Derby disappointment for Reds

By J Wade
January 13 2005

Everton have proven everyone wrong this season by getting and staying at the top end of the table. They were hoping to take this form into the derby match with Liverpool, who themselves have enjoyed a few results over the past week or two.

Liverpool started the game 9 points behind their bitter rivals Everton and finished 12 points adrift. Before the game, the last time Everton had won the derby at Goodison Park was 14 years ago. The result reflects how well the Blues are playing at the moment and how together the whole squad is. Liverpool fans wont be happy to see their rivals 12 points ahead and calling Liverpool boss Rafael “Beneath’ us”. The result caused Liverpool to stay were they were and Everton to overtake Arsenal at least for a day. This will be a first derby to forget for Benitez. This is the first derby Liverpool have lost for five years. The boss will be disappointed that the Liverpool team couldn’t add to impressive results against Olympiacos and Arsenal. A majority of Liverpool fans will have been puzzled with Rafa’s first team selection. There were 5 changes to the starting line up from the game in midweek. Most surprising was Diao who took the place of Alonso in centre midfield. These changes may have been a result of Everton starting the game with more determination to win. Like every other derby it was very scrappy with no clear opportunities on goal. The first chance was a sitter, which came to Everton’s Tim Cahill who is normally excellent in the air. However this time he somehow sliced his header just wide of the post after a good piece of play by Marcus Bent down the right. 10 minutes later Mellor was wondering how Nigel Martyn managed to keep out his goal bound header from 3 yards. The rebound fell to Diao who had a shot brilliantly blocked by Everton’s captain Alan Stubbs. After a number of efforts to clear the ball from danger Everton eventually got it a way to relieve some pressure. Liverpool started to get into the game, which lasted till the end of the half. Hyypia almost scored with a volley a striker would have been proud of. However Everton always threatened on the break and Osman looked sure to score when Riise managed to get a foot in and hit the ball away from Osman’s feat. The second half started with Liverpool on top. Fans saw a volley from Diao fizz just over the bar from 18 yards out. Liverpool didn’t have the all-important composure and creativity in front of goal which meant that Everton were still in the game. It was Everton’s fighting spirit which put them ahead on the 68th minute when Lee Carsley placed a curling effort into the back of the net from 20 yards out. Again questions have to be asked of Chris Kirkland, however from the correct angle he looked unsighted because of two players who were in his way. Liverpool needed to produce a come back like the one in midweek but this time had just 20 minutes to do so. The task ahead for Liverpool looked impossible especially when Everton have the second best defensive record in the league behind Chelsea. Liverpool weren’t about to give up, especially not home grown talent like Gerrard who twice tested Martyn’s goal. Liverpool kept trying to get the equaliser and were unlucky not to score at the very end when Traore went up to tackle Martyn but seen his effort cleared off the line by Cahill. Referee Steve Bennett blew the final whistle as Liverpool faced their sixth defeat of the season. In order to be up at the top of the table fighting in the title race Liverpool will need to pick themselves up from a few disappointing results and find some consistency. Teams Liverpool: Kirkland, Riise, Carragher, Hyypia, Josemi, Kewell, Hamann, Diao, Gerrard, Mellor, Pongolle Subs: Dudek, Finnan, Nunez, Alonso, Traore Everton: Martyn, Pistone, Stubbs, Weir, Hibbert, Kilbane, Gravesen, Cahill, Carsley, Bent, Osman Subs: Wright, Watson, Yobo, Ferguson, McFadden