Liverpool v Everton- Match Preview

Resurgent Everton wait in the wings as "King" Kenny's return takes another setback.

"Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first."- Frederick B. Wilcox

A quote which i'm sure you'll agree doesn't exactly reflect the mindset of a certain Mr. Moyes. It does, however, appear that it's main concept- that being the notion of the importance of risk taking- will be forced into the hands of David Moyes this weekend as the absence of Tim Cahill should result in a front-line pairing of Jermaine Beckford and Louis Saha for the third consecutive match.

Everton come into this Sunday's 215th Merseyside derby on the back of two consecutive wins whilst Liverpool's dismal run of form continued yesterday as they were deservedly beaten at Bloomfield Road by a Blackpool team that is very familiar with the idea of risk-taking.

Pressure mounting: DJ Campbell scores the winner as Liverpool fall to defeat, their second in two matches under Kenny Dalglish's management.

Everton's two aforementioned wins include their impressive 2-1 home defeat of Tottenham and a 5-1 trouncing of Championship side Scunthorpe United on the road.

Most will agree that the Toffees' change in 'fortune' is realistically just a change in tactics and formation which has helped to revitalise what has been a lacklustre attack thus far.

It is this change in formation that has lead to a more dynamic and vibrant approach, with seven goals in two games and five different goalscorers, demonstrating that small but important alterations can be decisive in achieving success.

The introduction of Jermaine Beckford to the line-up has sparked this offensive revival. Not only does he offer a threat in behind opposition defences, his movement and relative work rate provides space which Louis Saha is fully capable of exploiting. It is this serendipitous striking partnership that has been influencial in bringing Everton into the forthcoming match high on confidence and surely it has to be maintained if the Toffees are to harbour realistic hopes of defeating a Liverpool team that have kept just two clean sheets in their last ten matches.


Finding his feet? Jermaine Beckford was on the scoresheet in the FA Cup against Scunthorpe United.

Admittedly, Moyes has had his hand forced on the issue of playing two upfront, but he now has an important decision to make. It is one that seems obvious to the fans yet after many baffling choices this season, it wouldn't surprise many if Moyes were to revert to his tried and tested 4-5-1. What is really needed are boldness and courage- if not simply the common sense to leave a winning formula.

Liverpool are there for the taking- no doubt- but that was also the case last season when a similarly improving Everton side slumped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the hands of their rivals. That game was embarrasing on reflection. Everton showed absolutely none of the fight and desire that has so often been displayed throughout Moyes' reign and you would hope that they are ready to remedy that this time around.

So, will Moyes opt for safety and the mid-table obscurity that comes with it or will he take the risk necessary to achieve progress and seize the chance to climb out of the shadow cast over his team by Liverpool for so long?

Written by Sam Mackie on January 13th 2011.

Everton 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Rejuvenated Toffees a spot too sweet for Spurs.

A Seamus Coleman inspired Everton side claimed an ever-so-valuable victory in an enthralling match at Goodison Park tonight.

A first Louis Saha goal in nearly 11 months set Everton on their way before Van der Vaart equalised just 8 minutes later. The match was won just 15 minutes from time as Coleman nodded into an empty net after Heurelho Gomes could only parry Louis Saha's effort into his path.

David Moyes opted to go 4-4-2 in the absence of Tim Cahill, away with Australia on international duty, and he reaped the rewards of this positivity.

Everton were fully deserving of their win, creating a considerable amount of chances. Their 9 shots on target compared to Tottenham's 4 reflects the proceedings well but Tottenham were always in the game until Coleman's relatively late winner.

The opening was dominated by an Everton team full of flair and enterprise, the hosts peppering the Spurs box with a flurry of dangerous crosses and their reward came soon after.

Just 3 minutes in, Baines' pass from the touchline found Saha with space to advance towards Gomes' goal and from 25 yards, unleash a sumptuous drive into the bottom corner.


It's been a long time coming: Louis Saha celebrates his opening goal for Everton,
his first goal in nearly 11 months.

However, this was the catalyst for Spurs to take the initiative as they piled the pressure on the Toffees in search of an equaliser. And equalise they did, when in the 11th minute Peter Crouch's header across the 6 yard box for Rafael Van der Vaart ended up in the inevitable as the Dutchman headed in past the defeated Tim Howard.

Van der Vaart- who continues his outstanding debut Premier League season- was a constant menace for Everton, providing the kind of creativty and flair that the blues are still awaiting from Mikel Arteta who put in another disappointing performance.

It was Van der Vaart who felt the wrath of the Gwladys Street Evertonians as he celebrated overzealously infront of them and the bad feeling continued after a moment of controversy.

Steven Pienaar won a free kick and tapped the ball aside for Sylvain Distin to take, as Van der Vaart stole away with the ball and expertly chipped the ball over Tim Howard and into the net, only for his effort to be ruled out by a Lee Probert confident in his decision.

The best chance of the half then fell to Jermaine Beckford who, although leaning back, should have re-established Everton's lead when the ball fell at his feet 8 yards out with just Gomes to beat.

After half time the game continued in the same manner as the first, with both teams pushing for the win but Everton showing the greater threat. This was demonstrated when, in the 50th minute, Seamus Coleman found himself marauding into the box with just Gomes to beat after Spurs committed players forward, only for the young Irishman to shoot tamely at the 'keeper.

Louis Saha went on to pass up two opportunities to restore Everton's lead, the second of which was well diverted by Alan Hutton away from goal, but it was that man Van der Vaart who went closest to scoring what might have been a winning goal.

Excellent work from Luka Modric in the box lead to the Croatian international laying the ball off to the onrushing Van der Vaart whos first time side-footed effort was straight at the grateful Tim Howard.

And he would go on to regret that miss as Seamus Coleman ensured only Everton's third win in ten home games.

Everton broke at a speed much akin to Spurs themselves and Jermaine Beckford released Louis Saha through on goal with Michael Dawson to contend with. As he advanced with the ball, he shifted it onto his left foot 20 yards out and Gomes should have done better in dealing with the shot, only parrying to the inspired Seamus Coleman who nodded home and sent the home fans into raptures.


Cutting the mustard: Coleman grabs the winner after an impressive performance.

The fans braced themselves for a nervy last 15 minutes but in truth Everton looked relatively comfortable, breaking up Tottenham's attacks with ease and keeping the ball nicely. They could, and should have even extended their lead when Yakubu passed up a glorious chance to finish Spurs off, stuttering and getting the ball stuck under his feet before shooting tamely at Gomes.

As the final whistle blew, the elation of the home support showed, and rightly so. The Evertonians have endured something of a nightmare season so far, worsened by the ever-growing confidence and sky-high aspirations built up in pre-season.

However they, David Moyes and the players will hope to use this result as a springboard to climb up the table, with only 5 points separating them from 7th placed Bolton, on whom they have a game in hand. And with the troubles over the park at Liverpool being highlighted further tonight after a dire 3-1 defeat at the hands of Blackburn, Everton will need to capitalise on the disarray at Anfield and beat their rivals who they face in what is building up to be an intriguing encounter on the 16th of January.

Written by Sam Mackie on the 5th of January 2011.

Stoke 2-0 Everton

Pressure mounts on Moyes and his current crop.

A hapless Everton slumped to their first away defeat in 9 outings after being defeated at the Britannia Stadium today.

Two goals either side of half time were enough for the Potters. The first a wonderful goal after some fantastic work by Matthew Etherington down the wing, beating Phil Neville with ease and clipping the ball in for Kenwyne Jones to rise typically high and head the ball in with an equal measure of power and accuracy. The second with more than just a hint of good fortune, as Phil Jagielka inadvertently shinned the ball into his own net under pressure from the physical challenge of Ricardo Fuller.

Potters delight: Kenwyne Jones celebrates his opener for Stoke as the following Evertonians look on despondently.

 It was an all to familiar story for David Moyes' Toffees who had good spells of possession but failed to convert any of the few chances they did create. Rarely threatened at the back, neat and tidy passing and comfortable with time on the ball, Everton were the better side but didn't make it count.


David Moyes bemoaned his side's lack of goals earlier in the week and stated that he would look to "do something" in the January transfer window. On this basis he will have to do more than that, more something quite special to rejuvenate a lifeless attack that has just 3 goals between them this Premier League season- with preferred lone striker Louis Saha having failed to hit the net at all this season. It was he who also felt the wrath of the angered Evertonians as his not-so-well-received applaudings to them were greeted with disgust.


David Moyes and Saha himself felt aggrieved when Everton were denied what looked a certain penalty in the opening minute after the Frenchman was caught in the midrift by Ryan Shawcross's foot.


It was arguably Everton's most inspiring player and leading goalscorer so far this season, Tim Cahill, who passed up their best opportunity of the game with an uncharacteristically wayward header when well placed at the back post in the 25th minute.


The Aussie is set to depart for the Asia Cup and the Stoke fans joked "Where's your Ashes gone?"- probably the least of his worries at this point as he cut a figure of complete desolation at his failure to equalise.


The final chance of the half fell to Steven Pienaar who did what all others in blue seemed scared of doing and shot when just inside the area, however his effort was blocked by Danny Higginbotham and looped onto the roof of the net.


After the break it was more of the same- with a lesser quality however- as Everton pushed and pushed for an equaliser but were met by a resolute Stoke defence who did their job in shutting out the Toffees, aiding them to finish off the game in the 69th minute as Jagielka scored the 7th own goal of his professional career. 

Tough times: Cahill and Jagielka endured torrid games at the Britannia.

 There will be alarm bells ringing over the form of Everton's Mikel Arteta, the Spaniard a far cry from the player that Everton have relied so heavily upon for creativity in the past.


The travelling contingent did however thank Leighton Baines and Sylvain Distin for their efforts at the end of the game, both receiving rapturous applause for their impressive performances. Baines is looking increasingly like a player who is Everton's only viable attacking option. His crossing ability is like no other in the blues' line-up and his surging runs are matched only by Seamus Coleman, who continues to impress yet is constantly left isolated by the offensively devoid Phil Neville.


Finally, there will be question marks over the future of Yakubu after the burly Nigerian failed to make to bench as he continues to be linked with a move to Avram Grant's struggling West Ham.

Article written by Sam Mackie on the 1st January 2011