Everton star holds his hands up after mistake as Liverpool 'punished' him

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That's what happens at this top level, especially against Liverpool; they punish you."I thought we were the better team. There was my moment, giving the ball away as well."I think that's where I've grown as a player (not letting the error affect his subsequent performance), but that will sit with me for a long time because I know that was my fault for the goal, and it makes it harder to get back into the game.Cody Gakpo provided the assist for Liverpool's opener(Image: Getty Images)"We did get back into it, though, and we got the equalizer, and I thought we were doing alright, but it's just that final moment."Last season, Liverpool finished 36 points above Everton, yet the Toffees entered this fixture just five points adrift of their Merseyside rivals.

McNeil believed they competed well against Arne Slot's expensively assembled side.He said: "We know how good they are as a team. It's disappointing, the way we lost the game, but there are still five games to go and plenty of points to play for."From the start, we got the goal that was disallowed, and then within a few moments, that led to them scoring, and we did well to get back into it."Ki (Dewsbury-Hall) did a great ball to Beto, and Beto is in form, and it was a good finish from him.

We thought we were going to push on, and I thought we were the better team, but to concede in the last-minute kills you."Everton was also dealt a blow when the club's most valuable player, Jarrad Branthwaite, was stretchered off in the 87th minute with an injury to the center-back. When asked how losing Branthwaite impacted the side, McNeil said: "I think massively, everyone is just gutted for him."Since he's come back from injury, he's been outstanding.