Everton 1:1 Liverpool: Merseyside Derby Instant Reaction

First half goals from Danny Ings and Romelu Lukaku sentenced Everton and Liverpool to another draw in 2015-16's first Merseyside Derby.

Liverpool struck first at Goodison Park with Ings heading home a corner in the 41st minute. Tim Howard might have been caught being a little passive, as the young English striker was inside the six-yard box when he found the back of the net, but most of the blame falls on Ross Barkley, who completely failed to mark the dangerous attacker.

Barkley has been guilty of poor set piece marking in each of the Toffees' last two matches, and Roberto Martinez may have to consider changing the Englishman's defending duties.

Everton's goal was no more attractive, as just before the half, Lukaku managed to slam home a sloppy clearance from the Liverpool back-line after Gerard Deulofeu played a cross into a dangerous area.

A draw was surely the fair result, as neither team managed to stake a consistent claim on the match. The Toffees struggled to coping with the high pressure being applied by Liverpool's pacey strikers, Ings and Danny Sturridge. Forced to rely on long balls out of the back, Everton never managed to regularly apply pressure to Liverpool's back three.

Liverpool was the better team in the first half, but never got going in the second half, particularly after the dangerous Ings came out of the match.

Everton man of the match candidates include Phil Jagielka, who led a young back-line with incredibly composure and intelligence, Lukaku, who picked up the goal, and James McCarthy, who covered tons of ground and kept Philippe Coutinho in check.