Dwight McNeil spoke following Everton's 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the first Merseyside Derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Dwight McNeil has admitted he was at fault for Liverpool’s opening goal in the Merseyside Derby and has already watched his mistake back 10 times but insists that Everton can still have a positive finish to the season as they chase a European qualification place.
Just a couple of minutes after Iliman Ndiaye – the scorer of the final two goals at Goodison Park and opening strike at Hill Dickinson Stadium – thought he’d bagged a hat-trick of landmarks by putting the Blues ahead, only for his effort to be disallowed for Jake O’Brien’s offside following a VAR check, the Reds went down the other end of the pitch and took the lead themselves through Mohamed Salah who was playing in the fixture for the final time. McNeil gave the ball away to Cody Gakpo who set up the Egyptian for his goal and said: “I’ve watched it back about 10 times already.
“I keep watching it back because it’s my pass inside goes straight to Gakpo and he passes straight to Salah. That’s what happens at this top level, especially against Liverpool, they punish you.
“I thought we were the better team. There was my moment, giving the ball away as well.
“I think that’s where I’ve grown as a player (not letting the error affect his subsequent performance) but that will sit with me for a long time because I know that was my fault for the goal and it makes it harder to get back into the game. We did get back into it though and we got the equaliser, and I thought we were doing alright but it’s just that final moment.”
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Last season, champions Liverpool finished 36 points above Everton, but the hosts went into this fixture just five points below their neighbours and McNeil believed they competed well against Arne Slot’s expensively assembled side. He said: “We know how good they are as a team. They won the league last year with the same group and the same manager.
“For us to be competing with them shows how far we’ve come in the last few years as well. It’s disappointing, the way we lost the game, but there are still five games to go and plenty of points to play for.”
“From the start, we got the goal that was disallowed and then within a few moments, that led to them scoring and we did well to get back into it.
“Ki (Dewsbury-Hall) did a great ball to Beto and Beto is in form, and it was a good finish from him. We thought we were going to push on, and I thought we were the better team, but to concede in the last-minute kills you.”
Everton also suffered the blow of losing the club’s most valuable player Jarrad Branthwaite to injury with the centre-back stretchered off in the 87th minute. Asked how he felt losing Branthwaite affected the team, McNeil said: “I think massively, everyone is just gutted for him.
“Since he’s come back from injury, he’s been outstanding. To do the injury again, we’re all just gutted for him but we’re wishing him the best.”
McNeil is grateful for the way that Evertonians have supported him since his proposed transfer to Crystal Palace fell through on the final day of the winter window and he’s determined to finish the season well as David Moyes’ men pursue a European qualification place. He said: “It’s been a really huge help (the backing of the supporters) after what went on. I’m just happy to keep on playing.
“I’m enjoying it, but we’ll see what happens for the rest of the season.
“The manager reiterated to us again after the game how big it is for the rest of the season. We’ve got to try and stay positive because we know today was disappointing but there are still massive games to come and we know we definitely need to win some games.
“We wanted to get the win here today but unfortunately it couldn’t happen. We’re looking forward to what will be a massive end to the season.”
“There are still points to play for, it’s really tight. We know what we need to do and keep going.”