Everton v Liverpool, Goodison Park, 20th October 2007

The Merseyside Derby is one of the most eagerly awaited and hotly contested matches in the Premier League fixture list.

While other derby’s may have more prestige, none can match the passion when Merseyside’s big two come face to face.

Most people who follow a football team will do so because of some family connection (i.e. a son watching the team his father follows) or because that’s the team their friends watch. And in most cases it’s the only team in the area were they live.

But in Liverpool that is not the case.

The city of Liverpool has boasted two of English footballs greatest teams for over 100 years. The first, Everton, was one of the founder members of the Football League and has a history to revile any other club. While the second, Liverpool, is one of the countries most successful football teams.

Other cities have more then one football club, but Liverpool is unique because of the success it’s two teams have had.

So the cities population is a little spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing which team to support. Sons do not always follow their fathers team, while a Scouser can have as many blue friends as he has red.

In days gone by, this strange arrangement lead to the Merseyside Derby being called the ‘Friendly Derby’, as friends and relatives would stand next to each other in the stands while supporting different teams.

Sadly this rarely happens nowadays because of the idiot mentality of a few. But I’m glad that as a child I got to experience that special atmosphere.

This season’s derby at Goodison Park would have a little extra spice to it. All Merseyside Derby’s a fiercely contested and are not a place for the faint hearted, but Liverpool will come to Goodison desperate to avenge last seasons match in which they lost 3-0.

Everton, on the other hand, will be looking to continue a decent start to the season.

After beating Middlesbrough at home 2-0, Everton travelled to the Ukraine for the return leg of their UEFA Cup 1^st round tie against Metalist Kharkiv. An unlikely 3-2 victory saw them progress to the group stage of the UEFA Cup.

Unfortunately Everton could not produce the same standard in their next game, away to Newcastle United. Everton lost 3-2, and to be fair they were lucky to score 2.

The derby will be a chance for the players to reassert them selves in the league after the team fell to tenth following the defeat to Newcastle United.

As usual the press is full of stories in the build up to a game of this stature.

Will Liverpool’s record signing, Torres, play after picking up an injury?

Will Everton’s influential Tim Cahill make his first appearance of the season?

These question, and more, can be found in the sports pages of local and national newspapers.

To be honest, I steer away from reading to many articles before the game. In the past many managers have used the press as a weapon to plant seeds of doubt into the opposition. So it’s hard to know what to believe.

Past experience tells me to wait until teams line up for the kick off to see who is playing where.

Past experience also tells me not to look too much into the class of player a team has on derby day. It’s not a case of which team has the better players, or which players cost the most, or even which team is playing well.

It’s a case of which team has the heart for the fight, the passion and the determination to win on the day that dictates how a derby will go.

As you may have guessed from reading the above, I see this as a big (if not ‘the big’) game of the season.

What you may not gather is I hate these games.

The tension before the match is practically unbearable. While the drama of the game it’s self will raise my blood pressure through the roof.

The only time you can enjoy a derby match is at the end if your team has won.

Other wise it’s a long, and some times embarrassing, wait until your team can attempt to redeem them selves.

And you just know every supporter you know from the opposition (in my case Liverpool) wont let you forget how bad your team is.

The Match

Talk before the game was all about who would be in the starting line up. Everton were lucky in that all their international players had returned uninjured after representing their countries.

One of the newest players to fall into that category is Jolen Lescott. The impressive centre half won his first cap for England, coming off the bench, in the 3-0 win over Estonia. He was awarded his second cap, a few day’s later, in the 2-1 defeat to Russia. A result that leaves England qualification for 2008 European Championships in serious jeopardy.

Some of the press laid the blame for the Russia game at Lescott’s door. But lets be fair. He is without doubt a world class player, who will be rock in England’s defence for many years to come. To criticize him so early in his international career was, in my opinion, out of order. That said I hopped he would respond to the press with another fine display for Everton against Liverpool.

What I didn’t expect was to see him playing left back for Everton, with Leighton Baines on the bench. Baines is having a good first season for Everton and should have been included from the start.

I understand David Moyes wanting to play Alan Stubbs in the centre of defence, but maybe he should have put Joseph Yobo on the bench. The classy Nigerian has not been in top form of late. Maybe a spell on the bench would do him some good.

So Everton would line up with Tim Howard in goal. At right back was Tony Hibbert. I’m a big fan of Tony’s but of late he has been struggling in games. I don’t know if this is down to his own abilities or the lack of cover he is getting down the right flank. Either way, he is another play who would be dropped if Everton had a bigger squad.

As mentioned above, the centre half’s would be Yobo and Stubbs. With Lescott at left back. The right of midfield would be taken by Mikel Arteta. Everton would need the little Spaniard to be at his best today.

The centre of midfield would have Phil Neville (the captain) and Phil Jagielka. While these two are good at breaking up opposition attacks, their inability to pass the ball to one of their own team-mates is beginning to become a joke. Time and again they put the team under pressure because of the amount of ball they give away. If Cahill or Gravesen were fit I would expect to see one of them dropped.

On the left of midfield was Leon Osman and up front Everton had Yakubu and Victor Anichebe. I thought McFadden was unlucky not to start, but I could also see the value of playing two big centre forwards.

The Everton sub’s bench had Stefan Wessels, Leighton Baines, Steven Pienaar, Lee Carsley and James McFadden.

Liverpool would have Jose Renia in goal. A defence of Steve Finnan, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise. Their midfield had Steven Gerrard (their captain), Javier Mascherano, Mohamed Sissoko and Yossi Benayoun. Up front would be Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin. So Liverpool’s record signing, Torres, would not be fit for the game.

On the bench Liverpool had Charles Itandje, Jermaine Pennant, Leiva Lucas, Peter Crouch and Ryan Babel.

So the teams lined up at 12:45 on a sunny October day and referee Mark Clattenburg got the game under way.

Usually in a derby the first challenge of the game will be a crunching one. It set’s the tone for the whole match, it gets the players into the game and get the crowed riled up. Not in this game though. It was a very sluggish start by both teams.

It was Liverpool who made the best start. Their ability to retain and pass the ball put Everton on to the back straight from the off. Even when Everton won the ball them seemed to give it away far to easily without making Liverpool work for it.

This resulted in Liverpool creating a few chances, though their supporters would be disappointed by the quality of finishing in and around the Everton area.

Everton on the other hand were sitting far to deep, and only some back to the wall style defending prevented Liverpool tacking an early lead.

It wasn’t until half way into the half that Everton started to play the ball on the ground instead of launching long balls forward. This change in play produced a flurry of corners and drew a few fouls form Liverpool in their own half. The confidence of the Everton players grew as they forced Liverpool back.

It was from one of these corners that Everton finally found an ‘indirect’ way through the Liverpool defence. The cross by Arteta went all the way to Stubbs at the back of the Liverpool area. He crossed the ball back in for Lescott to header at gaol. Lescott tried to head the ball down, but got no real power on to it. Luckily for Everton Hyypia was of balance as he tried to clear the ball and sliced it in to his own goal past a helpless Renia.

1-0  Everton.

Everton didn’t sit back and only a few minutes after taking the lead they had a fantastic chance to extend it. Some fine passing and off the ball running finally saw Lescott at the edge of the Liverpool area.

With the Liverpool defence all over the place his cross found Osman unmarked as he ran in. Osman’s first time shot looked as if it was heading for the bottom right corner of the goal but there wasn’t enough direction on the shot and it missed by inches.

Everton restricted Liverpool to some long range shots which they should have done more with. One was a twenty yard effort by Gerrard that was way off target. Part of Gerrard’s reputation is as a scorer of spectacular goal. But the distance he missed the goal with this shot, when he had time and space to pick his spot, showed how out of sorts he was in this game.

So the half came to a close with Everton in the lead. They had weathered the early Liverpool pressure and had coped well.

Liverpool have a reputation, similar to that of Manchester United and Chelsea, of bullying the referee. As the players left the field 3 Liverpool players surrounded the ref to complain about his decisions.

I have no problem with a team’s captain talking to the ref, but when he is surrounded in this manner he should be strong enough to demeaned they go away.

Unfortunately it’s been many years since I have seen a referee who has the respect of the players, and it showed in the way the Liverpool players approached him.

I’m not having a go at Liverpool, or any other team who’s players constantly act like this, it is the referee who is at fault for not using his authority to deal with this behaviour.

The half time talk was about how Everton should make more of the opportunities they had, and about how poor Liverpool were. Liverpool has had aspirations for the league title for many years. But their standard of play was low, and they would have to dramatically improve if they wanted to rise to the top of the table this season.

Everton started the second half as they had finished the first. Some good passing saw them move into the Liverpool half and even the wasteful Neville and Jagielka started to find Everton players.

Another corner saw Liverpool pull every one back to defend, and Everton sent everyone except Howard (the keeper) and Hibbert into the attack.

The ball was cleared by Liverpool towards the centre of the pitch.

Hibbert hesitated as it came to him, and instead of attacking the ball, he allowed it to bounce and Kuyt managed to get the ball to the rushing Gerrard.

Gerrard and Hibbert chased back towards the Everton goal and as they entered the area both fell to the fall.

Clattenburg immediately pointed to the spot, awarding Liverpool a penalty. He then called Hibbert to him and proceeded to take the yellow card out of his pocket.

Gerrard went to Clattenburg and said something to him. Clattenburg in another show of indecisiveness put the yellow card back into his pocket, then produced the red card to send Hibbert off.

Maybe it was a penalty, maybe it wasn’t, but surly once the referee had decided to give the yellow card, no one should be allowed to change his mind?

Kuyt took the penalty kick and put the ball into the right corner of the goal.

1-1.

It was a surprise that Everton didn’t take off one of the forwards and they went into a 3-4-2 formation in an attempt to keep Liverpool on the back foot.

It worked for a while as Everton continued to press forward although Liverpool’s extra man was beginning to wear Everton down.

Then came the most ridicules decision by Clattenburg all afternoon. As Neville ran down the right wing, Kuyt attempted to tackle him two footed with both feet of the ground.

Had Kuyt caught Neville he would have put him out of the game, it could have possibly ended his carer. Such tackles like this are rightly dealt with harshly.

It was all Neville could do to get out of the way.

So Clattenburg gave Everton the free kick, then calls Kuyt to him and we all expect him to be sent from the field. Only Clattenburg decides the tackle was not that bad and gives Kuyt a yellow card.

You have to wonder if the Everton team had surrounded Clattenburg would he then have changed his mind and sent Kuyt off?

Probably not.

Everton kept to their attacking formation and another attack saw Yakubu try a powerful 25 yard shot that just missed the goal. But you could tell Everton were tiring. Liverpool realizing this made a couple of substitutions to bring fresh players on to the field.

The first was Babel on for Benayoun. The second, shortly after, was Lucas for Gerrard.

Gerrard stood there in disbelief then passed the captains arm band to Carragher. As he left the pitch he made a point of shaking Clattenburg’s hand.

This infuriated the Everton fans after what had happened with the penalty.

Liverpool began to create more and more chances. Neville had to drop back to the right back position as Everton found them selves under more pressure.

Chances fell to Voronin and Riise but neither of them could put them on target. It felt like only a matter of time till Liverpool scored.

Everton took off Yakubu for McFadden who played a deeper role in the midfield. Then Anichebe was swapped for Baines as Everton tried to hold out.

In a rare break forward Everton got a free kick some 30 yards out. Stubbs attempted one his trade mark power shots. But it lacked direction, never troubling the Liverpool goal.

Liverpool’s final substitution saw them take off the under performing Sissoko for Pennant.

A foul by Carragher on McFadden got them both booked. Yet another strange call by Mr Clattenburg. Although the amount of abuse he got off Carragher should have seen him sent off, but the referee was never going to make a decision like that.

Everton looked like they might have held on for the draw. As the fourth official signalled that 3 minutes injury time would be played Everton showed a lack of common sense.

Instead of taking the draw they pushed for the winner only to be caught at the back. Lucas found time and space to shoot and with Howard out of position all Neville could do was push the ball away with his hand.

Clattenburg had no option, penalty to Liverpool, red card for Neville.

Again Kuyt took the kick. Again he sent it to the right. Again he scored even with Howard only inches away from saving it.

2-1 Liverpool.

With time ticking away there was still drama left in the game.

Everton, throwing everyone forward, had calls for a penalty turned down as Finnan bear hugged Lescott from behind.

Liverpool failed to clear the ball properly, and as it came back into the box it was Carragher’s turn to drag down Lescott. Again Everton appealed for a penalty and again the referee looked the other way.

As the ball was belted from the area Clattenburg blew for full time.

The Everton supporters cheered off their team in appreciation of an heroic attempt, they then booed off Clattenburg for his ridicules refereeing of the game.

Conclusions

You only have to watch how the Liverpool players celebrated at the end of the game. They gave the impression of having just won a trophy.

If Liverpool are serious about mounting a title challenge then they have to improve and do so quickly.

I said something similar after Everton played Manchester United, but it was only because of Clattenburg that Liverpool won at Goodison.

Thinking of Clattenburg, it is time the FA did something about refereeing of this standard.

The penalties he gave Liverpool, he had no choice with, he had to give them. But to allow him self to have a game changing decision, the first sending off, influenced by a player is a disgrace.

Again with the second sending off, he had no choice. But why was it when he should have sent Kuyt off he didn’t? Was it because Kuyt didn’t actually injure Neville? If that is the case the only way Clattenburg would send you off for a tackle is if you broke someone’s leg!

The problem with him is he is not strong enough to make a decision that might be criticised in the press. Case in point;

Carragher’s challenge on Lescott in the area.

All the media reports I have seen have said it should have been a penalty but Clattenburg could say he was unsighted (or some other excuse) to explain why he didn’t give it.

What Clattenburg (and a lot of other referee’s fear) is making a big decision and having the media prove them wrong.

So what we get now is not a referee but someone who will make decision that aren’t controversial. Someone that will only make big calls when they have no other option i.e. sending off a player who handled the ball on the goal line.

It’s a poor state of affairs when players don’t get punished for foul play because the referee doesn’t want to be seen as being wrong.

Everton will have to put this game behind them quickly. Thursday night sees them play their first UEFA Cup group stage game against the Greek team AE Larissa.

If Everton are to progress in the UEFA Cup they must win their two home games. Nothing but a win will do.

That’s a lot of pressure for a team that has just lost in this fashion, but some would say it a perfect opportunity to get the season back on track.

It’s fair to say that this weekend has been a disaster as far as sport is concerned. Everton losing the derby, England losing in the rugby World Cup and Lewis Hamilton losing in the race for the F1 drivers championship.

All I need now is the Bears to lose to the Eagles in the NFL to complete the set.