Bland Derby Draw Dooms Rodgers

Rivalry matchups usually need little build up.  There is enough history between Liverpool and Everton to just discuss the match itself.  Afterall, this match was the 193rd league derby.  However, there was a lot of build up.  Everton were higher in the league table than their rivals going into a derby for the first time in years.  Liverpool and their manager Brendan Rodgers were under fire again following another lackluster midweek draw in the Europa League.  Little outside the three points would quench Liverpool fans thirst for blood and even that might not be enough for long.

Liverpool looked good on the ball in the early going.  Danny Ings had a blast just over the bar in the 14th minute.  Great passing as LFC worked the give and go to almost finished off a chance by James Milner in the 26 min.  Then against the flow of momentum Naismith looked to have a sure goal off the header in the 28 min, but Simon Mingolet flicked out his left hand and made a top notch save.  The Belgian forced to make another save two minutes later from James McCarthy, this time stretching to his right.  Just when it seemed this match was destined to go goalless into half, if not the entire game, Ings came up with a smart header that Tim Howard had no chance to stop.

The goal came on Liverpool's 7th corner kick of the half.  The Reds were, somewhat surprisingly, dominant on set pieces and finally made Everton pay for it.  The good feelings would not last long for the men in red, however.  Instead of going into the dressing room up a goal and feeling good about their performance, it was all dashed in a flash.  A poor clearance by Emre Can fell right to Romalu Lukaku and the Everton striker, who had not scored at Goodison Park since March, buried it in the back of the net.

In a game that Liverpool really needed to win, they would not get started off on the right foot after the break.  Mingolet was called into action early in the second half, diving to his left to stop a pinged cross that would've connected with Gerard Deulofeu on the top of the six yard area.  After the early chances for Everton, the game became mostly a lull with Everton still gaining the better chances.  In the 66th min, Ross Barkley had a crack at goal that just sliced wide.  Liverpool was fortunate in the 70th min as Lukaku blasted a right footer right at the Reds' keeper.

The first chance for Liverpool didn't come until the 72nd minute from a quick shot by Coutinho that was punched away by Howard.  Then in the 89th min Can may have saved the game as Liverpool couldn't clear and the German stepped in front of Lukaku's blast.  Liverpool pressed forward a few times, but never really threatened at the end of the game.  Another in a long line of contests where the club started reasonably well, scored first and then could not see the result out.  Liverpool again failed to score more than one goal, something they've done in all but one match this year.  They looked like a team that was fearful their performances would cost their manager their job.

Unfortunately for them and for Brendan Rodgers, that sentence would prove to be too true.  Hours after the match, the owners involved in the Fenway Sports Group decided to remove the Irishman from his post and move forward with a new man for the rest of the season.  Rodgers time at Anfield was a huge roller coaster ride.  He quickly built a side capable of performing with the big boys of the Premier League and should have won the league in his second season if not for a few bad plays and mishaps.

Sadly for the manager and fans, nothing seemed to go right after that year.  The international break will give the club extra time to fill the position.  Fans will no doubt be looking toward high profile names such as Jurgen Klopp or Carlo Ancelotti, but the next signing to be the boss will send a clear message from the men in ownership.  There have been rumblings that the top men want someone who won't be too forceful or demanding and willing to bring up youth instead of demanding the top players in the world.  Another up and coming coach behind the bench at Anfield will signal that this ownership group is more interested in being in control than winning.  At this point, given the apparent mentality of the team on the field, a change had to be made.  As fans, the people can now only hope that the next decision moves this historic club forward.

Random Thoughts:
- If I have time, I will write a full blog giving thoughts on the removal of Brendan Rodgers.

- Now that a new manager will be coming in, this point may be mute.  Nevertheless, the experiment of Emre Can at centerback needs to end.  The player is extremely talented, but has to be in the midfield or on the bench.  Two high profile mistakes have ended up in the back of the net and he just looks a shambles in defense at times.

- Simon Mingolet continued to prove detractors wrong.  I love reading how Liverpool need a different goalkeeper when the idea is fairly ridiculous.  For whatever reason, people who haven't played the position, more so than any other position in any other sport, blame the position when they don't have any clue the decision making, positioning and split second reactions that go into it.  Mingolet's decision making can be faulted on set pieces and incoming balls, but he's one of the better pure shot stoppers in the league.  As with any position, if you can secure an upgrade then fine but there aren't as many out there as people wish to believe.

Walk On