Premier League: Everton v Liverpool half time report
Everton 1 Liverpool 0
Everton have the lead at Goodison Park over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby thanks to Tim Cahill’s goal.
Cahill broke the deadlock on 33 minutes after firing in Seamus Coleman’s cross into the top corner. Coleman made a positive forward run down the right, and his cross found the Australian, who hammered his shot past Liverpool ‘keeper Pepe Reina.
The first real chance of the game came courtesy of Everton, with Phil Jagielka firing over from inside the penalty area after picking up the loose ball on 11 minutes.
Just a couple of minutes later, Sylvain Distin of all players popped up in the box with a shot on his left-foot after swivelling away from the Liverpool defence, and his shot was deflected over the bar.
Everton always begin well at Goodison Park, getting in your faces and putting pressure from the front. Like they did against Manchester United, they were hustling their local rivals all over the field, with Liverpool unable to get into the game.
Midway through the first half, Fernando Torres had Liverpool’s first effort of the game, with Everton ‘keeper Tim Howard tipping the Spaniard’s header over the bar.
Yakubu starting up front for Everton bulldozed his way past Raul Meireles and ran from the halfway line, but his shot was comfortable for Liverpool Reina.
With Liverpool winning more battles in the court than on the field this week, they slowly got back into the first half, keeping the ball better but not troubling Howard’s goal.
Twelve minutes before the break Everton were rewarded for their efforts in the first half via Cahill’s fourth league goal of the season and the Toffee’s top scorer. His trademark celebration shortly followed after the powerful shot as well.
Watching from the stands was Liverpool’s new owner John W Henry of New England Sports Ventures, and for his first taste of English football, where better to learn about your new purchase than with a match against the old foe.
Merseyside derbies are always feisty affairs, and the way Mikel Arteta of Everton went in on Lucas in the opening few minutes, this one wasn’t going to be any different.
This fixture has produced the most red cards than any other fixture in the Premier League (19), with 10 of those coming in the last 11 meetings.
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