Stick or Twist vs Everton?

FOLLOWING the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal a couple of weeks ago there was really no option but to change tactics and just go for it again Fulham.

We all agreed (because I know Brendan listens to us all!) that Fulham at Anfield should be Philippe Coutinho’s first start since injury and that Steven Gerrard needed to be pushed further forward.

It all worked; we were right and 32 shots and 4 goals were our reward for such profound insight.

But games against sides out of form, like Fulham, where the manager is probably one more heavy defeat away from the sack are easy for anybody to predict and had we got anything other than a solid win at the very least then some serious questions would’ve been asked.

Everton is a different prospect however. And it’s away. And they have a new manager. While trips to Goodison are never simple or straightforward more often than not, under David Moyes, the majority of our last few manages have had the beating of him through a combination of superior tactics, better players and David Moyes’ choking when the big games come along

I feel that Everton under Roberto Martinez will not shrink under the pressure and allow us to dominate the game, looking to bully us and snatch something from set-pieces, as was usually the case under the previous manager.

When the two sides roll out at Goodison at 12:45 on November 23^rd, it will be the first time in many a year that the two have met with such big things at stake. A win, and Liverpool will go top – albeit temporarily – until Arsenal take on Southampton at the Emirates later that day, but given Southampton’s recent form that is far from a foregone conclusion for Arsenal.

A win for Everton and they will move joint second – albeit temporarily – only sitting behind Liverpool on goal difference. As I said, the stakes haven’t been higher for a long time.

Which raises the question: what does Brendan Rodgers do? Does he stick with the side that put in the best performance by the Reds all season, or does he change things up to adapt to the situation and the opposition? It’s a tough one and one that I’m glad I don’t have to make.
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When the two meet at Goodison it’ll be a clash of two sides playing some of the most expansive and impressive football in the country, with both sides having also coupled their attacking instincts with two of the most solid defenses in the league.

Everton have added steel to their midfield in the shape of Gareth Barry, while bringing in two incredible young stars in Gerard Deulefeu and Romelu Lukaku to add to what was already a solid side. While Liverpool have already showed what their attacking quartet can do this season, showing a verve and style which, when at it’s fullest, could rival some of the great Reds front lines of the past.

While the rest of the country would no doubt love to see the two duke it out and go for each other like two sprightly young prize-fighters, you have to wonder whether it would be more wise to approach the game with a little more caution.

As I said, we knew what to expect under Moyes and, ordinarily, he rarely let us down, often allowing Liverpool to overrun the Blues and boss the game but as Martinez’s Everton have surprised many with their defensive solidity and current league placing, it is equally difficult to know what he will do in his first Merseyside derby.

If you could guarantee that Liverpool would fly out of the blocks and dominate the game then I’m sure we could all agree that that is the best way to go. We’ve certainly got the players to manage it.

However, it needs to be taken into account that the derby game will be taking place after a long, dull, two week international break and fatigue, tiredness and jet-lag will no doubt play a part. So while I’m sure we all have a preferred 11 (and we’d more-or-less agree on that preferred 11, no doubt) it may perhaps be best to look at sending out a side to ‘feel’ this new Everton side out.

There is no doubt that Suarez and Sturridge will start, and while I’d definitely stick with Skrtel and Agger, you have to wonder whether Cissokho would be a good choice for such a big game, after his rather ropey spell that has started his Liverpool career. If Enrique isn’t fit, I’d rather see Sakho or even Toure pushed to left-back.

The midfield pretty much picks itself but I do wonder whether it is worth risking Coutinho from the start. He’ll be much further along in his return from injury but his match fitness will still be in question, and the derby is traditionally a swashbuckling game that he may have difficulty keeping up with.

I feel that, as is often the case against Everton, the game will be won in midfield and so it may be worth bringing Joe Allen back in and allow either Henderson or Gerrard to play as the more advanced midfielder, allowing us to bring a fresh and dangerous Coutinho into the fray if we’re looking to press the Blues hard later in the game.

A lot of this is dependent on whether we’ll go 4-3-3 or 3-5-2, and that is open to guess work. As I said, we all saw that reverting to the formation that fared so well last season paid dividends last weekend but that doesn’t mean it’s going to work every week.

At the end of the day Brendan Rodgers holds all the cards when it comes to how we’re going to approach derby day but with all things taken into consideration, I really wouldn’t be surprised if he sprung a surprise or two come the morning of kick-off on 23^rd November.

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