Liverpool vs. Everton: Score, Grades and Reaction from Merseyside Derby
Phil Jagielka scored a stunning late equaliser as Everton rescued a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the season's first Merseyside derby on Saturday in an absorbing Premier League clash at Anfield.
Captain Steven Gerrard had put the hosts ahead with a fine free-kick in the 65th minute, but Jagielka earned Everton a point with a sweetly struck goal in stoppage time.
While the match saw only two goals, it featured plenty of incidents at both ends on a typically feisty derby day. Both sides had penalty appeals turned down in the first half and Liverpool's Mario Balotelli missed a golden chance to put his side 2-0 ahead shortly after the opener.
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The draw leaves Liverpool with seven points from six matches, a disappointing total for Brendan Rodgers' side after last season's second-place finish. Everton, meanwhile, have earned six points from six matches and still have won only once this season.
Liverpool won this fixture 4-0 last season as they pushed Manchester City all the way for the league title. Well aware that a result could have a similarly propulsive effect, both teams started ferociously, as expected.
In the first minute, Everton's Gareth Barry scythed down Adam Lallana along the edge of the visitors' box, earning a yellow card for his trouble. The foul gave Liverpool an early opportunity in sight of goal, but Balotelli hit the ensuing free-kick off the wall.
Everton appealed for a penalty in the fifth minute as Romelu Lukaku went to ground just inside the corner of the box under a challenge from Alberto Moreno. Referee Martin Atkinson waved play on, but replays suggested he could have awarded a penalty.
Liverpool then had a penalty appeal of their own in the ninth minute as Barry blocked a Sterling shot with his forearm in Everton's box. Again, Atkinson waved play on, and moments later, he refrained from showing Barry a second yellow card for a late foul on Balotelli.
From the ensuing free-kick, Balotelli bounced a dangerous shot toward the far post, where Howard stretched to push the ball away. Another chance came from the following corner as Lallana powered a header on target, but again Howard saved.
It had been a breathless start, but both teams soon settled as the pace dropped a notch and chances came less frequently.
In the 22nd minute, Lukaku cut inside from the right flank and curled a well-struck shot straight at Simon Mignolet. Four minutes later, Leighton Baines won the ball off Lazar Markovic deep inside Liverpool's box before passing across the face of goal. But with Lukaku lurking at the back post, Dejan Lovren cleared the danger.
The next chance went to Liverpool, Jordan Henderson testing Howard with a high shot in the 29th minute. Everton then lost forward Kevin Mirallas to a hamstring injury, with the Belgian leaving the match on a stretcher in the 31st minute. He was replaced by Aiden McGeady.
Chances became even more scarce in the latter stages of the first half. Barry gave away possession in the 44th minute, allowing Liverpool to break forward. Henderson slotted a pass to Sterling on the left side of the box, but his shot was saved from a tight angle.
Moments into the second half, Liverpool appealed for another penalty as Balotelli went to ground in the box after a challenge with Muhamed Besic. Atkinson allowed play to continue once again as the home side protested.
Neither team threatened to score for the next several minutes as the match entered something of a lull. Everton's Steven Naismith shot straight at Mignolet in the 62nd minute and Sterling had an effort blocked moments later.
The match needed a moment of inspiration, and Liverpool's captain provided it in the 65th minute.
After Balotelli won a free-kick along the edge of Everton's box, Gerrard curled a well-struck shot around the wall and into the net off Howard's left hand to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
It should have been 2-0 just two minutes later after Sterling created a golden chance for Balotelli with a cross from the left. Balotelli met the ball with a volley in front of goal, but Howard managed to deflect the ball on to the bar with the slightest of touches.
Everton, in need of an equaliser, tried to exert pressure as they attacked the Kop end. James McCarthy shot off target from distance in the 74th minute, but at the other end, Balotelli brought down a high pass before flashing a rasping shot wide of the post.
The visitors needed a change, and manager Roberto Martinez brought on Samuel Eto'o in the 80th minute. Eto'o had a first sight of goal moments later, but he blasted his shot well over the bar from outside the box.
Everton seemed set for another derby defeat, but Jagielka still had a part to play. In stoppage time, the ball rolled to the England defender outside the box after Liverpool were unable to clear their area.
With his first touch, Jagielka powered his screaming shot into the top corner for the equaliser.
The Toffees then had a chance to win it after winning a free-kick deep on the right flank, but Barry's flicked redirection at the near post rolled just wide of the near post with the last kick of the match.
Grades
Mario Balotelli: B-
The Italian striker tested Tim Howard with an early dipping shot. In the second half, he won the free-kick that Gerrard converted for the opening goal. Moments later, he should have scored Liverpool's second, but his touch was too heavy and Howard made himself big to put a slight deflection on the ball.
Balotelli will be frustrated not to have scored, but he did make things happen in Liverpool's attack. More goals will surely follow, but on Saturday his finishing was not up to standard. On the other hand, he worked hard, linked reasonably well with his team-mates and tracked back to help defensively.
Tim Howard: B
The American made a pair of fine saves early on, keeping out Balotelli's dipping free-kick and Lallana's header. He then stopped Balotelli's close-range volley in the second half with the slightest of touches. In hindsight, that save turned out to be worth a point.
But while those saves were excellent, the frustration was clear on Howard's face after Gerrard scored the opening goal. Having reached the shot with his left hand, Howard will have hoped to keep the ball out entirely. That might be a bit harsh, but he has set high standards for himself.
Martin Atkinson: C
Atkinson, Saturday's match referee, could have awarded a penalty to Everton after Moreno took down Lukaku. Then he could have awarded another to Liverpool—as well as a second yellow card—when Barry blocked a shot with his arm in Everton's box.
Those two calls probably evened out, but as the saying goes, two wrongs don't make a right.
Roberto Martinez: B
Everton lost 4-0 on this ground last season, so it was perhaps no surprise that Martinez set his side out more cautiously this time. The difference was quickly apparent, with Everton much more secure in midfield and defence—Muhamed Besic proving himself a useful addition to the squad after joining in the summer.
But after losing the goal, Martinez took perhaps too long make a change, waiting 15 minutes to bring on Samuel Eto'o for Besic. It didn't matter in the end, though, as Jagielka's wonder strike earned the Toffees a point.
Post-Match Reaction
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (via PremierLeague.com):
"We certainly didn't get what we deserved. It was very clear we were much the better side, and when you concede a goal like that so late on, it probably epitomises the luck that went against us. I never felt in any danger in the game.
…
I'm very proud of the players. We took the lead, arguably should have had at least two more and should have definitely had a penalty. So, it [the result] was disappointing but the performance was at a much better level.
"
Everton manager Roberto Martinez (via EvertonFC.com):
"We had two choices; accept it wasn't our day or keep fighting. We showed incredible belief and character and we got our rewards. We had to show a great defensive intensity and we did that, though we weren't ourselves going forward.
As a result, I'd say it's our best of the season so far because of what it could give us. It could lift us and change the dynamic of our season.
"
