Central Is Key To Semi-Final Success

THE FA Cup semi-final at Wembley this weekend is expected to be evenly contested.

For the first time since, well, the last derby, Everton come into the game with considerable momentum at their backs and the wind in their sails and are arguably the favourites owing to Liverpool’s catastrophic form.

We’ve won one game since the 3-0 demolition almost a month ago, and the crows of the Evertonians have grown ever louder since their replay victory over Sunderland. They enter the game unbeaten since the league derby and to be honest, they probably should be favourites considering we are bang out of form.

Whilst I don’t think Everton are a better team than us, we are going to have to considerably step up our game if we want to tell our ma that we’re going to Wembley thrice. I could write about our poor form for a whole article, but apart from the last 15-20 minutes against Aston Villa we have been insipid since the 72nd minute against QPR when we completely switched off.

I believe that winning the central midfield battle will give us a very good chance of winning this game. I spoke at length a few weeks ago about how dominant our central midfield was in the 3-0 win and I think Gerrard and Spearing might get the nod again on Saturday. We might keep Henderson central (as the game went on he grew into it against Villa I thought) and there’s Shelvey as well.

But for me, Gerrard and Spearing offer what we need in the derby – grit and determination in spades. Spearing has had a mixed season with some excellent performances and some shockers. He has made mistakes that have cost us goals. He is still a young lad and he is still learning, but there is no margin for error in a one off game of this magnitude. What Spearing does give is a pressing game and that is something we have lacked all too much in recent weeks.

Losing Lucas is a massive blow as his reading of the game and his ball winning is almost unrivalled. Spearing isn’t of that quality but can give us an edge with his harassing and his chasing. He’s arguably the only one of our midfielders who will consistently challenge for second balls. Not winning the second ball has been something that has plagued, and will probably continue to plague our season.
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Gerrard is a must start, I think that goes without saying. His importance in a derby game cannot be underestimated. Just the mere sight of him gets Evertonians frothing at the mouth. That alone is a reason to start him. The skipper hasn’t played well since that hat-trick to be honest, but if he ups his game then he is the obvious candidate to be a match winner.

Henderson and Shelvey are central midfield options but I can’t see them being picked in the middle on this occasion. Henderson might well (controversially) sneak a place on the right, but I think Shelvey will be benched. Both are players of some promise but are currently lacking in the final third. Lacking ability? I doubt it, especially in the case of Shelvey. Lacking in confidence? Unquestionably.

Gerrard and Spearing will start for me – and they have the potential to overrun the Everton central midfield if they both play well.

We also need to take our chances. Everton are quite clinical with their chances, look at Jelavic for example. We have been atrocious in front of goal this season, look no further than Kuyt’s unspeakable miss against Villa on Saturday. Saying “take your chances” is stating the bleeding obvious and it’s clichéd but in our case it couldn’t be a more pertinent point.

Another key area I think is crucial is not on the pitch but in the head. There have been a number of occasions when Everton have entered games against us in the ascendency and have fancied their chances against us. They have come up short. They have even been 11 against 10 in their favour for long spells in the match, and have still come up short. This game is as season defining for us as it is them. If we approach this game with the right mentality, I honestly believe it can play a crucial factor in terms of a result. Our form isn’t great, but Everton have struggled against us when the pressure is on in the past.

A win is a must. Losing is unthinkable. Momentum isn’t with us, every dog has their day and the law of averages says we must lose to them sooner or later in a game like this, but let’s not let it be this time.

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