:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58227283/901612156.jpg.0.jpg)
Everton put in a much more competitive performance in their return to Anfield in less than a month, but came away with a worse result than last time. The Blues lost 2-1, the first off a soft penalty and the second to a defensive error that allowed a free header from a corner with just minutes left in the game.
Sam Allardyce was disappointed by the mistake, and the loss.
“I didn’t think [it was a penalty]. I think the referee made a mistake for their first goal and we made a mistake for their winner.
“The rest of it, we’ve done brilliantly so I can’t ask for any more from the players in terms of their performance tonight and their desire to try to win the tie or at least take Liverpool back to Goodison.
“I’m very disappointed we’re not going back to Goodison and trying to get through to the next round.
“We may have saved it late on and I think it was a brilliant effort from the players, even though we’re disappointed.
“The performance deserved us to be able to take them back to our place, but that’s not to be.”
| Sam's reaction to tonight's @EmiratesFACup exit and the mid-game signing of @CenkTosun_... #EFC pic.twitter.com/HAplY4moRJ
— Everton (@Everton) January 5, 2018
Everton announced the signing of Turkish striker Cenk Tosun at halftime yesterday, and Allardyce is excited to have him on board.
“What we’re doing I think is getting better from all angles. But we need to be better in the final third - that’s what we’re trying to improve at the moment with the signing of Cenk, and we’ll keep working in that area so we can get more chances and score more goals.
“I am [pleased with his signing] because goals are a shortage for us. We really punished Liverpool on their corner with a breakaway goal tonight, which I was absolutely delighted about. But, yes, I’m pleased.
“I didn’t think there was any difference between the teams up to the final third and we’ve got to get better in that area, we’ve got to start delivering better quality to create more chances, become better finishers and score more goals. Then we’ll win more games.
“I think the midfield, the defence and the team defending tonight was very, very good.”