ROY Hodgson labelled Liverpool's merited 2-0 defeat in front of their new owners in the 214th Merseyside derby as the best performance of his brief and increasingly tortured reign as manager yesterday – despite a loss that leaves them mired in the relegation zone, reports Andy Hunter.

The result left the Anfield club level on points with the bottom side West Ham United and their manager cutting an angry, frustrated figure afterwards. He has statistically the worst record of any Liverpool manager after eight league games since George Patterson in 1928.

Hodgson said: “We suffered at the hands of an early onslaught which you invariably do at Goodison but towards the end of the first half we started to even things out. From what I saw I thought we dominated the second half totally. I thought the shape of the team was good today, the quality of our passing and movement was good.

“We didn’t score goals and Everton did but I refuse to accept that we were in any way outplayed or any way inferior. I watched the performance and the second half was as good as I saw a Liverpool team play under my management.”

Liverpool’s performance did not bring the catharsis expected following the takeover by New England Sports Ventures on Friday, whose principal investor, John W Henry, and other associates were present at Goodison Park.

Victory lifted Everton to 11th in the Premier League table and manager David Moyes admitted that his side’s superiority was a reminder that money is no guarantee of success. The Everton manager said: “Séamus Coleman created the first goal. He cost us £60,000 from Sligo Rovers. It isn’t all about money and if you wanted football to be all about money I don’t think you would enjoy it.

“Am I jealous? Yes, because I want my team to be at the top but I wouldn’t swap my chairman (Bill Kenwright) for anyone from America, Saudi Arabia or wherever.”

Guardian Service