Everton accept Chelsea bid for Pienaar

Following Everton’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool, David Moyes confirmed the club have accepted a bid from Chelsea for Steven Pienaar.

South Africa midfielder Pienaar has been heavily linked with a move away from Goodison Park after failing to sign a contract extension in the close season.

And Everton boss Moyes opted to leave the 28-year-old former Ajax man out of the Everton team that came away from Anfield with a point on Sunday.

“We’ve given his representatives a chance to talk to Chelsea but they’ve not got permission to talk to Tottenham because they’ve not offered the same money,” Moyes said.

“Steven came to see me yesterday and said he didn’t feel he was in the right place to play … I felt it would be better not to use him if that was the case.”

“He will be in training tomorrow because at the moment we don’t have a deal.”

“If Tottenham offer the same money, that may change or maybe he will agree terms with Chelsea.”

Everton trailed initially in the derby through a Raul Meireles strike 29 minutes in.

Sylvain Distin equalised and Jermaine Beckford then gave Everton the lead, before a Dirk Kuyt penalty levelled proceedings.

“We were a bit fortunate only to come in 1-0 down at half-time,” Moyes said.

“But while it was at that we were always in the game, and it was a great reaction from the players after half-time which got us back in it.”

“I thought we had a couple of half-chances to make it 3-1,” he added.

“You can always be left ruing that but we were the better team in the second half, we played well in the second half and we actually come away feeling a bit disappointed that we didn’t take all three points.”

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish also felt his team were unfortunate not to go on and win the match.

“There was great, great courage and great commitment from the players because they really pulled themselves off the floor,” Dalgish said.

“I think at the end of the day we’re a little bit unlucky only to come away with a point, but we’re very pleased with what they (the Liverpool players) did.”

“I would say at this moment in time the luck just isn’t going for us.”