Everton u21 1-1 Liverpool - Sunday 16th April 2023

Everton Under-21s picked up a point against Liverpool in Sunday's Merseyside derby at Haig Avenue.

Stanley Mills brilliantly put the Blues in front, and they dominated throughout much of the game.

However, a red card for Ishe Samuels-Smith made for a difficult final few minutes for the Toffees. Liverpool then capitalised and levelled the score through a Max Woltman equaliser in the 89th minute.

Mills and Samuels-Smith both started the game after the pair appeared on the bench for the First Team in Saturday’s game against Fulham.

Following a fast-paced start from both sides, Everton opened the scoring in the 11th minute, after an excellently taken goal by Stanley Mills.

Mills latched on to Einar Iversen’s long ball over the top of the Liverpool defence. Mills then cleverly struck the bouncing ball, lobbing the onrushing Marcelo Pitaluga.

Mills came close just five minutes later, but his header from Katia Kouyate’s cross was saved by the Liverpool goalkeeper.

A plethora of opportunities followed for the Blues, as they continued their first-half dominance.

Perhaps the best of which started with a switch of play by Jenson Metcalfe, who impressed throughout with his extensive passing range. With his left foot, he passed the ball out to Mills on the right wing. The Everton goalscorer then cut inside, before shooting, but his effort was blocked. Francis Okoronkwo nearly poked the loose ball towards goal, but it rolled narrowly wide.

After a one-sided first 45 minutes, Everton managed to carry over their dominance into the early stages of the second half.

In the 46th minute, Mills, again released down the right side by Metcalfe, charged towards goal, but his stinging shot was dealt with by Pitaluga.

Okoronkwo was then gifted a one-on-one opportunity less than 10 minutes later. As Liverpool tried to play out from the defence, the Everton striker picked off Billy Koumetio’s loose ball. However, he took too much time, and fired the ball straight at the Liverpool goalkeeper.

The Reds began to grow into the game, and they nearly converted from a dangerous set-piece cross in the 63rd minute. Billy Crellin tipped away Ben Doak’s close-range effort to keep the Blues in the lead.

The ball fell to Okoronkwo for another great chance in the 75th minute. After strong running from Isaac Price, he knocked the ball towards Halid Djankpata, who dummied it into the path of Okoronkwo. However, the Everton forward was again denied by Pitaluga.

As challenges continued to fly in, the game became a feisty affair. A second yellow card for Samuels-Smith saw him dismissed in the 86th minute after a foul on Ben Doak.

Doubling the disappointment, Liverpool equalised with just a minute left of the 90. Max Woltman, free at the back post, was found by a a low ball from the left. He steered it in to take his side level.

The game finished at 1-1; a result that will leave Everton frustrated, but only because of the strength of their own performance.

The Under-21s are back in action on Monday 24 April (7pm BST) as they travel to take on Leicester City.

Everton FC