EVERTON hosted city neighbours-cum-rivals Liverpool this Sunday in the 219th Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Even before the game started, everyone, including me knew that it would be an exciting game mixed with some controversy and passionate displays of football from both sides.
The long standing rivalry, hostility and some amount of mutual respect between the two clubs have been highlights of all the previous Merseyside derbies, which do not usually disappoint, and this was no exception.
The hostility was apparent from the word go, with some heated exchanges and, eventually, several yellow cards produced, with refereeing decisions questioned – this match saw everything. Though the result seems to be just about justified, Liverpool fans like me, however will not be able to get Luis Suarez’s disallowed goal in stoppage time, out of their minds for days.
Nothing against the referee though, he did a pretty good job in controlling the game for the entire 90 minutes.
There were some positives and negatives to be taken from this match, which ended in a 2-2 draw. I have decided to break it into two parts. This is the first instalment and it will focus on the positives.
Brilliant Tactical Switch By Brendan Rodgers
After taking the 2-0 lead, everyone would have expected Liverpool to hold on to it. However after those goals, Everton started dominating the Reds and it was plain to see during the latter stages of the first half that Liverpool were being overrun. The Reds seemed to have lost the defensive organization, and they were not able to retain possession for long. In short, LFC needed the half to end and start the second half on a better note.
The situation called for a bold move and Brendan Rodgers wasted no time in making it. He took out Suso and Nuri Sahin, who in my opinion did not have a very good game, and replaced them with Jonjo Shelvey and Sebastian Coates. The move allowed the Reds to play with a three-man back line.
Shelvey came on and brought much needed life to the midfield with certain confidence and dynamism, which was missing during the major parts of first half. Coates came in, made a couple crucial stops and brought solidity to the defence, which was rather lacklustre during the first half. Without these changes, Everton would certainly have scored more goals. Liverpool have stuck with 4-3-3 for much of this season, however against Everton, Rodgers switched Liverpool to play with a back three for the second half.
Though Liverpool still struggled in the midfield for most of the game, the second half was no different; the switch however did the trick in defence. The tactical switch was an attempt to neutralize Everton attacks from the flanks, where both Steven Naismith and, particularly, Kevin Mirallas gave the Liverpool fullbacks plenty to worry about. However the extra body in the presence of Coates helped the Reds get their defence sorted, which in turn allowed the fullbacks to be doubled-up on the wide attacks for the home team.
Steven Gerrard Is Still Influential
Steven Gerrard is getting old and at 32 years of age there is no denying that, but he still is Liverpool’s leader on the pitch and he showed it on Sunday with his disciplined performance.
Liverpool’s second goal came from a beautiful free-kick which was nothing short of being world class. He could have had a second assist to his name if it weren’t for a wrong offside call at the death. Gerrard did not look a bit like a 32 year old on Sunday; tracking back to help the defence and making runs from the midfield. His passing was brilliant, which included a great ball through for Suarez, who could not get the right contact with the ball.
Gerrard exchanged a few words with opposing Captain Phil Neville and referee Andre Marriner as the game boiled on. He played his part as a Captain when he shielded the young Raheem Sterling, who almost got himself sent-off in the heat of the game, making few rash challenges in the later part of the first-half.
Luis Suarez Is Disruptive but Still One Of The Best
There is not a single matchday when Suarez does not appear in the headlines, if not for his goals then for other antics on the pitch. This day was no different.
For one, he scored one goal and forced a Leighton Baines own-goal for the other. Second, his goal celebration mocking Everton’s coach in retaliation to the comments he made in a pre-match press conference accusing him of diving, might have raised few eye brows, though I did enjoy it very much. Third, his clumsy challenge on Sylvain Distin in the later part of the game; was it a red or not? It’s still debatable however it was clumsy and an unnecessary tackle made by the Uruguayan. Last but not the least his goal which should have stood – the goal that could have added drama to the game. Everything was right about the goal; the delivery was good, the lay off and the finish were even better but the linesman however, saw things differently and raised his flag for offside.
Luis Suarez once again showed why he is so loved by the Anfield faithful despite his somewhat relatively early career at Liverpool and his divisive nature. Of course, he does infuriate all non-Liverpool fans with his antics, but Suarez is arguably the Reds’ most important player and one of the best in the world.
Steady Improvement As Reds Stay Unbeaten In Four Games
Liverpool should have won, but didn’t. The good thing however is that they continued their unbeaten run, which in my opinion is an improvement on their early season form.
A win over Norwich City, a draw against Stoke City, another victory over Reading and then the derby draw with Everton – four league games unbeaten now for Liverpool, with eight goals scored in the process and four conceded. Not a bad run.
During this time Luis Suarez has netted four goals, got two assists and a goal in the Europa League against Udinese, highlighting his own excellent attacking form as well as the general improvement in Liverpool’s play.
The Reds suffered three defeats in their opening five matches at the start of this season, but it is just one defeat in six matches now as Brendan Rodgers’ side is slowly adapting to his philosophy, with actually being committed and composed enough to take the chances they create.
Liverpool will have five tough league games in November and continued, steady improvement will be the key to where Liverpool will finish in Rodgers’ first season in charge.
Liverpool are up to 12th with a draw; by the time they play Tottenham Hotspurs at the end of next month, the Reds can close the gap on the Londoners, whom they currently trail by seven points. If this gap can be cut short Liverpool should still be on the right track in their quest to finish in the top four.
The second instalment will be posted soon so keep checking!
Thanks a lot for reading. Comments and suggestions are always welcomed. You can also find me on Twitter @LEONGUI7E
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I would argue that the withdrawal of Mirallas at half time, after he was literally kicked off the pitch by the Liverpool midfield, had as much to do with the game developing the way it did as it did with Rodgers’ tactical genius in making the halftime changes.
I would argue that BR realised that Mirallas was causing problems hence that tactical changes at half time, that is why we adopted a 5 man midfield to stop his runs out wide, I’m not saying it would have stopped him completely if he’d stayed on but BR didn’t know this and talking of being kicked of the pitch I’d say feleni did a good attempt on Joe Allen throughout the entire game.