Moyes shrugs off Benitez blast

David Moyes has hit back at Rafael Benitez’s stinging criticism over Everton’s defensive tactics.

The Goodison Park chief unashamedly lauded his side’s tremendous defensive display in the Merseyside FA Cup derby, which was heavily criticised by Liverpool boss Benitez.

And the Goodison Park chief is now relishing a fourth-round home replay on February 4 after yesterday’s 1-1 draw.

Moyes refuses to be bowed by Benitez’s attack, having also claimed a 1-1 league draw at Anfield last Monday with a similar defiant display.

And he goaded Liverpool, saying: “They have spent big to win trophies, so let’s look at the difference in the values of the squads.

“People would say Liverpool should have won both these two derbies, but they haven’t done it.

“We defended stoutly, we used lots of bodies and we made it hard for them to score.

“You are allowed to defend, there is nobody who says you are not allowed to do that. We were just determined to make it very hard for them.

“Just like we did last Monday. But to get two creditable draws at Anfield isn’t bad.”

Everton, who led at the break through Joleon Lescott’s header, were crippled by injuries and Marouane Fellaini’s two-match suspension.

Now Moyes believes he will have more top quality at his disposal for what could be an explosive replay.

He said: “It doesn’t matter how you get through, you do it. But we have been hard to beat recently, and I was disappointed that we conceded the equaliser to Steven Gerrard like that.

“There was always a concern when Liverpool equalised so early in the second half that they would go on and get another with all that pressure.

“But we hung in there after the break. We were very resilient and getting a draw was fine."

He added: “We did miss Mikel Arteta, who was out with a rib injury. He makes us play better, he makes us pass the ball better.

“But you must not forget that we were without Mikel, without (Marouane) Fellaini, without (Ayegbeni) Yakubu, without Louis Saha. They are top players who could have made a difference."

Everton were also left gloating over another set-piece goal against the Reds, with Tim Cahill – who scored the equaliser in the league match from a free-kick - setting up Lescott to head home from a corner.

Everton must play Arsenal and Manchester United before next week’s replay, and Lescott said: “We have never doubted ourselves in the big games and we have proven twice in a few days that we can cope.

“We have obviously got some massive games coming up but again we are confident we can hold out at the back.”