Everton 0 Liverpool 0: post-match review and analysis
Another Merseyside derby has come and gone and Everton will feel more than a little frustrated that they have again failed to end the derby-day hoodoo, which has seen the Blues go winless in this fixture since 2010.
I was at that game at Goodison Park when Everton last beat their neighbours. But after a game this poor it’s not hard to believe it’s been that long since the Blue half of Merseyside could celebrate a win.
Today the Toffees had several guilt-edged late chances to snatch the win and the points but failed to take them. A bit more composure and Everton might have been victorious.
In truth though this was a poor game and neither team really deserved to win it. But given Everton’s terrible record in the fixture recently and the lack of good fortune they’ve endured, if the Blues had won it I doubt many Evertonians would have been reflecting on those facts!
Liverpool lined up with a much-changed side from the eleven that beat Manchester City on Wednesday. There was no place from the start for those players who had shone in that performance with Roberto Firminio and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench and Mohamad Sala not risked at all.
It just goes to show how far the derby has fallen in the pantheon of big games that the Reds would field such a weakened side even given their Champions League commitments.
Even so they still had the better of the first period. Liverpool had the majority of possession and were largely camped in the Blues half. And as expected Everton struggled to get hold of the ball and got pushed further back defending more and more deeply.
It was a familiar and depressing story. The Blues had keeper Jordan Pickford to thanks for making a few good saves, although on one of Everton’s rare forays into Liverpool’s half Yannick Bolasie forced a good finger-tip save from the Reds keeper Loris Karius too.
However there were few clear-cut chances for either team, indeed Liverpool almost seemed, like Everton, to be playing for a draw looking to conserve their energy for next Tuesday.
Everton manager Sam Allardyce made a mistake in my opinion in not picking Dominic Calvert-Lewin from the start and once he came on after half-time he made an immediate difference.
His work-rate, pace, physical commitment and strength gave Liverpool’s defence a problem and he was able to help the Blues actually get hold of the ball up front, something they had failed to do in the first half.
But overall the second half was still largely like the first, with Everton again dropping off deeply and conceding possession and initiative to the Reds. Yes defend strongly and with commitment but also take the opportunity to attack occasionally as well!
I sincerely hope I never have to sit through another derby game like this one where Everton are so afraid of taking on Liverpool in this timid fashion. Especially a Reds team so weakened and definitely there for the taking.
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Late on Everton mounted a belated charge to try to claim the win. Having finally realised that attack is the best form of defence against an opponent now clearly wilting after Wednesday’s exertions, they created several late chances.
Ironically it was Calvert-Lewin who had the best of them but instead of just aiming to hit the target he tried a curling effort for the top corner that flew wide.
So that was that and the game finished in a 0-0 draw. Who then got the better result?
You might argue that Liverpool could be the more frustrated at not winning as they would have re-gained second place, at least until later today following the Manchester derby.
But there are surely guaranteed another campaign of Champions League football next season.
So given Allardyce’s approach and that fact he would have been primarily concerned not to lose, is it job done for the Blues?
Actually no I think it is Everton who should be the more annoyed with this result. It was clear as the game went on that this was going to be a great chance to finally beat Liverpool and restore a little lost pride.
Next: Have Everton found their Mo Sala?
But as it is the Toffees are limping towards the season finish line and I think most Evertonians will just be glad when this campaign is finally over.