Sam Allardyce hails "brilliant" defensive display in Merseyside derby

Everton manager Sam Allardyce has heaped praise on his side's defensive display during their 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield this afternoon.

The Toffees were pinned back for the vast majority of the Merseyside derby and ended the match with their lowest-ever possession statistics in the Premier League, yet they still managed to come away with a point courtesy of Wayne Rooney's second-half penalty.

Everton's tactics were criticised for a lack of ambition, but Allardyce was pleased with the disciplined nature of his side's performance.

"Before I got here we conceded 13 goals in four matches, now we have conceded one in four since. We haven't got the flair or the talent that Liverpool have got at the minute, but we are building a resilient and determined unit that are trying to get better and better each week," he told Sky Sports News.

"You can sometimes fault what we do and didn't do with possession, but in terms of organisation, effort and commitment it is all there for the fans. I am sure the fans would have liked to see us play better, but I am sure they will be more pleased with a point than playing well and losing three of four nil.

"Our defensive unit was incredible today. We have stopped one of the most fluent attacking sides in Europe at the moment. Credit to the players. They had to score a brilliant goal to go 1-0 up, but otherwise they have not been able to create much else."

Everton have now taken seven points from the last nine on offer in the Premier League to climb into the top half of the table.