Everton player ratings - Jonjoe Kenny scores an 8 while goalscorer Wayne Rooney is a 6

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  • Rooney scored his first Merseyside Derby goal from the penalty spot.

    Everton rescued a point against neighbours Liverpool thanks to a late Wayne Rooney penalty at Anfield.

    In the 229th meeting between the two Merseyside rivals, the hosts dominated and should have been more than one goal to the good following Mohamed Salah’s sublime first-half opener.

    But Sam Allardyce’s team hung on in there and were rewarded when Rooney tucked away a spot-kick on 77 minutes – his first derby goal – after Dejan Lovren had bundled over Dominic Calvert-Lewin needlessly in the area.

    The point maintained Allardyce’s unbeaten start as blues boss but Everton are still searching for a first victory against their city rivals since 2010.

    Big Sam made one change from the team that won last time out at home to Huddersfield in the Premier League, bringing in forward Oumar Niasse for winger Aaron Lennon.

    The entire Everton starting XI were rested during Thursday’s Europa League dead-rubber success against Apollon Limassol in Cyprus.

    Here are our player ratings:

    EVERTON

    JORDAN PICKFORD: Solid, reliable and handled the ball well in treacherous conditions. Showed good composure, off the ground, to clear lines with either foot to good effect but his trademark drop-kicks were often wayward. 6

    CUCO MARTINA: Struggled, like many have this season, with the movement and skill of Salah – but sold himself all too early when he should have stood up to the Egyptian for the opening goal. Other than that, endured a testing time at left-back – miscuing several clearances. 5

    ASHLEY WILLIAMS: Struggled immensely with the pace of Sadio Mane and Salah in the first-half, came into his own in the second and marshalled the backline admirably in the end. 6

    MASON HOLGATE: Was given the nod ahead of the experience of Phil Jagielka and didn’t let Allardyce down, solid if not spectacular. Needed Williams to guide him at times but formed a strong partnership. 6

    JONJOE KENNY: Everton’s best player. The local lad was everywhere in his first Merseyside Derby and gave it everything, making a string of crucial blocks, interceptions and headed clearances from dangerous balls into the box. 8

    IDRISSA GANA GUEYE: As ever the Senegalese star covered plenty of ground and wasn’t afraid to drive forward with the ball when presented with the chance. Reliable presence in the midfield. 7

    TOM DAVIES: Local lad didn’t get into the game during the opening 45 minutes and struggled against an experienced Liverpool central area in the middle of the park. 5

    LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: Jonjoe Kenny of Everton and Dominic Solanke of Liverpool battle for the ball during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on December 10, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

    Committed: Kenny.

    GYLFI SIGURDSSON: Didn’t produce his creative best but still looked the most likely Everton player to produce something if given time and space. Largely quiet and ineffective but tireless work ethic. 5

    WAYNE ROONEY: Was about to be substituted before his pin-point pass found the run of Calvert-Lewin and then he showed all his big-game experience to keep a cool head and slot away his first derby goal from the penalty spot. His impact was decisive in the end when playing centrally, not on the right wing as was the case in the first-half. 6

    DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN: Hassled, harried and showed plenty of determination to keep Liverpool’s defenders occupied, particularly in the second-half. Didn’t look like scoring but did well to win the penalty by cleverly tempting the foul by Lovren. 6

    OUMAR NIASSE: Subdued afternoon for the lone frontman in the first-half, which led to his withdrawal. Needed to hold the ball up more and give the blues the chance to get up the pitch. 4

    SUBSTITUTES

    MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN: (Replaced Tom Davies on 45 minutes): Neat and tidy in midfield without having too much of an influence – but his experience carried him through to get into good positions and sweep up Liverpool’s pockets of attacking play around the box. 5

    AARON LENNON: (Replaced Oumar Niasse on 45 minutes): Kept possession well, ran hard and offered Everton an outlet – as well as tracked back. 6

    PHIL JAGIELKA: (Replaced Wayne Rooney on 83 minutes): Sured things up late on and sandwiched himself in-between Williams and Holgate. 5

    NOT USED

    NIKOLA VLASIC

    ADEMOLA LOOKMAN

    JOEL ROBLES

    MICHAEL KEANE

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