What: English Premier League
Who: Liverpool vs Everton
When: Tuesday 13th March, 2012, at 20:00 UK Time
Where: Anfield, Liverpool, England
Goalscoring Woe Hampers Dalglish
Defeat at Sunderland on Saturday meant that Liverpool have slipped even further behind Arsenal and Chelsea in the race for fourth place. The Reds will need quite a turnaround in form to get close to the Champions League spots now. Indeed sitting five points behind Newcastle, Liverpool have a battle to even finish sixth, though at least European participation is guaranteed by the club’s League Cup success last month.
Kenny Dalglish would probably be hoping for a different visitor to Anfield for this clash than Everton, who have perfected the art of improving as the season goes on, and will prove a stubborn test for a Liverpool side who have found goals difficult to come by.
Liverpool have scored an average of 1.11 goals per match in the Premier League this season, yet have had 16 shots per game. By contrast Manchester United have scored 2.44 goals per match, whilst averaging 15 shots per game. The two teams represent extreme ends of attacking efficiency, yet arguably Liverpool are better than the champions at controlling games and dominating opponents. Yet Liverpool’s recent defeat against Arsenal summed up much of the campaign so far: Solid, enterprising, at times rampant, yet ultimately a lack of end product and cutting edge in the final third.
"I don’t think the performances that we have had, especially at home, have merited the number of points we have got”, said Dalglish. "But we just need to keep going and do what we do well, keep our mouths shut, not feel sorry for ourselves and try to get as many points on the board as we can."
Dalglish will rightly emphasise the level of performance as encouragement enough, yet after the same number of matches last year Liverpool had 39 points – precisely the same number they have this year. It will be of significant concern to Dalglish why his team are not able to convert their chances. And despite having won the League Cup, Liverpool have lost three games in a row in the Premier League for the first time since the reign of Gerard Houllier. If that run continues against Everton, Dalglish will face fresh questions over some of his expensive signings last summer.
Happy Anniversary
David Moyes celebrates his 10-year anniversary at Everton this week, quite a milestone in the day and age of the hire-and-fire style owner. Everton continue to show the merits of stability; they may not have won much during Moyes’ reign, but the Toffees have been one of the most consistent teams in the Premier League during his tenure.
Everton usually pick up at this time of year and their recent results have been a distinct improvement on mixed early season form. Victories over Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have given the Toffees renewed confidence and have shown what the side are capable of. Moyes has a hard working team who are technically proficient enough to dominate opponents and keep the ball well at times.
It has though been a frustrating season, and like Liverpool, Everton have scored few goals, averaging just 1.04 per match. Recent form suggests that Moyes’ men are improving but they were somewhat fortunate to beat Tottenham on Saturday after being dominated for much of the game.
Moyes himself admitted their luck and will want an improvement in performance at Anfield. Everton will relish the chance to go ahead of Liverpool with a win, but they have failed to beat lowly Aston Villa, Wigan or QPR away from home in 2012 and so they will have to find something special to put one over on their fierce rivals.
Recent form
Liverpool:
Cardiff 2-2 Liverpool [2-3 on penalties] (26/02; League Cup final)
Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal (03/03; Premier League)
Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool (10/03; Premier League)
Everton:
Everton 2-0 Blackpool (18/02; FA Cup)
QPR 1-1 Everton (03/03; Premier League)
Everton 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (10/03; Premier League)
Key absences
Liverpool: Glen Johnson (doubt); Daniel Agger; Lucas Levia
Everton: Darron Gibson
Players to watch
Liverpool – Dirk Kuyt: The hard working Dutchman can so often make a difference with his running and ability to score crucial goals. In a team struggling to find a cutting edge in the attacking third, his work rate and knack for poaching goals could help. Liverpool have lacked width at times and against teams who sit back, as Everton may, can struggle to break down defences. Having a player like Kuyt on the pitch makes that particular task that little bit more achievable.
Everton – Steven Pienaar: When playing a team such as Liverpool it is imperative to keep as much of the ball as possible, as the pressure is likely to tell eventually if being forced to repel wave after wave of attack. So for Everton it will be their two technical midfielders, Leon Osman and Pienaar, who they will rely upon to keep the ball and frustrate their opponents. Pienaar was ineligible to face Tottenham on Saturday so will be fresh, and his skill and intelligence on the ball, as well as creativity, will be key for Moyes’ men.
Match Prediction
Liverpool will come into this game desperate for three points for the first time since their visit to Wolverhampton Wanderers in January. It has been a frustrating season in ways for Liverpool, but they have shown what they are capable of against Manchester City and Manchester United in the two cup competitions. Good in possession, the Reds will likely enjoy territorial advantage against Everton, but as ever it is how they put the ball in the net that will be in question.
Everton meanwhile have a reliable defence which will make Liverpool’s life difficult. And they are a team who are adept at retaining possession themselves. Indeed there are similarities in their style – Everton have struggled for goals this season as well, and like their city rivals, often bemoan performances not translating into results. Expect a game of few goals, but Everton rode their luck against a rampant Tottenham at the weekend and if they suffer the same sort of battering at the hands of Liverpool it would be a surprise if their luck holds out again. Liverpool 1-0 Everton.
Liverpool v Everton could be a superb game. But who is going to come out on top? Make sure you visit OLBG for tips and to compare the current odds and betting markets available at all the important bookmakers.
