Stephen Pienaar's second yellow card to join the ever growing ranks of players sent off in the Merseyside derby. Photo via Liverpoolfc.tv

The most fiery derby fixture in the Barclays Premier League supported by the highest number of sending offs especially in the last 5 derbies between the two teams! Martin Atkinson was the referee for the game and it must be said that he did play his part in continuing the tradition of the match by allowing tackles after tackles which were yellows and not reigning in those challenges from both sides. Certainly, both sets of players were instead encouraged by Atkinson’s leniency and hence the match become a gentle version of Rollerball (James Caan 1970’s version, not the lame 2000 version!).

Our Greek defender, Kyrgiakos’s two footed challenge on Fellani was deffo a red card. Kyrgiakos has no business going in two-footed as it has been the rule now for two-footed challenges even if he had won it fair and square. However, Fellani should have also been sent off when he showed his studs on Kyrgiakos in the same incident.

But Fellani was not only guilty of the incident with Kyrgiakos but he had earlier kicked Kuyt in the face when the latter was down after the whistle and lucky referee, Atkinson did not spot it. Pineear himself was no angel as well as he had the worst tackle of the match on Mascherano and got away with it. It’s amazing that only Kyrgiakos and Pineear was sent off at the end andthere were no further casualties.

From the moment Kyrgiakos was sent off, there was only going to be one winner – the team that scores from a set-piece as it was hardly a match going on. From a corner, Gerrard delivered his trademark swerving ball into the centre and Kuyt was tussling with Phil Neville as well as Tim Howard but somehow, managed to squeeze between two and glace the ball into the empty net for a one goal lead and down to ten (10) men.

The Everton players tried their best to trouble Pepe in our goal but never came close to it as they resorted to long balls which were brilliantly handled by Carragher (replaced Kyrgiakos in the middle after the latter’s sending off) and Agger in the middle of the park. Compeleing the backline were Mascherano (After Kyrgiakos’s sending off!) and Insua on the opposite end.

Bruised, battered and kicked but the Red men did not blink. Instead, it inspired the Red men to raise their efforts and battle harder than ever for the Red half of Merseyside and their much-maligned manager, Rafa Benitez. Not much football on display at Anfield this time but this is Bloodsport Derby, the mother of all Derbies. Plenty of heart and endeavours and minimal tactics on display as Everton resorted to long balls as the match wore on. And the frustrations boiled over for the men in Blue and Pienaar continued the latest trend in the Mersey Derby by getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence as he clanged late into Gerrard late in extra time.

With another 3 points in the pocket, Rafa’s men will be looking for another 3 points from Wednesday night’s big away clash with the Gunners (why the hell on earth would they play these ‘BIG’ matches on a weekday? Its beyond logic!) would set us up nicely for the following home game against Manchester City.

Written by,

William Tan

Pepe Reina with the saves that kept Liverpool in the match. Photo from Guardian.co.uk

Both teams were on the dreadful run and a lot more was at stake during this Miseryside derby match. The match was not pretty to watch as Rafa persisted with his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation whilst Moyes’ Everton preferred long balls into the Liverpool penalty box. B

Rafa’s preferred line was Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Gerrard and Ngog which was unchanged since our last match in the Champions League against Debrecen.

It was fiery encounter but it never lived up to its pre-match hype of being the derby match with the most red cards. Most important observation during the match – we wanted to win badly and at times, it looked like the players were willing to die trying!

Everton used their long ball tactics very well and their biggest threats being Cahill and the afro guy called Fellaini attacking the balls into the centre. Mostly our defence stood firm although there were a couple of half chances carved out by the Merseyside Blues (sounds like playing PES series!!!)

Everton had the first chance when Bilyaletdinov missed a kicked an open chance early in the first half. But in one of the rarest moments, Mascherano ran the ball into blue territory and unleashed a shot from 25 yards albeit off-target but it took a wicked deflection off the out-stretched foot of Joseph Yobo and took the ball away from a diving Tim Howard in goal.

Kudos to Everton though, they never let their heads drop after the goal and in fact doubled their efforts and had spells of possession and control but could not convert their half chances as our backline stood firm.

Just before half time, Jo twice thought scored a goal but was correctly adjudged to be in an off-side position and was denied an equalizer. In a rare foray into blue territory, Johnson crossed into the penalty box and Insua almost scored except for the strong palm of Howard in goal to deny what would be the Argentine’s first premiership goal.

On the 70th minute, Pepe Reina did a double save ala Dudek @ Istanbul by first denying Cahill’s header on the 6 yard box and immediately getting up to deny the follow-up from the unmarked Fellaini from 3 yards to the screams of frustrations from the Everton fans and applause from the Liverpool fans.

Benayoun had replaced Ngog and shortly after, in counter-attack, Riera’s cross found Kuyt who tried to flicked on for Gerrard but was cut out by Yobo albeit with a sliced clearance which found Gerrard with Hibbert following him. However, Gerrard managed to toe poke the ball back to Riera who unleashed a stinging shot which Howard could only parry to Kuyt who immediately follow-up with the tap-in. The goal basically killed off the match and secured the 2 points and Liverpool managed to secured their second consecutive clean sheet.

The most important thing during the match was the 3 points and a clean sheet which were achieved after the horrendous run the previous weeks.

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Written by,

William Tan

Come on you Reds! (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Hey all!

Come join us for the Everton vs LFC game this weekend. Show the club your undying support! There’s no better occasion to instill some good spirits among the fans with a good result. MyRAWK will be at the George and Dragon, BSC. Do come early as seats are limited!

EVERTON VS LIVERPOOL FC
Date: Sunday, 29th November
Venue: George and the Dragon, Bangsar Shopping Complex
Time: 9.00PM (kick-off 9.30PM)

See you there!