Everton boss David Moyes bemoans ‘cruel’ finish to dramatic Merseyside derby

David Moyes felt Everton deserved a penalty and at least a point after the first ever Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium ended in a heart-breaking late defeat to Liverpool.

Virgil van Dijk’s header in the 10th minute of stoppage time secured the Reds a 2-1 win after Beto had cancelled out Mohamed Salah’s first-half opener.

Moyes felt his side did a “great job” on Sunday and “showed that we’re not too far away” from Liverpool, but frustration was his overriding emotion after Everton’s European push took a hit.

“Absolutely we (deserved a point),” boss Moyes said. “We didn’t deserve the outcome we got.

“But football’s cruel sometimes and you hopefully have to bounce back and go again when adversity goes against you a wee bit.”

Moyes believes Everton should have been awarded a penalty for Curtis Jones’ barge on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall shortly before Iliman Ndiaye saw a goal ruled out for offside in the build-up.

Bigger setbacks were to follow, with Van Dijk punishing a defence disrupted by the loss of Jarrad Branthwaite, who left the pitch on a stretcher and in tears after appearing to sustain another hamstring injury.

Asked if he felt Everton should have been awarded a spot-kick for Jones’ barge on Dewsbury-Hall, Moyes said: “Yeah, I do. Why would he go down if he’s not (fouled)?

“He’s in on goal to shoot and finish, so why would he not take the opportunity to do that?”

On the injury to centre-back Branthwaite, the Everton manager said: “No (news yet). I’m worried, though. We’ve not had any results.”

"Jarrad was probably the best player on the pitch at times today. I thought he played so well. I’m worried it could be serious, but we’ll need to wait and see."

David Moyes on Jarrad Branthwaite's second-half withdrawal