Everton 2-2 Liverpool: Derbies will be derbies

Robbed of two points, and I’m just fuming as I write this up right now. Fantastic mannered game, with lots of end-to-end football, but that call at the end was just ridiculous.

Well, it had everything that you would have expected from a derby. It had fiery tackles, end-to-end football and great entertainment. What ruined it was just dreadful refereeing right at the death.

The game got off to a pretty lively start, with a bit of a contrast in attacking philosophies between the two club sides. The Toffees started trying to use Fellaini’s brute strength (and extra height through his hair) by playing long balls for him to knock down. Liverpool opted for their more fluid passing game, as Liverpool looked to keep the ball as much as they could.

We opened the scoring through a bit of luck with the first one, and Luis Suarez provided some humour for Liverpool fans everywhere as he dived right in front of David Moyes. This was in reference to Moyes referring to him as a diver in the pre-match festivities.

2 minutes later, a debatably poor punch from Liverpool keeper Brad Jones leaves him short-handed as Leon Osman cleverly places the ball into the bottom corner.

Up the tempo.

But Everton go on to score before the half comes to a close, and make it 2-2. Really high pace to the game with both of the teams looking equally likely to add another goal. Personally, I think Raheem Sterling’s booking affected Liverpool’s dynamic slightly. You can’t help but feel that he lost a bit of his confidence going into tackles, and he was taken out of Liverpool’s defensive game due to being on the edge of a knife following two rather brutal challenges.

It was a game of two halves. If the first was openly contested, the second can just be referred to as the half where Liverpool were playing more conservatively. Personally felt that Everton’s Kevin Mirallas definitely deserves some credit for a splendid (half) game. He’s just really skillful, and I reckon Liverpool would have struggled to cope had he continued to play in the second half.

Two changes at the break meant a more defensive approach, with Rodgers replacing the ineffective Nuri Sahin with defender Sebastian Coates, whilst taking off Suso for Jonjo Shelvey (well basically two went off, two went on). Tactically, you could see what Rodgers was trying to do. Bring an extra defender on and allow wingbacks to move up and down the pitch more freely whilst Coates’ height would also help combat the troublesome Fellaini.

That was the theory. But Liverpool just sat back for that second half, as we saw Everton edge the territorial battle with Liverpool having that extra defender to rest on. Sterling had a chance that came and went after a sublime ball from Enrique set him through.

Then came the free kick on 90 minutes. Gerrard sends the ball in. Coates nods it down. Suarez finished the move. No offside for sure, but the assistant referee raises his flag. Reasoning is apparently that Coates fouled an Everton defender whilst getting up for the ball, although ….

Not much more to say, but just hope you guys enjoy the week. Deserved the win and Liverpool will feel hard done by, but I reckon 2 wins and a half (counting this match) is fantastic ground for Brendan Rodgers to continue to work on and move forward with.

YNWA.

In the tunnel at Goodison. The feeling here is that the assistant flagged (incorrectly) for offside, not for a foul by Coates. #BBCfootball

— Conor McNamara (@ConorMcNamaraIE) October 28, 2012