Toffees Held To 1-1 Draw In Feisty Under-21s Derby

Everton Under-21s were held to a 1-1 draw by Liverpool in a feisty Merseyside derby that saw both sides end the game with 10 men.

Goalkeeper Harvey Davies was sent off for the visitors after taking out Justin Clarke outside the box, a moment that forced Liverpool to play centre-half Mor Talla Ndiaye in goal for the remaining three minutes of the game.

But moments later, Braiden Graham reacted to a challenge from a Liverpool player as he looked to counter. Following a coming-together between both sets of players, Graham was sent off and the Toffees were forced to settle for a point.

Though Everton started the brighter of the two sides at Goodison Park, it was the visitors through Will Wright who took the lead against the run of play in the 14th minute.

The Toffees mustered up a swift response and when George Finney sent an excellent first-time cross to the near post, Northern Irish youth international Jack Patterson was on hand to sweep the ball home in the 18th minute.

George Pickford had little to do in the first half but had to be alert in the second, making one big save in the 71st minute from Jayden Danns, whose second attempt at a snap-shot was on target but beaten away by the keepers’ legs.

Barely a minute later, Graham slipped an excellent ball into the box which Justin Clarke and Melvin Matos both looked to latch onto, the latter striking the post from a tight angle.

Everton thought they had taken the lead in the 85th minute when substitute Rocco Lambert, playing on after Graham was cynically brought down on the edge of the box with goalkeeper Davies stranded, lashed the ball past into the net, only for the whistle to blow as the referee brought play back for the original foul.

Then came Davies’ rash challenge on Clarke 20 yards from goal – a clear foul and dismissal – followed by a narrow miss from Clarke himself and Graham’s own red card as this Merseyside derby ended in a heated manner.

Speaking after the game, Head of Academy Player Development Dave Hughes told evertonfc.com: “For an Under-21s game, it was super-competitive, loads of talking points. The two teams had a right go and we’re really pleased with many aspects of the performance, albeit we are disappointed that we didn’t get three points in the end.

“We’re bitterly disappointed that [the referee] blew so quickly (for the disallowed goal). That split-second is the difference between winning tonight and drawing the game. The lads feel like they’ve had a defeat based on what they put into the game.

“As a group of staff, we are really proud of the level of performance.

“I’m really pleased with the two centre-backs because their centre-forward is a handful, a constant threat in the air. They moved him wide for a period of time and that tells you that our centre-backs have dealt with him quite well.

“Aled (Thomas) and Will (Tamen) were brave at times in terms of stepping in and holding a high line.”