Allen Hamilton
What: English Premier League
Who: Everton vs Liverpool
When: Sunday, 28th October, 2012, at 13:30 UK Time
Where: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
Changing of the Guard?
Boardroom battles, court cases, bank troubles, failed big money signings, manager sackings, stadium inertia – while Liverpool have done their best to self-destruct since finishing as Premier League runners-up in 2009, Everton have continued to quietly build. And the stability at Goodison Park is paying real dividends.
Often a side that starts league seasons poorly, Everton have sprung out of the traps this time and sit well above their neighbours at present. A glance at each teams’ squad reveals that while David Moyes has acted as if Everton’s money were his own, searching for value, Liverpool are still struggling from the effect of transfer misdeeds. Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman, Steven Pienaar, Marouane Fellaini, Nikica Jelavic, Kevin Mirallas – Moyes has any number of quality players to call upon to the point that the Everton tortoise has overtaken the Liverpool hare.
Everton will be motivated by the pain suffered last season, when Liverpool won the FA Cup semi-final between the two. If Toffees’ fans have a legitimate gripe against Moyes, it is that his team have failed to take the final step on the big occasions. And, while this is not in itself a big occasion, there should be no doubt that this game matters; the performance and the result. For Everton this needs to go beyond being able to claim that they have usurped Liverpool as the main club in the city. Two successive Premier League draws mean that defeat here could derail promising early form which, if continued, offers a genuine shot at the top four; top clubs look at the big picture and do not define a season by the beating of rivals – Moyes must stress this.
Continuing the Upward Curve
Worries surrounded Liverpool until just a few weeks ago, with the Reds having started the new Premier League season with a series of poor results. However, manager Brendan Rodgers has seen recent results begin to reflect the level of performance of his men a little more and there is now real hope that Liverpool can start to climb the table.
Rodgers is benefitting from a golden youth legacy left by former manager Rafael Benitez, the quality of which is only just starting to emerge. Liverpool have a crop of extremely talented youngsters including powerful defender Andre Wisdom, speedy winger Raheem Sterling and, signed just before Benitez’ reign ended, all-action midfielder Jonjo Shelvey. Rodgers must be delighted to have hit upon such a gold mine, especially with the club’s American owners trimming the wage bill and introducing a period of relative transfer austerity.
There are worries though, namely up front, and this could impact the Merseyside derby. Simply put, Liverpool did not sign a proven striker before the transfer window closed, while they allowed Andy Carroll to leave on loan; a five-goal haul at Norwich aside, the Reds have registered just five Premier League goals in seven games. With Fabio Borini injured, the scoring duties rest heavily on Luis Suarez – and Everton boss David Moyes has already done his best to crank it up further, adding to the debate about diving, which the Uruguayan has been slammed for. And with Suarez already a player referees are ill-disposed towards, Liverpool did not need such comments before what could be a crucial game.
Lose here and any momentum gained from beating Reading and Anzhi Makhachkala is gone, while worries about Everton finishing above the Reds in the Premier League would increase. Win though and Rodgers’ men could use the confidence boost to approach Christmas on the crest of a wave and heading towards the top six.
Recent form
Everton:
Everton 3-1 Southampton (29/09; Premier League)
Wigan 2-2 Everton (06/10; Premier League)
QPR 1-1 Everton (21/10; Premier League)
Liverpool:
Liverpool 0-0 Stoke (07/10; Premier League)
Liverpool 1-0 Reading (20/10; Premier League)
Liverpool 1-0 Anzhi Makhachkala (25/10; Europa League)
Key absences
Everton: Tony Hibbert (doubt); Steven Pienaar (suspended); Darron Gibson
Liverpool: Lucas Leiva; Jose Reina (doubt); Fabio Borini; Martin Kelly
Players to watch
Everton – Nikica Jelavic: Liverpool were widely linked with a bid for Jelavic when he was at Rangers, but it was Everton who ended up getting the striker. Given Liverpool’s record in the transfer market, it should be no surprise they could not make up their mind on the Croatian, who has quickly settled into the Premier League and shown he is more than capable of performing at this level. He can hammer home to the Reds what they missed out on again here.
Liverpool – Daniel Agger: The Danish defender is well versed in the art of the Merseyside derby and he is sure to need to be on form for this. Liverpool will come under pressure at Goodison Park and Agger will need to keep his head, even if all about him are losing theirs. His composed ball-playing style can also be vital to steady the nerves of some of his (much) younger team-mates.
Match Prediction
Everton come into this match certain that they now possess a better team than Liverpool. While the Reds may have young players who could, if the promise which is often hard to really fulfil comes to fruition, go chasing a top four spot, it is difficult to believe they are currently better equipped than their neighbours to do so. Rodgers’ passing style will be hard to implement in a fast and furious derby. If Liverpool can cope with this, they could live with the hosts, but with so many youngsters they are an untested quantity. Everton 2-1 Liverpool.
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