Everton 0-1 Liverpool: Three things we learnt

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Koeman’s high-pressing tactic doesn’t work

Everton manager Ronald Koeman set up his side with a high-press tactic last night, and for 45 minutes it seemed to be nullifying the threat of a free-scoring Liverpool side very effectively, with the Reds rarely coming close to testing Stekelenburg.

The issue came, however, in the second-half as the Toffees simply couldn’t maintain the intensity needed to press Liverpool up the pitch; it was as if Everton had run out of steam.

The injury to James McArthur didn’t help this, as although Gareth Barry is a more than able replacement to consolidate Everton’s midfielder at the age of 35 he doesn’t quite have the legs anymore to play a high-intensity game for a long duration of time.

Barry struggled to assert himself on the game, and this allowed Liverpool to attack further up the pitch as Everton backed off deeper and deeper as the match went on.