Liverpool vs. Everton: the fierce football rivalry of a great city
The Merseyside derby (the clash between Liverpool and Everton) is always one of the most fiercely contested fixtures in the Barclay’s Premier League. This is owing to the fact that the Scousers (inhabitants of the city of Liverpool) are very passionate about
their football and almost everyone in Liverpool supports one of these clubs, which makes for an electrifying atmosphere on the day of the derby.
This time though, the derby finds both the clubs in unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the points table, Everton holding the 16th position with Liverpool a place behind at 17th. The last time these two great teams were so low in
the points table was way back in 1889, thus an even higher interest in the fixture. Historically Liverpool have been the more dominant team having won 70 out of the 182 matches played between these two sides with Everton having won 56.
Being so near the bottom of the table both teams had everything to play for in this game. The match did start off in typical derby fashion, with passion running high and tackles flying in everywhere. The referee Howard Webb, a very experienced and efficient
official, handled these early skirmishes very well though without producing a yellow card for what seemed to be some rash challenges from both sides. Everton truly dominated a large part of the first half, they seemed to be finding space easily behind the
Liverpool midfield, and it was only 12 minutes on the clock when their first chance was skied over by Distin. They looked much sharper and more assured on the ball than Liverpool who seemed to be running out of ideas on how to stop the Blue tide of Everton
attacks. In the 18th minute Webb reluctantly produced the first yellow card for Maxi Rodriguez’s challenge on Everton’s Baines. Liverpool by then had started creating some decent half chances, but Torres’ glancing header was easily gathered by keeper
Howard and Lucas putting one over the crossbar seconds later. The game kept getting more physical and Cahill of Everton and Meireles of Liverpool got yellow cards in quick succession in the 28th and 31st minutes respectively. Everton’s
dominance finally paid off and Cahill unleashed a rattling strike in the 34th minute after some good work to get to the by-line and then cut back from young Coleman. Everton sat back and defended pretty comfortably up till half-time without much
happening, as Liverpool seemed stunned by the goal.
After half-time, Liverpool looked like a much better side with more cohesion in the midfield and better and sharper passing movement. All that good work though amounted to nothing as Everton scored again in the 50th minute. Off a cleared corner,
Arteta let rip a rasping shot that left the Liverpool defence and keeper watching ruefully as the ball sailed past them into the net. The onus then was now on Liverpool to attack, but with the majority of the fans at Goodison Park obviously behind the Blue
version of Liverpool, the Reds found it difficult to create any chances of real effect. The introduction of attacking players like Ngog, Babel and Jovanovic as the game neared its end did see the tempo rise, but by then Everton had shut up shop and were defending
with all their might. Torres did get some good chances in the dying moments of the game, skying one in the 65th minute and having another one well saved by Tim Howard in the 87th minute. Meireles also tried his luck a few times from distance
but failed in his attempt to break down the Everton defence, as did Cole and Gerrard. The result perhaps had been decided when that second goal from Arteta went in, because Liverpool certainly did not look capable of coming back from a two-goal deficit on
today’s display.
The loss then does not signify a good start for the new owners, as the team seems to be sinking deeper into the mire. The pressure on manger Roy Hodgson and the star players has increased tenfold after this derby loss to put things right at Anfield, as the
once great team finds itself in the relegation zone in 19th place. The manger and players need to respond to this crisis fittingly in the coming few weeks to save this powerhouse of English club football from further embarrassment, and to get it
to the top half of the table at the very least where it truly belongs.
Tags: