I hardly get to comment on matches anymore, just end up going to bed straight after, which I guess helps me to keep a less emotional perspective when I do comment - unlike a few other Liverpool fans who appear to be losing their sanity after the recent performances (looking at you Hitch).
The Everton game was one you would normally just write off as "one of those games" if it didn't come on the back of disappointment. Liverpool largely controlled the game, stuttering in attack but not putting a foot wrong in defence. Jagielka scores what is probably the only long range strike he'll ever score and that's that. Frustrating, but it's gonna happen sometimes.
Player by player: Mignolet was fine, untested basically. Manquillo solid as ever, Sktrel and Lovren did well against an extremely tepid attack. Moreno probably MotM, handled Lukaku with ease whilst still getting forward a lot. Gerrard's goal somewhat covered up his deficiencies. Defensively he had little to do, and Everton rarely targeted him, so one would expect a lot more but in attack he was either giving the ball away or leaving it to Henderson. Henderson himself would be the other contender for Motm, ran the midfield. Stirling looked bright but not his best in terms of final balls. Lallana was very effective but like Stirling lacked the killer ball.
On Markovic, my one comment at half time I noted that he was playing poorly because he had a very difficult job to do tactically, and that Rodgers needed to change it up with him. Lo and behold, he switched positions in the second half and was suddenly a lot more productive. Unlucky to be taken off, I feel. However, a big positive from the match was how Coutinho appeared revitalised in his cameo.
As for Balotelli, I noted someone posted some "stats" to show how Balotelli did poorly. In actual fact, those stats were very impressive for a striker, but the key stat remains bad - goals scored. I think in a lot of areas Balotelli did very well yesterday - tracking back, picking out some intelligent passes and making some good tackles. But I wonder if the new responsibilities he is having to do are making it harder for him to concentrate on his attacking game. Regardless, he needs to learn how to contribute as a team member first, it's just unfortunate that Liverpool are relying on him as the main striker at the the same time.
Finally, the disappointment of the result was compounded by seeing the major top 4 rivals win once again - no, not United, Southampton. Some joked about them being top 4 contenders but they should have been genuine. Anyone who cares at all for stats, all of the models I follow have Southampton as the far greater threat than United (or Tottenham or Everton or someone).