Liverpool 2-1 Everton: Player Ratings

Liverpool

Loris Karius: 6/10

The German custodian got his first action of the Merseyside derby after being given the goalkeeper duties for the FA Cup. He looked fairly confident on the night except for a few crosses that came in his box. Karius could not have done anything for the Everton goal.

Joe Gomez: 7/10

Gomez was back to his right back position for the Reds after playing on the opposite flank against Burnley. He did his job with minimal fuss and was solid defensively. The youngster was hardly beaten in one on one situations and also provided a useful outlet going forward. Gomez should have scored from a header but nodded wide from close range.

Joel Matip: 6/10

The Cameroonian returned to the playing eleven and delivered an assured performance. He was solid in the air and made some important clearances as well. Matip also worked well in tandem with Van Dijk - makings of a partnership for the long term.

Virgil van Dijk: 9/10

Scoring the winner against Everton in your debut outing. No player can start their Liverpool career better than what Van Dijk achieved last night! Apart from his match-winning goal, the Dutchman was the best defender on the field.

He marshalled his backline with assurance and displayed leadership qualities from the word go. Though Van Dijk missed a sitter in the second half, it surely was a dream start to life in Liverpool for Van Dijk.

Andrew Robertson: 8/10

What a performance by the Scot! Surely, it can be termed as Robertson's best outing in a red shirt. The left-back had his hands full with Bolasie charging at him throughout the game but managed his defensive duties with ease. He also bombarded forward and was useful in creating a number of chances from the left flank.

Emre Can: 6/10

Playing in a number 6 role, Can did all the dirty work that was needed. He kept Rooney quiet for the majority of the match and also made some crucial interceptions. A busy display from the man who is close to agreeing to a move away from the Reds.

James Milner: 5/10

Captain on the night, Milner slotted home the penalty with ease but could not influence the proceedings other than that. His passes went astray while he also couldn't help out at the back. A bad day in the office for the veteran.

Adam Lallana: 4/10

A night to forget for the Englishman who started his second game in a row for the Reds. A lack of match fitness was evident from his performance as his passing was extremely sloppy. He looked rusty throughout his performance and apart from winning the penalty, Lallana had a game to forget.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 7/10

The summer signing is slowly but surely repaying the big money that was paid to get him on board. Chamberlain showed tremendous work rate on the night and was a constant presence on the right wing. His set-piece deliveries are also becoming a plus point for Liverpool going forward.

Sadio Mane: 5/10

It was surprising to see Mane starting this game after being present in Ghana the previous day for the African awards. Jurgen Klopp took a bold call but it backfired as Mane never looked at his marauding best. His link-up play was decent but his contribution in the final third left a lot to be desired.

Roberto Firmino: 7/10

A typical Roberto Firmino performance was on display at Anfield. The Brazilian worked selflessly for his side and also held up the ball well at times. Though he lost possession a couple of times, Firmino looked fresh after being given a rest against Burnley.

Substitutes:

Georginio Wijnaldum: 7/10

When things got a bit edgy in the final quarter of the game, Wijnaldum helped to calm things down in midfield and completed his cameo with expertise.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: 5/10

The youngster took time to adjust to the pace of the game and thankfully for him, he did not have to deal with anything major defensively.

Dominic Solanke: 5/10

Solanke's only contribution was picking up a yellow card for a needless tackle late in the game.