Everton's Anfield perdition continues: they failed to show up in a 3-1 defeat earlier today, meaning they remain without a win at Anfield since 1999.
Among the most disappointing performers for Everton was Ross Barkley: wasteful on the ball and reckless without it. Barkley contributed little other than a potential leg-breaker on Dejan Lovren, a week after sending a heartfelt message to Seamus Coleman.
Barkley's promise of the 2013/14 season has failed to materialise consistently for Everton, and Graeme Souness brilliantly summed up his failings on Sky Sports afterward. Over a video reel of Barkley flying into challenges and dawdling on the ball before losing it, Souness had this to say:
If I was playing with him, I would be falling out with him. Not every game; every five minutes. He runs with it when he should pass it, he passes it when he should run with it. His decision making is poor in the extreme, and you can be kidded by him sometimes because he will do that: turn away from a couple of players and flash one over the bar.
He's got all the equipment to be a player, but I just see his decision making not improving. And if his decision making doesn't improve, then he won't improve as a player.
I see him as the kid in the playground. That's how he plays football to me.
Outstanding. Post-game, Ronald Koeman continued his crusade against Martin O'Neill, and also took aim at the behaviour of Jurgen Klopp. The Liverpool manager didn't seem overly arsed.
