Liverpool's Last XI to Win at Goodison Park: Where Are They Now?
Liverpool make the short trip across Stanley Park for the 227th Merseyside derby on Monday night, with both sides looking to give their supporters some pre-Christmas celebrations.
The cliche is that form goes out of the window in such matches, and with four draws in a row in this fixture, Liverpool are looking for their first win at Goodison Park since 2011, while Everton are looking for their first derby victory of any kind since 2010.
This will be the first visit to Goodison Park for Reds' boss Jurgen Klopp, with former manager Brendan Rodgers having been sacked within hours of the final whistle in this fixture last season.
Rodgers remained unbeaten in Merseyside derbies but never won at Goodison—overseeing 2-2, 3-3, 0-0 and 1-1 draws.
So while Liverpool have the clear edge over the neighbours when playing at Anfield—where the Blues are without a win since 1999—they've struggled to get the three points at the home of the Toffees in recent years.
Indeed, of the Liverpool squad, only one player started the last time Liverpool won at Goodison just over five years ago, which shows how much the Reds squad has changed in recent years. That man is the longest-serving Liverpool player, Lucas Leiva.
Captain Jordan Henderson was also in the squad that day and replaced Lucas for the final two minutes in what was a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from strike duo Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.
Liverpool were helped by Jack Rodwell's sending off midway through the first half, giving Kenny Dalglish's side a win that moved them up to fifth in the Premier League.
The 2011/12 campaign was Dalglish's only full season in charge after he'd been placed in permanent charge following a strong end to his interim spell the previous term. The campaign ended in disappointing fashion, with Liverpool finishing eighth, 37 points behind league winners Manchester City. A League Cup victory was not enough to save Dalglish's job.
With Lucas and Henderson the only survivors from the Reds' squad that last won at Goodison, we take a look at where the rest of that starting XI are today.
Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina
The 2011/12 campaign represented a decline in Pepe Reina's form after a disappointing previous year that was preceded by five strong seasons before that. The Spaniard struggled for consistency, and some fans started to bemoan the opponent scoring from their one shot on target.
Reina was sent off at Newcastle United late in the campaign, which ended his streak of 183 consecutive Premier League appearances, but he remained as the No. 1 for the following season, Rodgers' first in charge. The signing of Simon Mignolet in 2013 then saw him depart on loan for Napoli, where he is the first-choice goalkeeper. He signed for Bayern Munich in 2014 before making a permanent switch to the Italian side the following year.
At 34, he recently broke back into the Spain team.
Right-Back: Martin Kelly
Martin Kelly was given opportunities under Dalglish, but injuries continued to hold him back, and he left the club in 2014, joining Crystal Palace for around £2 million.
He's struggled to hold down a starting role at Selhurst Park but is enjoying a run of games at right-back because of the long-term injury to Pape Souare, which has seen Joel Ward move to left-back.
Centre-Back: Martin Skrtel
Liverpool's demise from title contenders in 2009 to mid-table mediocrity from 2010 to 2016 mirrored Martin Skrtel's role as the club's regular centre-back. Whether that was just coincidence is for the individual to decide.
The Slovakian departed Anfield this past summer, joining Fenerbahce for £5.5 million, with Klopp signing Joel Matip to replace him. Quite the upgrade.
Centre-Back: Jamie Carragher
Alongside Skrtel was Jamie Carragher, captaining the side in Steven Gerrard's absence. Carra played in 30 Merseyside derbies before his retirement in 2013.
He can now be found as a pundit on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football.
Left-Back: Jose Enrique
The year before this, when Liverpool lost 2-0 under the management of Roy Hodgson, they had Paul Konchesky at left-back, so in that respect, Jose Enrique was an upgrade after being signed from Newcastle United in the summer.
The Spaniard enjoyed a decent first season and looked like he could finally provide a long-term solution to a problematic position at Anfield. But he went on to struggle with injuries and only played two seasons as a regular.
He left last summer, having made 21 appearances in his final three seasons. He signed for Real Zaragoza in Spain's Segunda Division—he's made 10 appearances and scored once so far this term.
Right Midfield: Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt enjoyed plenty of success in Merseyside derbies, netting five goals in his 13 appearances against the Blues. But he missed a first-half penalty in this fixture during his final season at Anfield.
Despite having finished the previous season in sensational form on the right of Dalglish's midfield, scoring a hat-trick against Manchester United, the Dutchman found himself as a bit-part player after Dalglish signed Henderson and Stewart Downing in the summer of 2011.
Despite now being 36, Kuyt is still going strong, with six goals and four assists for Feyenoord so far this season.
Central Midfield: Lucas Leiva
The only starting player from this game still at the club, Lucas has seemingly almost left Liverpool seemingly on every transfer window since 2011!
The Brazilian made his league debut in a Merseyside derby, and an appearance on Monday would be his 16th against the Blues.
Central Midfield: Charlie Adam
Along with the additions of Downing and Henderson in the summer, Dalglish signed Charlie Adam from Blackpool. The Scottish midfielder failed at Anfield and left after one season.
He's now a semi-regular player for Stoke City but has strangely claimed recently that he could still be at Anfield had he opted to stay when Rodgers came in.
"No disrespect, but Jordan is still there, and he’s playing every week," he said recently. "You never know. That might have been my situation."
Nah. Probably not, Charlie.
Left Midfield: Stewart Downing
Adam lasted only one season, while £19 million signing Downing lasted another year before leaving the Reds, as Dalglish's signings were quickly moved on because they lacked the quality required.
After signing for West Ham United, Downing rejoined his hometown club, Middlesbrough, in 2015 and helped them to promotion to the Premier League.
Now aged 32, Downing struggles to get a regular starting spot at Boro. He came off the bench against Liverpool in their recent encounter at the Riverside Stadium.
Centre-Forward: Luis Suarez
In 2011, Luis Suarez wasn't quite the sensational centre-forward he went on to become. Signed from Ajax the previous winter, the Uruguayan was finding his feet in England, but sometimes his finishing was inconsistent.
Two years later, he inspired Liverpool to an unexpected title challenge with some of the best individual displays Anfield has ever witnessed.
He can now be found spearheading Barcelona's attack, breaking goalscoring records but bizarrely being overlooked for individual honours such as the Ballon d'Or despite being the world's best No. 9 in the last two years.
Centre-Forward: Andy Carroll
Alongside Suarez was Liverpool's club-record signing, Andy Carroll. The Englishman struggled at Anfield but did hit two quite memorable goals against Everton, one in this fixture and one at Wembley Stadium in the FA Cup semi-final later that season.
Plagued by injuries since his permanent move to West Ham United in 2013, Carroll's career is one that might have been fantastic but looks unlikely to ever fulfil potential.
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