Everton close to breaking derby jinx

The Merseyside derby has finished and Everton secured a 0-0 draw and a point but came so close to ending their ten year derby hoodoo.

In the dying minutes of a less than memorable game, Everton midfielder Tom Davies shot hit the post in what was the closet chance to a goal all game.

It would have been a long overdue piece of good fortune had that ball crept in and the Toffees managed to take all three points after so long without a derby day win.

At least holding them to a draw postpones further their coronation as champions. Anything that delays that horrific day even slightly and creates even the slimmest of chances for some one else to win the title, is welcome!

Today’s match though was surely the most surreal and unique in the long history of games between these two clubs that stretch back to 1892.

The lack of spectators turned it into a strange and eerie experience, more like a training session than a full on Premier League match. The whole thing was made even more bizarre by Liverpool having their changing room in the Goodison car park to meet pandemic rules.

Interestingly Carlo Ancelotii picked a team that included several of the players I had thought would get a starting nod, including Seamus Coleman, Micheal Keane and Tom Davies in midfield, who was solid alongside Andre Gomes.

But having said that, he also selected Alex Iwobi instead of Bernard and in a significant surprise gave a first Premier League start to teenage forward Anthony Gordon who played wide of the Blues midfield.

Liverpool’s team lacked Mohamed Salah and they also had a league debutant, their new Japanese signing, Minamino who showed plenty of work ethic but didn’t make much impact otherwise.

As would be expected, both teams looked rusty, off the boil and out of sorts, not surprising given how long the players have had off recently.

Given all that and without a crowd either, the game struggled to get going and early exchanges were indecisive, although the Blues actually began quite well and had some good moments, especially Richarlison who shot wide.

Gradually though Liverpool began to get more of the ball but in truth despite this didn’t create much and neither team consistently threatened the other’s goal.

Everton were now having to defend quite a lot but they did it well closing down Liverpool’s dangerous forwards quickly and putting in plenty of solid challenges. Captain Coleman in particular rolled back the years with a superb defensive performance.

The Toffees worked very hard and kept their shape well, with the whole team showing plenty of grit and determination to stop Liverpool making anything of their dominance in possession.

The continuing impact of Ancelotti on this set of players was again in evidence as the Blues showed terrific discipline and were obviously playing very much to a clearly laid out plan. How different all that feels from the often seemingly chaotic Marco Silva era.

But it wasn’t all defending from Everton, and Richarlison proved a great outlet, always looking to find space get on the ball and run at the Reds defence and he was a constant thorn in their side.

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Liverpool had a couple of free kicks and half chances but in truth they didn’t really make Jordan Pickford work very hard all evening.

Then late in the game came the Toffees best moments when they so nearly snatched a victory and claimed all three points.

Richarlison had previously forced a good save out of his fellow Brazilian, Allison, in the Liverpool goal before Dominic Calvert-Lewin also tested the keeper.

From the resulting save, Davies had the chance to score but his effort grazed the post and stayed out. Liverpool’s legendary ‘good fortune’ came to their rescue again and they survived.

So 0-0 again at the grand old lady, Everton’s wait for derby day success continues and will have to be a goal for next season.

Next up then the Blues travel to Norwich on Wednesday night. Lets hope that game will see a win to get the season going properly.