Everton 2 Standard Liege 2: Castillo strike sees Moyes draw some comfort after blunders

Everton won more games than any other team in last season's Uefa Cup yet it required an exquisite finish from Segundo Castillo to rescue David Moyes's side from defeat against Standard Liege last night. Castillo, who joined on a season-long loan from Red Star Belgrade last month, marked his Goodison Park debut with a long range finish to keep alive Everton's hopes of reaching the group stages.

But it will require a much improved performance from Moyes's side if they are to advance beyond the first round after an error-ridden display allowed the visitors from Belgium to gain the upper hand ahead of next month's second leg.

Everton were twice forced to come from behind on an uncomfortable night for the Merseyside club, who had striker Victor Anichebe stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.

"Our defending was poor," said Moyes. "We know we need to score over there, but we need to keep a clean sheet and that is something we haven't done this season."

The up-beat atmosphere around Goodison Park quickly evaporated as Dieudonne Mbokani fired the visitors into a ninth minute lead after Joleon Lescott had allowed Wilfried Dalmat to fire in a low cross.

One quality Everton do not appear to be lacking is character and they were level when Yakubu, made it six goals in as many appearances following good work by Leon Osman midway through the first half. Yet Everton seemed hell bent on making life difficult for themselves. Ten minutes before half-time Liege scored a second away goal courtesy of an error by Joseph Yobo, the defender stabbing the ball into his own net while attempting to cut out Marcos Camozzato's low cross.

The lead lasted three minutes thanks to Castillo's stunning finish, the Ecuador international finding the target from 25-yards. However, Moyess relief turned to frustration when Anichebe was stretchered off following a challenge by Bonfim Dante.

Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott; Anichebe (Vaughan 64), Castillo, Osman, Arteta; Cahill, Yakubu. Substitutes not used: Nash, Baines, Valente, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz, Baxter.

Standard Liege (4-3-3): Aragon; Camozzato, Onyewu, Sarr, Dante; Dalmat, Jovanovic, Defour, Witsel; De Camargo (Nicaise 87), Mbokani. Substitutes not used: De Vriendt, Goreux, Toama, Mikulic, Ingrao, Gozalez.

Referee: G Gilewski (Poland).