The striker missed two second-half opportunities to lead Liverpool to victory over Everton, while the captain highlighted Jon Flanagan as the standout performer at Goodison Park

Steven Gerrard has warned Hull City that Luis Suarez is “desperate” to make amends for missing the chance to lead Liverpool to victory over Everton.

The striker scored a free kick in the 3-3 derby draw, but missed two chances in the second half that would have ensured his side kept within touching distance of leaders Arsenal.

And Gerrard is sure Suarez will look to right those wrongs at the KC Stadium on Sunday with Liverpool looking to return to winning ways.

“Luis is a machine. He’s right up there with the best in the world,” Gerrard told reporters. “Luis is the type of player who won’t be thinking about his free kick after the game, he’ll be thinking about the header he missed.

“That’s why he’s so good. He’ll be desperate to get back out and make amends for that.

“That’s what the best players do, they don’t get big-headed over the good things they do but analyse the mistakes and where it went wrong and how they can improve.”

Gerrard, meanwhile, picked out Jon Flanagan for praise, after the 20-year-old was afforded his first ever start in the derby – with the captain likening the defender to the recently retired Jamie Carragher.

“Our star man for me was Jon Flanagan by a country mile,” he told the Liverpool Echo. “He doesn’t get many headlines but as captain of the team he was the player I am most proud of. I thought he was unbelievable.

“He’s been fighting hard in training just to get in the 18, never mind the starting 11, but the manager threw him in at the deep end against a top class player like Mirallas and I thought he was sensational.

“It was one of the best derby performances I have seen for many years. He reminds me of Carragher in a lot of ways.

“He was on the front foot, he was aggressive. He did exactly what the manager told him to do before kick off. He was brilliant.

“All of the players gave him a round of applause when he came in the dressing room afterwards. He was sensational.”

The on-loan forward believes there is nothing preventing the Toffees aiming for Europe’s elite competition after starring in Saturday’s Merseyside derby

Everton’s Romelu Lukaku sees no reason that his side cannot set their sights on Champions League qualification this season after the striker netted a brace in Saturday’s 3-3 draw with rivals Liverpool.

The Belgian scored his sixth and seventh Premier League goals of the season in his first Merseyside derby as Everton looked to be on their way to a long-awaited victory over their local rivals, although a late equaliser ensured the points were shared.

“To play in the derby was such an honour and to two score two goals,” Lukaku told BT Sport. “My team-mates helped me a lot. To help the team get back in the game, it was great. The pity was that we didn’t win.

“It [Lukaku’s second goal] was a great header. We worked a lot of set pieces, but it usually doesn’t come off. Week after week I just try to improve. Every game in the Premier League is a big challenge.

“This year we have a great squad, a lot of experience and a lot of young players too. It’s a good mix. Hopefully we’ll end up very high in the league. Champions League – why not?”

Meanwhile, Toffees manager Roberto Martinez lamented his side’s set-piece frailties after a late Daniel Sturridge header denied them the three points.

The hosts were denied a first Merseyside derby win since October 2010 thanks to Sturridge’s conversion of a Steven Gerrard free-kick a minute from time at Goodison Park. Philippe Coutinho had previously opened the scoring following a Liverpool corner.

“The two teams played in the right manner, created a lot of chances,” he said.

“But conceding two goals from set pieces is very disappointing. We were (trailing twice) when Liverpool didn’t even have a shot on target (from open play).

“Overall I think we had the better chances, I think Liverpool got too big a reward from the game. But overall it was a fantastic football game.”

The Liverpool boss believes the Uruguayan would have been dismissed had he been the aggressor, but remains pleased with the character and resilience his side showed

Brendan Rodgers insists Kevin Mirallas should have been shown a red card for his first-half challenge on Luis Suarez during Saturday’s pulsating Merseyside derby.

Mirallas was booked for leaving a foot in high on Suarez’s knee with Liverpool leading 2-1, and Everton afterwards rallied to lead the match until Daniel Sturridge’s late equaliser.

Rodgers is adamant the Belgian should have seen red, and after the match suggested Suarez would have been dismissed for the same challenge as a result of his controversial reputation.

“I thought Mirallas should have went,” he told BT Sport.

“It would have been interesting if Luis Suarez had made the challenge. It was a poor, poor challenge. Those are career-threatening challenges. It should have been a red.”

Despite the decision, Rodgers was happy with the character his side showed to claim a point away from home in a pulsating Merseyside derby clash.

“When you come to your rivals, it’s very important that you don’t lose,” he added. “Everton have a great home record, you have to show resilience and character, and we showed that.

“We can score goals – we showed that again today.

“Overall I’m delighted with the character of the players and [it was] a good point away from home.

“There’s a hell of a long way to go and there’s some great teams up there, but we feel like we’re improving all the time.”