[Getty Images]An opportunity missed. It's as simple as that.

The players will have woken up on Monday morning wondering where it went wrong against an average Liverpool side.

The officiating was questionable, but that was only part of the story.

The day felt primed for an Everton win. Glorious spring sunshine, a coach welcome for the ages and an atmosphere within Hill Dickinson Stadium to match.

The players seemed to feed off the fans early on, with an intensity and purpose that matched the energetic Evertonians.

Sadly, the disallowed Iliman Ndiaye goal, shortly followed by the Liverpool opener, sucked the air out of the stadium, meaning the remainder of the half left us hoping not to concede another.

Everton have shown plenty of heart this season, coming from behind to pick up points.

The intent shown at the beginning of the second half was indicative of that resilience, with the Beto equaliser not only deserved, but expected.

Our disappointment stems from not being able to kick on and ultimately test Freddie Woodman in the Liverpool goal.

The loss of the inspired Beto and – more concerning – the dominant Jarrad Branthwaite, were two pivotal moments that shifted the momentum in the game. The cost of defeat certainly weighs heavy.

The winner was a sickener. There's no other way to describe it. Naivety in our defensive set-up for their corner in allowing one of only two threats to win the header was unforgivable.

Jordan Pickford was left unprotected by his defenders. It's a lesson we seem to not learn from regularly.

A crumb of consolation is that the better side lost. Something the players can take heart from.

It's imperative we dust ourselves down before this weekend's trip to West Ham. The assault on the European places is still very much alive.