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.”

Liverpool also saw a player taken off on a stretcher after goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was hurt trying to stop Beto from equalising.

Third-choice Freddie Woodman was brought on as Alisson Becker remains absent, with the Georgia international’s injury coming at the end of a week that saw Hugo Ekitike rupture an Achilles against Paris St Germain.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said: “Giorgi had to go to hospital (with) a big wound so let’s see how he will be.

“But Freddie deserves a lot of credit because you have to come in after conceding the 1-1 and the fans were ready for it, but he did his job really well.

“He’s worked so hard to have this moment and usually third goalkeepers don’t play a lot, but in a season like ours I think if you are playing in the under-eights at Liverpool, you should be ready for making your debut because it is unbelievable what is happening to us.”

Liverpool’s victory and results elsewhere provided a huge boost to their chances of ending a disappointing campaign with Champions League football, leaving them seven points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea with five to play.

“Of course, that’s very important because we are as ever focused on qualifying for the Champions League,” Slot said.

“But the lead-up to this game wasn’t as much about the league table, it was also about representing Liverpool.

“Four days ago we paid our respects to the enormous tragedy that happened at Hillsborough. We also used this for the game today because it’s a privilege to represent this club.

“Today the players showed what it means to represent this club. The fans were, as they have been throughout the whole season, a big, big, big support for us.

“To beat Everton in their first game in the new stadium after the week we had is an enormous compliment to everybody involved in Liverpool FC.”