When Kenny Dalglish was last at Goodison Park in a managerial capacity two decades ago he witnessed his Liverpool side repeatedly squander a lead, eventually succumbing to a 4-4 draw in a thrilling yet taxing FA Cup tie. That proved to be the King's final match in the Reds' dugout prior to his return in January, as the accumulated stress of managing the side in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster understandably took its toll.
Despite this disappointing climax to his first managerial reign, Dalglish's record in Merseyside derbies was impressive. Under his guidance the Reds recorded 13 victories in 22 meetings with their near neighbours. His statistics at Goodison Park were even more notable; the Scot tasted defeat only once in 10 trips across Stanley Park.
Consequently, Dalglish sent his troops out with the twin aims of maintaining his impressive derby record and halting their recent run of poor form on the road. To that end, the only change to the team that claimed a 2-1 win over Wolves at Anfield last Saturday saw the out of sorts Henderson replaced with Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt, who is notoriously prolific against Everton, particularly from the penalty spot.
Although the first chance of real note fell to Luis Suarez, as the Uruguayan’s tame header when perfectly positioned was easily stopped by Howard, the Toffees began on top, immediately responding through Tim Cahill, as the Aussie was thwarted by a fine save from the alert Reina. The hosts were pressing high up the pitch and pressurising their visitors, with Distin cleverly nutmegging Enrique before lifting a shot over the bar and Saha driving a good left footed effort just wide from the edge of the box.
The turning point came mid-way through the first half when Jack Rodwell was given a straight red for a firm yet fair tackle on Luis Suarez, whose reaction to the challenge was disproportionate and perhaps contributed to the 20-year old's dismissal. Rodwell's studs were clearly showing but his foot wasn't that far off the ground and he evidently claimed the ball before slightly catching Suarez with the follow through.
A yellow card would have been harsh, yet card-happy referee Martin Atkinson, who also sent off Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Steven Pienaar in a Merseyside derby a year ago, immediately flashed a red in Rodwell's direction.
The occasional incorrect decision from an official is understandable and acceptable, but what frustrated fans of both sides most was the referee’s irritating inconsistency. This was demonstrated moments after the sending off when Cahill only received a booking for a high challenge on Adam that was arguably worse than the offence committed by his teammate. Moreover, later on in the half Hibbert committed a horrible tackle on Adam that could have legitimately seen him sent off, yet Atkinson failed to even award a free kick.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of the red card, one fact was undeniable; Liverpool clearly benefited from the decision. With one less blue body in the middle the away side were granted more space to control possession and create chances. Adam and Lucas, who had previously been severely tested by their midfield opponents, were now pulling the strings in the middle.
Just after the half hour mark Suarez shot into the side netting from a difficult angle after Martin Kelly had played a through ball into the number seven's path, before Jagielka's rash and wholly unnecessary foul on the diminutive Uruguayan on the edge of the box saw Atkinson correctly award the Reds a spot kick.
Dirk Kuyt stepped up and, considering the fact that he once kept his cool to convert from the spot twice at Goodison, it seemed almost inevitable that the net would bulge and the visitors would go into the half time interval with a one-goal lead. Somewhat surprisingly Kuyt's perfectly placed penalty lacked the necessary power to find the net and Howard made a fantastic save to keep the scores level.
There was still time for Adam to thunder a beautifully struck 20-yard effort past the helpless Howard and against the underside of the cross bar before both sides entered the break to the sound of boos reverberating around Goodison in response to referee Atkinson's below par performance.
Seeking to exert their dominance, the Reds began the second period in the ascendancy, Carroll's header being cleared off the line and American keeper Howard making a good save to deny the tall Geordie. However, the hosts still posed a threat, Saha shooting narrowly wide from 35 yards on the hour mark to keep Reina and his back four alert.
The second half swung on the introduction of club captain Steven Gerrard and free transfer Craig Bellamy. The former added drive to our midfield while the latter instantly fulfilled the purpose for which he was brought back to the club on transfer deadline day. The Welsh striker ran uninterrupted with purpose and menace down the left wing and played a perfectly weighted pass to the overlapping Enrique, who pulled the ball back to Carroll from the by-line. The heavily (and unfairly) criticised number nine turned the ball home before wheeling away in celebration, relieved to have finally bagged his first Premier League goal of the campaign.
A mix up between Distin and Baines in the Blues' box ten minutes later presented Suarez with an unmissable chance, which he coolly converted from close range.
With the points all but in the bag, Liverpool inevitably ended the game in complete control, Kuyt hitting the post during injury time after the Toffees had fell asleep at Suarez's swiftly taken corner.
The home crowd's frustrations at both their side's defending and the referee's display bubbled over in the closing stages, with plastic bottles thrown at Craig Bellamy (who thankfully kept his cool) and coins, as well as verbal insults, aimed at Suarez. Nevertheless, while cash-strapped Everton chairman Bill Kenwright was searching for the coins on the Goodison turf, Liverpool departed with the points in the bag and their integrity intact.
Former Reds boss Roy Hodgson bizarrely described our 2-0 reversal at Goodison last October as the best performance during his tenure. Although such a grandiose description could not be attached to yesterday's display, the fact that Liverpool emerged victorious on this occasion is most important and, with Carroll and Suarez combining to prove the critics wrong and Bellamy surprising me with his maturity, there are plenty of reasons to be pleased and remain positive.
We can now only hope that the momentum built up by three consecutive victories isn't lost during the upcoming international break and that everybody returns fully fit and ready to compete in another massive match at home to fierce rivals and current champions Manchester United.
YNWA
:D aweseome YNWA
ReplyDelete