Everton manager David Moyes reacts to his side's heartbreaking Merseyside derby defeat to Liverpool
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) David Moyes, Manager of Everton, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
David Moyes, manager of Everton, looks on prior to Sunday's Merseyside derby(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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David Moyes believes Everton’s display against Liverpool highlighted just how far the club had come in such a short space of time.
The Blues finished 36 points behind their fierce rivals last season yet a win on Sunday would have cut the gap to just two points with five games of the campaign to go.
They went blow for blow with Liverpool on the pitch at Hill Dickinson Stadium before being undone by a Virgil van Dijk header in the 10th minute of stoppage time.
Asked if there was any consolation in just how hard Everton pushed the outgoing Premier League champions, Moyes said: “Yeah, but it doesn't make me feel any better, that's for sure.”
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The Blues had started the game well and had several good opportunities to take the lead in the opening 25 minutes.
Beto forced a good save from Giorgi Mamardashvili then shot well wide when through on goal while Moyes was adamant Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall should have been given a penalty after going down under pressure from Curtis Jones.
Mohamed Salah’s goal therefore came against the run of play but was a sickening blow for Everton.
They appeared set to earn a valuable point through Beto’s second-half strike only for van Dijk to head in late on.
Moyes, devastated by the result, said he had given the players the positive feedback he felt they deserved.
The Blues said: “The players have been told that I thought they'd done a great job today in the main.
“There were periods in the game where Liverpool had a bit of control. But there were long periods in the game when we had control as well.
“We had big opportunities, especially in the first 20 minutes or so. I didn't think we offered Liverpool too many chances in the whole game, to be honest. I
“t didn't feel as if we'd given up too many opportunities, so the players have done a good job, but had no rewards out of today.”