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Everton produced an “outstanding” performance to down Liverpool 2-0 in Wednesday night’s 244th Merseyside derby. 

That was according to former Blues forward Wayne Rooney, who was a guest pundit on Sky Sports’ coverage for the contest.

On the show after the victory, he hailed several standout individual displays within the Everton side, while also commending Sean Dyche for getting the team’s “balance” spot on throughout the evening. 

“You know you have to be organised against the best teams in the league,” said Rooney. “I thought some of the players were outstanding, Harrison and McNeil, players who don’t get the credit - James Garner, too.

"The work they are putting in to make sure they stay in the game, but then the likes of Calvert-Lewin, and then you have moments with set pieces or counter-attacks that you can go and win the game. 

“I thought they got the balance really right tonight.” 

Elsewhere, journalist Chris Bascome claimed in the Telegraph that Jurgen Klopp’s side looked “helpless” in the face of Goodison Park’s “febrile” atmosphere. 

He wrote: “Liverpool succumbed to the occasion, playing into the hosts’ hands with their inability to stop giving away or defend set pieces - both Everton goals followed them - while their flaws in front of goal have been their Achilles’ heel in this title run-in,” wrote Bascome. 

“Nor did they have the muscle or wisdom to deal with a derby tussle which put one in mind of those in the 80s and 90s, when the right to play was as significant as the ability to do so.

“Where and when it mattered, Everton demonstrated both, and once Jarrad Branthwaite pounced to beat Alisson from close range, Liverpool lacked the class and nous to recover.

“Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s Duncan Ferguson impression made it two early in the second half and Klopp’s side looked helpless, as though they had never before played in such a febrile atmosphere.”

There was also set-piece praise from the Athletic’s Michael Dominski who claimed Everton bossed their opponents in dead-ball situations. 

“Everton were absolutely dominant in the air on set pieces tonight,” he said. 

“Both of their goals came from set-piece situations, a free kick and a corner, taking their overall tally of such goals to 17 in the Premier League this season (excluding penalties). That ranks as second most in the league, behind only Arsenal.”

“Two months ago, The Athletic's Ahmed Walid broke down how Everton have mastered the back-post corner, which we saw on display countless times tonight.”