Swansea 0 Everton 0 reaction: Player ratings from the Liberty Stadium

Who was the star man?

(Getty Images)

STAR PLAYER

ROSS BARKLEY: Good news for England as confidence is oozing from every pore of the Everton man. Excelling in the free role handed to him and pulled the strings again as the Toffees' went in search of a goal. Unfortunate not to claim the assist his approach play deserved but Swansea just could not get near to him at times and now looking like a real star in the making.

PLAYER RATINGS

Swansea

Lukasz Fabianski: 7 (out of 10)

Kyle Naughton: 6

Federico Fernandez: 7

Ashley Williams: 7

Neil Taylor: 7

Jack Cork: 8

Jonjo Shelvey: 6

Gylfi Sigurdsson: 5

Jefferson Montero: 6

Andre Ayew: 6

Bafetimbi Gomis: 6

Subs

Ki Sung-yueng: 6

Eder: 6

Modou Barrow: 6

Everton

Tim Howard: 7

Tyias Browning: 7

John Stones: 7

Phil Jagielka: 7

Brendan Galloway: 7

Gareth Barry: 7

James McCarthy: 6

Arouna Kone: 6

Ross Barkley: 8

Steven Naismith: 6

Romelu Lukaku: 5

Subs

Gerard Deulofeu: 6

Kevin Mirallas: 3

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Neither goalkeeper looked in the mood to be beaten but Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was left helpless when Barkley's deflected shot fell kindly to Lukaku. The big Belgian got a toe to the ball to lift it over Fabianski but the Poland international was saved by his ever-alert skipper Williams, who had got back on the line to clear. Brilliant defending.

VIEW FROM THE BENCH

Case of the master against the apprentice as Swansea boss Garry Monk came up against his former manager Roberto Martinez at the Liberty Stadium. Monk was attempting to mastermind Swansea's first-ever victory over Everton in league combat but he came up against opponents who were well-organised and slick on the counter-attack. Excellent tactical exercise was halved.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

There was plenty of decent defending on show with two of the best centre-back partnerships in the Premier League on view. But some of the finishing was careless to say the least with both Gomis and Lukaku failing to find the target when well placed. A cooler head in such circumstances may well have unlocked the defensive door and found thw way to goal.

WHO'S UP NEXT

Hull v Swansea (Capital One Cup, Tuesday, 22 September)

Reading v Everton (Capital One Cup, Tuesday, 22 September)

PA