reds a goal with his slack marking for the equaliser. In his general play, he was a clear step below the level of Glen Johnson in that position this season.

More work ahead, then, for Rodgers and his defensive team.

David Moyes Can Stop Talking About Suarez Now

Before the derby match itself, Everton manager David Moyes was at pains to point out that diving harmed the game and that fans would be "turned away if they continue to watch people throw themselves on the ground."

He had better beware the attendances at Goodison Park over the next few weeks in that case, after captain Phil Neville was yellow-carded for a poor dive in trying to win his team an attacking free kick. Left-back Leighton Baines hardly covered himself in glory either as he got Raheem Sterling booked for a merest brushing together.

We await to see if the Toffees manager has anything to say on the matter—but he received a nice close-up of the biggest dive of the game, the celebration from Luis Suarez after Liverpool's first goal.

Officials Officially Awful

Both Red and Blue halves of Merseyside have been on the receiving end of some truly abysmal decisions this season, and it continued in the same vein for Liverpool at Goodison Park after Luis Suarez was denied a perfectly good injury-time winner.

Steven Gerrard's free kick was headed back across goal by Seb Coates, and Suarez, unmarked in the six yard box again, swept home from close range.

Andre Marriner and his assistants saw fit to find fault with the goal, for no apparent reason whatsoever.

The ruling denied Liverpool two points and pulling themselves back to within three points of their rivals Everton.

Brendan Rodgers Willing to Change Formations When Needed

Having played pretty much every minute of this season with one variation or another of his preferred 4-3-3 system, Brendan Rodgers against Everton switched Liverpool to play with a back three for the second half.

The tactical switch was an attempt to stem the flow of Everton attacks down the flanks, where both Steven Naismith and, particularly, Kevin Mirallas had gotten plenty of joy against the Reds' full-backs.

Seb Coates came on to be the third central defender for Liverpool in place of midfielder Nuri Sahin, and Liverpool tried to get Sterling and Suarez free in the final third whenever possible, utilising the pace and movement of the duo.

It almost worked very soon into the second half as the 17-year-old attacker spurned a one-on-one chance with Tim Howard, while Suarez of course also had his chances.

Defensively, Skrtel and Agger were aided by the physicality and the extra body positionally from Coates, which in turn allowed the full-backs to be doubled-up on the wide attacks for the home team.

In midfield Liverpool did struggle, though, as Allen, Gerrard and Shelvey—the second-half sub—were unable to really control the match for the first half hour of the second period.

Pepe Reina the Latest Senior Player to Face Worry over His Place

Joe Cole returned from loan and has yet to have a look in, Jamie Carragher lost his place last season and looks set to never regain it, Stewart Downing started the campaign in the team and has since been ousted, and the same happened to Jose Enrique of late despite his start in the Merseyside derby.

It's a real revamp of the starting XI for Liverpool compared to even 18 months ago, and against Everton, Pepe Reina became perhaps the latest player to realise that nobody has an automatic place in the team any more.

After a series of errors this season, Reina was coming under pressure even a few weeks ago, but an injury on international duty with Spain meant he lost his place to Brad Jones for two matches.

At Goodison Park, Reina was passed fit enough to make the squad—but spent the match on the bench, watching his Australian teammate keep goal for the Reds.

No conclusive statement has yet been made by the manager as to whether Reina was dropped, given extra time to recover or was merely not quite yet at the 100-percent level required to play, but two clean sheets in Jones' previous fixtures and him getting the nod against the Blues will certainly give the Spaniard food for thought regardless.

Reina has played 366 games for Liverpool so far and will surely be restored to the starting lineup sooner rather than later—but he should heed the lessons of some of his outfield teammates, who have failed to pick up their performances and don't look ready to return to the list of automatic starters.

Reds Four Games Unbeaten as Liverpool Continue Steady Improvement

Liverpool didn't win, but they did continue their recent unbeaten run, which marks an improvement on their early-season form.

A win over Norwich City, a draw against Stoke, another victory over Reading and then the derby draw with Everton—four league games unbeaten now for Liverpool, with eight goals scored in the process and four conceded.

Luis Suarez in that time has netted four goals, claimed two assists and had an effort incorrectly ruled out for offside—as well as also scoring in the Europa League defeat to Udinese, highlighting his own excellent attacking form as well as the general improvement in Liverpool's play.

Having picked up three defeats in the opening five fixtures of this season's Premier League, it is now just one loss in the last six for the Reds as Brendan Rodgers's side slowly comes to terms with balancing fine passing and control of the game, with actually being committed and composed enough to take the chances they create.

Liverpool have one more fixture in October—a League Cup fixture against Swansea—before a November with five tough league fixtures.

Continued steady improvement will be key to seeing just how far Rodgers can take his team in the first season in charge.

Liverpool are up to 11th with the point gained against Everton; by the time they have played Tottenham Hotspur at the end of next month, the Reds will hope to have closed the gap a little more on their London rivals, whom they currently trail by seven points.

Spurs are the benchmark for Liverpool's progress this year—if that particular gap is cut to four points or so in a month's time, Liverpool should still be on the right track for gradual improvement.

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