Neville content with Merseyside draw

In an absorbing first-half Leighton Baines' own goal and Luis Suarez's strike put Liverpool in charge at Goodison Park but Leon Osman halved the deficit almost immediately before Steven Naismith levelled 10 minutes before the interval.

Although the second 45 minutes could not replicate the events before the interval, the match ended in controversy when Suarez had a last-gasp goal ruled out for offside, only for replays to show the Uruguayan was in fact behind the last defender.

"I think when we were two-nil down we'd have took a draw but we got back into the game so quickly and we felt we had the momentum," Neville said.

"We maybe should have passed it a little bit better, took that extra touch. I think we needed control of the game in the wide areas.

"These games are fast and furious and you go home later and you analyse whether it was an offside goal.

"We also had chances to score so maybe both teams are happy with a draw in the end."

Naismith's strike was his first in Everton colours following his move from Rangers over the northern summer.

It was also his first goal since coming back from a cruciate ligament injury sustained in October last year.

"It's been a year since my last goal," he said.

"I'm glad just to start and to get a goal was nice as well."