Regardless of position in the table, the Merseyside Derby is always something to look forward to. Despite the relative closeness in the standings, Liverpool came in as the more in form team. They only had one loss in their last 14 fixtures across all competitions, but those stats usually mean little in rivalry games.
The match opened up with a bit of trepedation on both sides. Neither seemed to want to make an early mistake. Then things began to loosen up a bit after the fifth minute.
Adam Lallana missed a golden opportunity to go up 1-0 in the sixth minute. Lallana was basically alone in the box and tried to slip it through the wickets of Joel Robles, but the goalkeeper got down to stop the ball.
Then Morales had a chance about 13 minutes later for Everton. He had slipped in behind much of the defense and cut it back into a good area, but did nothing but shoot it off the outside of his foot and not even trouble Simon Mignolet.
The teams kept trading what could be considered chances, but with little really in any of them. Origi flashed a pass across in 22nd minute that was easily dealt with. Lukaku outmuscled Sakho into the box seconds later only to be stopped by a brilliant slide tackle.
Lucas had a rip at goal that Robles dove for but easily saw and then Lallana flicked a header just wide in the 24th minute. Coutinho almost snuck one in from a free kick in the 27th minute.
Then Roberto Firmino had a real chance in the 30th minute. It seemed he had to be offside, but still got the shot off. It took a touch off the defender, which put it off just enough to deflect off Robles' leg instead of going through the legs.
Despite the game seeming like it would go scoreless into the half, Liverpool broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute. James Milner lobbed a monster cross from the right and Divock Origi just wanted it more. He outlept two defenders and just neatly tucked it into the side of the goal with the header for the 1-0 lead.
Then Milner struck again with another assist in stoppage time. With the clock just striking 47, Milner took a return pass in the box and bent one to the top of the six yard area. Everton's defense looked lost and were ball watching, leaving Sakho wide open. He headed it with power, but all it needed was any kind of touch and it would have gone in. 2-0 Reds was the halftime score.
The wheels really came off for the team in blue in the second half. The fixture that had the most sending offs in league history added another name to that list.
Ramino Funes Mori was given a red card in the 50th minute. There was a question of whether he was given a yellow for the challenge and a yellow for kicking the ball away or giving a straight red, but either way the Reds were up by a man though Origi was taken off the field as well with an injury due to the stamp.
Daniel Sturridge came on as the replacement as the Origi injury looked more and more serious with each replay. However, the replacement made the opposition pay quite quickly. Lucas fed a sweet ball through the hole into the box and Sturridge comfortably tucked it into the back of the net with a neat finish for his 50th career Liverpool goal.
Following the goal, you almost felt bad for Everton. They had shot themselves in the foot with the foolish red card, but it became almost a training exercise for Liverpool. They spent what seemed like the final 20 minutes in the attacking penalty area just flashing things left and right of the target.
Liverpool, however, were not concerned with the woes of their crosstown rival though and rightly so. In the 76th minute, Joe Allen found Coutinho at the top of the 18. The Brazilian feinted a one-time shot and then used the one touch to create space before placing one perfectly in the bottom right corner and a four goal lead.
The whistle mercifully blew in the 98th minute wth Liverpool the victors by a final of 4-0. As Liverpool fans, it was a night to relish. Even the softest of us still revel in defeating your rivals and this was a night to enjoy. The football itself wasn't a great spectacle as it became the stuff of training ground walk throughs, but there's nothing wrong with a win. There's nothing wrong with a win over your rival and there's definitely nothing wrong with a win over your rival coming with ease.
Liverpool moved up to seventh in the league. They trail West Ham by two with a game in hand. They are still within reach of catching Manchester United for fifth as well, but for now it's not even worth discussing that. Best to keep focused on each match and feel good about the results when they come.
Random Thoughts
- Despite the big win, the injury to Origi comes at a bad time. With Liverpool needing to put a lot of focus on Europa League and not wanting to put too much stress on Daniel Sturridge, losing a productive striker at this point is a big loss if he's out for long.
- Given the way the game played out, I'm glad he was not in the lineup. Still, it would have been neat to see Tim Howard in the Everton goal for his final Merseyside Derby.
- Though many of us get on them, it would have been nice to see either Joe Allen or Lucas actually get a goal to reward them for their recent efforts. I'll throw Lallana into that mix as well, though he messes up his own chances when he gets them sometimes.
- Sakho is just such an odd character. He's really growing into a solid defender and even scoring a goal here and there. But he just looks so awkward in his movements. He's always somewhat hunched and squatted in his placement to make kicks and always seems as though he might flub it, but he's been solid regardless.
- Jurgen Klopp can say that the league is always most important, but at this point it would be a mistake to not put more emphasis on Europa. It would be almost impossible to get into fifth, let alone fourth so the european league remains Liverpool's best chance at Champions League football next season and that helps draw in better players.
Walk On
Showing posts with label Romalu Lukaku. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romalu Lukaku. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Sunday, October 4, 2015
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
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
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