5/10 Liverpool star suffered his worst game for Slot

In some ways, Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Everton served as the right advert for the Merseyside derby. It was nearly an anachronistic encounter, with high quality low, stakes excessive and tensions larger nonetheless.

But it surely lived as much as the billing. The Reds struggled to comprise their rivals’ bull-charging vitality however noticed their attacking high quality prevail by Alexis Mac Allister, who cancelled out Beto’s early opener, and Mohamed Salah, whose goal-and-assist show has develop into a regularity this season, this being the eleventh time he has achieved the feat beneath Arne Slot.

However as could be Liverpool’s exposable heel, they didn’t cope with Everton’s physicality for a lot of the competition and certainly noticed that weak point unravel them as James Tarkowski lashed.

The way of the draw was maddening, exuberant Crimson cheers swallowed into Goodison Park’s screaming maw, however Liverpool nonetheless gained some extent to take them seven factors away from second-place Arsenal, who’re bereft of choices up entrance amid an harm disaster.

Slot, Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure had been proven pink playing cards after the ultimate whistle as hostility flared, however Liverpool will know that they have to be higher on the taking part in subject over the approaching weeks.

Liverpool’s efficiency at Goodison Park

Liverpool have received six, drawn three and misplaced two of their video games all through 2025 thus far. It is essential to not learn an excessive amount of into this, for the Reds’ draw at Goodison has prolonged their lead on the prime of the Premier League to seven factors with 14 matches left to play.

What’s irritating, nevertheless, is that the pink Merseysiders didn’t match David Moyes’ depth, with xG (anticipated targets), for instance, ruling within the hosts’ favour at 0.93 to 0.61, as per Sofascore.

Everton additionally received 55% of the bottom battles and succeeded with a whopping 68% of their tackles. Liverpool, conversely, received an inferior however nonetheless respectable 56% of their very own.

What does this say? Everton merely attacked the match with higher energy. You would say that Liverpool performed the event and never the sport.

It did not assist that the midfield failed to claim itself. Slot’s recognised trio received simply 12 of their 32 collective battles. Ryan Gravenberch flattered to deceive and on condition that he was uncharacteristically hooked on the hour mark, it is clear that he had an off day.

Ryan Gravenberch struggled vs Everton

Gravenberch has been sensible this season, so slick and classy on the centre of Liverpool’s system. The Dutch midfielder has even been described as “completely world-class” in Slot’s new system by one information analyst.

However he is additionally performed a whole lot of soccer and it confirmed in opposition to an Everton facet that had been going to cease at nothing in stifling Liverpool’s seemingly inexorable surge towards the Premier League title.

It might properly have been Gravenberch’s worst show of the season, taking simply over a contact each two minutes regardless of Liverpool’s 63% possession common.

As you may see from the 22-year-old’s match metrics under, he struggled to make a lot of a mark earlier than being hooked, quite uninspiring on the defensive entrance whereas failing to even try a dribble or full a key cross.

He wasn’t notably unhealthy, however Gravenberch lacked the fluency and verve of his regular self. Such ideas had been echoed – quite aptly – by The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle, who gave him a 5/10 match ranking and famous that he struggled to affect amid the brutish midfield battle.

Salah got here up with the products as he does so typically for the Anfield facet, however you need to concede that he bailed a number of of his teammates – resembling Gravenberch – out on the large event final evening.

He is one of many first names on Slot’s teamsheet, however maybe Gravenberch must be rested for Liverpool’s upcoming conflict.

Why Liverpool ought to relaxation Ryan Gravenberch

Liverpool host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, tasked with getting their profitable feeling again in focus in opposition to a proud facet swimming in opposition to the chilly present of the relegation zone.

Wolves have been poor this time period however defeated Aston Villa – Liverpool’s following opponent – of their final top-flight conflict earlier than profitable at Blackburn Rovers within the FA Cup.

Would possibly it’s clever for Slot to bench Gravenberch for that one? Liverpool, in any case, can be in sharp and unrelenting waters themselves over the approaching weeks, with Premier League conferences happening successfully each three days.

Wataru Endo is not a stylistic match in Slot’s system however he is a reliable holding midfielder who proved himself worthy as an auxiliary possibility beneath Jurgen Klopp final season.

Furthermore, Harvey Elliott can be wanting to proceed his improvement and earn a maiden Premier League begin beneath his new boss, one thing that might possible see Mac Allister shift right into a deeper function. The Argentine ranked sixth within the division for tackles made (99) final season, and was described by pundit Joe Cole as a “famous person” who “can play wherever.”

The caveat to all that is that Jones is now suspended, admittedly limiting Slot’s short-term scope.

Nonetheless, burnout teases followers’ feelings from the again of their minds, reminding them of the slide in type that pulled Liverpool away from the largest prizes in Klopp’s swansong.

For Gravenberch, who has performed from the beginning of each Premier League match this season (and all however one in Liverpool’s Champions League group run), it is certainly essential to make sure the wellspring of his vitality does not dry up earlier than the essential closing interval.

Wolves subsequent, then every week of Villa and Metropolis away. It is daunting, however these are all opponents which have been felled by Liverpool’s blade already in 2024/25, and Slot and his males will regroup and go once more.