Peter Reid names Everton ace as Merseyside derby man of the match

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Everton came away from Anfield with a 1-1 draw to move themselves back into the top-half of the Premier League table.

Idrissa Gueye of Everton chases down Roberto Firmino of Liverpool

Peter Reid has told the Daily Mail that he would name Idrissa Gueye as the man of the match from Sunday’s Merseyside derby, as Everton came from a goal down to bag a point against Liverpool.

Sam Allardyce’s men went into the clash at Anfield as underdogs having not won at the ground since 1999 – when Kevin Campbell scored the winner inside four minutes and three players were sent off before full-time.

Sam Allardyce

And it became fairly obvious that the Reds’ impressive run against their rivals would continue as they looked dominant throughout the game and got their rewards just before the break when Mohamed Salah scored a fantastic goal.

However, the Toffees ensured that the points would be shared with Wayne Rooney scoring from the penalty spot in the latter stages after his long pass had resulted in Dejan Lovren fouling Dominic Calvert-Lewin inside the box.

While Liverpool may have spent much of the game on the front foot, former Everton ace Reid felt that Gueye – signed for a bargain fee of £7 million in 2016 (via BBC Sport) – was the standout performer from the game, seemingly suggesting that the holding midfielder’s role was an important reason why the home side’s dominance only resulted in one goal being scored.

“Idrissa Gueye,” he responded when asked by the Mail for his man of the match.

“In the first half he got himself in good defensive positions and made a lot of interceptions when we were under the cosh. In the second half he had enough energy to block the likes of Coutinho and protect the defence.”

Everton are now unbeaten in their last four in all competitions and face a trip to Newcastle on Wednesday before back to back home games, against Swansea and Chelsea.