After being dumped out of the Carling Cup last Wednesday by Blackburn, Everton’s UEFA Cup hopes have also now been crushed at the first hurdle by Standard Liege.

A far-post tap-in from Axel Witsel gave the Belgian side the lead tonight, and although Phil Jagielka gave the Toffees hope, Milan Jovanovic grabbed the winner from the spot after being bundled over by Leighton Baines.

Everton came into the game requiring a 1-0 victory to progress to the group stages, a task described by goalkeeper Tim Howard as “simple.”

Howard, though, rightly tempered his comment by taking into account his side’s recent defensive frailties as the Toffees had conceded 16 goals in eight games prior to this first-round, second-leg tie this season.

Defeating Standard would almost certainly have required a clean sheet, something Everton had not achieved for a run of 13 games stretching back into last season.

In a concerted effort to achieve this Moyes made Joseph Yobo his fall guy for recent failures, relegating the Nigeria centre-back to the bench.

In pairing Jagielka with Joleon Lescott at the heart of the back four, it allowed Baines to return at left-back.

The home side played a patient game in front of their passionate support at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.

The Belgian champions allowed Everton to pass and probe with ease and authority in the early exchanges, even though the visitors carried the added threat of playing two in attack.

Moyes handed Louis Saha only his second start of the season since his summer move from Manchester United.

The Frenchman was also appearing in a European tie for the first time in almost 10 months despite the Reds’ march to last season’s Champions League title.

Injuries, though, took their toll on Saha, prompting his eventual move, and he appeared a player out of sorts as the visitors barely threatened Aragon Espinoza in the opening 45 minutes.

One early half-chance saw Saha slip in the area and with a clear sight of goal just he shot wide.

Right-back Tony Hibbert did manage to sting Espinoza’s fingers with a low drive from just outside the area soon after, but the Ecuador goalkeeper was quick to pounce on the ball.

Then came the moment all Evertonians had been dreading as Standard stretched the visitors’ failure to keep a clean sheet to 14 games.

The goal was sparked by a fierce 22-yard drive from captain Steven Defour that swerved through the air, forcing Howard into a fingertip save to his left.

The loose ball, though, was swiftly collected by Jovanovic who delivered a looping cross to the far post.

With Howard still scrambling to his feet following his efforts moments previously, Witsel was able to sidefoot home from a yard out.

That left Everton needing to score twice against a team who had only conceded three goals in six Jupiler League games this season.

Saha had another half-effort before the break, but again failed to properly connect from 15 yards, giving Espinoza an easy take.

After the anonymous Ayegbeni Yakubu headed a Mikel Arteta cross wide in the 58th minute, Moyes then went for broke four minutes later in bringing on a third striker in Victor Anichebe.

The move provided a spark as it was a drive from Anichebe that spun off the clearing head of Witsel which led to the equaliser.

From the ensuing corner swung in by Arteta, Espinoza rose unmarked to collect, only to drop the ball at his feet.

Even then he appeared to have time to make amends for his howler, but was so slow in reacting, it allowed Jagielka to toe poke home his third career goal for Everton, and first since February.

But 12 minutes from time Baines bundled over Jovanovic inside the area, with German referee Peter Sippel instantly pointing to the spot.

After Baines was booked, Jovanovic beat Howard from 12 yards with a low left-foot shot, compounding a miserable night for Everton.