Blog by dedlfc (David Douglas)
Pre-Match Thoughts: The talk before the Derby game was mainly
about the return to the bench of Can and Sturridge which made the match day
squad seem a lot stronger. Especially great to have Sturridge available from
the bench as he is always likely to produce a moment of magic to score or
create a chance for a team mate. Matip completely unavailable is a further worry
but Klavan played very well in the previous game so is a very capable
replacement.
We go long from the opening kick-off. It’s already end-to-end and
tackles are flying in from the opening minute. Barkley very early on already
has a torn shirt as a token of the early exchanges. Both sides are showing they
do not want to give an inch to their local rivals.
Everton have been the slightly more energetic side in the first ten
minutes. Their press is doing well to keep us pinned back, but neither side has
looked particularly dangerous.
Everton as the home side seem to be bossing us about with their
aggressive long ball game with their main tactic being to bypass our more
talented midfield three by playing the long ball up to their main striker
Lukaku for him to hold it up and for their midfielders to play off him. We were
not showing enough tactical nous so far to overcome this tactic.
Twenty-six minutes in and we finally have their first shot. Wijnaldum’s attempted
curler from outside the box was never likely to make the net bulge, but it’s
far better than what we’ve seen so far from our opening passage of play.
Since Wijnaldum’s shot, Liverpool have slowly started asserting
themselves in the game, though still haven’t created much going forward.
Divock Origi after a quiet game so far finally gets involved in a big
way. Some quick build up (and a brilliant Mané dummy) sets Clyne free down the
right flank, and his inch-perfect cross finds the in-form big man in the middle
of the box. However, he couldn’t keep his first-time chance down and on target,
and the score remains knotted.
Apart from a couple of shots we were somewhat dominated in the first
half by Everton and surely must play better in the second half.
Halftime Thoughts: It looks like we weathered Everton’s best shot in the opening 25 or so
minutes just like an experienced boxing champion giving its rival a chance to
show what they have, but still did little to create at the other end.
We have
also been very wasteful going forward, with several errant passes to no one in
particular in and around the box. We really needed to step it up in the second
half if we wanted to get anything out of the fixture.
Ultimately our first real clear cut chance falls to Firmino very early
in the second half courtesy of a comedy of errors. Firmino latches on to a through
ball, but hits it straight at the keeper.
Then the ball comes back to Firmino,
who tries to pick out Mané and/or Lallana, only for both of them to take each
other out, and the best chances of the night go unrewarded.
A quick 1-2 with Mané and Firmino nearly produces the opening goal, but
the chance dribbles just past the far post. Stekelenburg is hurt in the
process, and can only last a few more minutes before being replaced by Joel. I
have to admit, it’s quite funny watching the diminutive Everton trainer
“helping” Stekelenburg off the pitch.
Barkley comes in late with a studs up challenge on Henderson in what
should have been an easy decision for a straight red. Barkley somehow stays on
the pitch and Henderson somehow isn’t spending the next several months on the
trainer’s table. With the reactions to Barkley’s tackle causing angry scenes
involving several players on the pitch leading to Coleman being yellow carded
but Lovren (heavily involved in the pushing) getting away without a card
despite being yellow carded earlier in the game.
We nearly find a break through on a corner, but the backup Everton
keeper Robles was equal to Firmino’s excellent volleyed shot that was bound for
the lower near corner with a very good save.
Klopp now realising the desperate need for a goal decides to make a
change, bringing on Sturridge and Can for Origi and Lallana in the 82nd minute.
The second half has nearly been all about our control and dominance but still
no goals.
Sturridge creates some space for himself on the edge of Everton’s box
and his low shot goes past the reserve Everton keeper and bounces off the post
and Mané follows it in! Liverpool lead 0-1 in stoppage time! The biggest moment
of our season so far with super sub Sturridge having such a massive role to
play in it!
Also delighted for Mane as he has played a big part in our start to
the season and will be a massive loss in a few weeks’ time when he goes off to
the African Nations in early January for a month.
Final Whistle Thoughts: The first Merseyside Derby of season 2016/2017
was pure chaos, and
not in the good sort of way at times. Both sides were full of passion and
energy, but the football was decidedly lacking. We did very well to play our way
back into contention after absorbing the best Everton had to offer in the first
half, but never had an answer going the other way for the majority of the time until
our class showed towards the end of the game.
An away draw was probably the
deserved result, but we nabbed the victory in the end and have shown we are up
for the fight for the title. Bring on Stoke next !!!
Man of the match: Dejan Lovren – Didn’t put a foot
wrong handling the aerial threat of Lukaku and leading the defensive troops to
a second consecutive clean sheet.
Special mentions: Ragnar Klavan – Had a tough baptism
in the first half struggling to deal with Lukaku but improved in the second
half.
Daniel Sturridge – much maligned and criticised striker but is always
able to produce a moment of class and this time his shot resulted in a win for
the lads so deserves a lot of credit for this.
Everton: Stekelenburg, Coleman, Funes
Mori, Williams, Baines, Gueye, McCarthy, Lennon, Barkley, Valencia, Lukaku
Subs: Robles, Holgate, Kenny,
Calvert-Lewin, Barry, Cleverley, Mirallas
Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren,
Klavan, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Firmino, Mane, Origi
Subs: Karius, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn, Sturridge
Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 39,590
Manager’s viewpoint: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp
"I don't agree it was a poor first half. Maybe not the best
football - you have to adapt to Everton's wild game. A game like this you have
to interrupt their rhythm with passing.
"In the second half it was clear
they couldn't do the same. We were better, we didn't give one chance away I
think.
"The goal was not the hardest
shot from Sturridge, but hard enough. It was a wonderful feeling.
"I don't like the flares too
much. I'm a little bit scared about this. It was a long, long stoppage time. We
gave them no chance."
On Barkley's tackle on Henderson: "I saw it one time.
Everything is clear. I think the referee had a difficult game. Maybe Ross was
really lucky and Henderson was really lucky."
My last comment on this game is that
I was pleased that our manager made an attempt to change the result by making
good use of his substitutes and it paid off with such an important goal and I
just hope if needed he can utilise the subs bench to have a massive positive
impact on our results moving forward.
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