The 231st Merseyside derby will not live long in the memory as Everton failed to capitalise on a weaker than usual Liverpool side in an uneventful goalless draw at Goodison Park.
With a Champions League quarter-final second leg, in which they lead 3-0, against Manchester City to come on Tuesday the visitors could be forgiven for being preoccupied and manager Jurgen Klopp’s team selection reflected the importance of that game rather than this.
Despite a late rally in which Seamus Coleman and substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin could have snatched victory the Toffees’ seven-and-a-half-year wait for a derby win was extended to 17 matches.
Here, we analyse the performance of Reds youngster Dominic Solanke.
STATISTICS
Goals – 0
Assists – 0
Shots – 4
Shots on target – 1
Touches – 50
Passes – 28
Key passes – 1
Dribbles – 1
Bad control – 10
30-SECOND REPORT
With Mohamed Salah not even making the squad and Roberto Firmino starting on the bench, it was left to Solanke and Danny Ings to spearhead Liverpool’s attack with Sadio Mane the only surviving member of Jurgen Klopp’s trio of terror.
Solanke, it is fair to say, has not enjoyed the smoothest ride into the first-team fold with the 20-year-old yet to score for the Reds since joining from Chelsea in the summer but fortune seems to have deserted him.
He was unlucky not to open his account against Everton, Jordan Pickford denying him from close-range from an instinctive strike. However, while he can’t control the athleticism of a goalkeeper who is sure to be England’s No1 in Russia, there are elements of his own game which he can command and didn’t impress with.
For a striker who stands 6ft1 and is beginning to fill out that frame with much more imposing physique, Solanke really struggled to hold the ball up. When he signed, the England international was viewed as a hybrid target man, a striker strong in the air but quick on the deck as well.
It was far from his best performance at Goodison Park but the reality for a forward is that momentum is fundamental to progression and without consecutive games, expecting impact from a young player still adapting to the rigours of senior football is a little harsh.
GOT RIGHT
Lay-offs – His first-touch can be awfully heavy at times and with the way Klopp’s side ping the ball around the pitch, that’s not a great attribute. But on the occasions Solanke does grip possession, his lay-offs to players around him were sharp.
Movement – Everton’s midfield look painfully exposed at times and that is thanks in large part to the intelligent movement of the striker to drop in and create an overload. Off the ball, he’s very useful it’s just on it where he struggles.
GOT WRONG
Finishing – This goes without saying after finishing the game with four shots and only one of those hitting the target. He was denied by a solid stop from Pickford but he lacked composure when other opportunities arose.
Hold-up play – For a striker of his stature, he should be looking after the ball far better. Liverpool did look for the quick early diagonal ball out of the back but too often they were let down by poor control from Solanke.
Klopp letting Solanke, Ings and Clyne run around for 90 minutes is more valuable to him than a good performance here today.
— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) April 7, 2018
KEY MOMENTS
8th min CHANCE: Solanke makes progress down the left and cuts it back to Wijnaldum, who hits a shot miles, miles over.
11th min SHOT: Nice move from the visitors as Milner crosses and Solanke gets up well for a header but fails to hit the target.
15th min SHOT: Solanke is sharp to react to a deflected cross from the right and stab at goal but Pickford gets down well to deny him a certain goal. A really good stop.
VERDICT
Not a performance which will inspire a lot of confidence from a dubious Liverpool fan base but Klopp likes the 20-year-old and he has the physical attributes to offer a solid alternative to the guile of the trio of terror.
Was the closest in a red shirt to scoring but will be disappointed he didn’t make more of an impact on his rare start.
RATING: 5/10
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com
