Home News Derby ends all square as teams lack cutting edge

Derby ends all square as teams lack cutting edge

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Everton will have been the slightly happier of the two teams after the points were shared in the Merseyside Derby on Saturday, both sides were looking for the three points to help move up the table for different reasons but will have to settle for the point they shared. The game itself was one which fell a little short of expectations, with both sides appearing to know what they wanted to do with the game but not having the awareness of how to achieve it.

As has happened in recent Merseyside Derby matches a surprise in the Liverpool starting eleven was delivered by Brendan Rodgers when he named Jordon Ibe in the starting eleven. Ibe could have crumbled under the pressure of playing in his first Derby match, and in what was just his second start for Liverpool, but all credit to him as he handled whatever pressure he felt well and can count himself a little unlucky not to have scored what would have been a very good goal.

Everton went into the match with an enforced change after Leighton Baines was injured; however they also had some good news with the return of the much missed James McCarthy. While McCarthy has plenty of experience behind him, and also Derby experience from last season, a first match back after a lengthy injury absence in a Derby would not usually be a player’s first choice! Was the midfield choice for Everton of McCarthy, Besic and Barry a signal that they were setting out to make it difficult for Liverpool to control the match and that they were hoping to hit Liverpool with a goal and try to hold out for a possible win?

Any hopes Everton had of controlling the midfield would have been raised early on when Liverpool were forced to substitute Lucas with an injury, as for all the qualities that Joe Allen brings to a game he does not offer the same reliability and solidity that Lucas brings.

The match itself, as with many Everton matches this season, seemed to lose its way when either side approached the attacking thirds of the pitch, with the final ball either being the wrong ball or being too ponderous and allowing the defence time to get organised. Liverpool went closest to getting a goal during the first half when Ibe went on a strong run down the Liverpool right before he cut inside before letting off an ambitious looking shot that had Robles beaten in the Everton goal before unluckily hitting the post, if Ibe had been feeling any pressure he never showed it here!

Steven Gerrard had a couple of chances to mark what is likely to be his last Derby appearance with a goal, he had a free-kick in the first half which went close but always looked to be going narrowly wide before Robles took no chances and put behind for a corner. Gerrard went closer later in the match, and almost scored what would have been a memorable goal when he attempted an overhead kick which could have troubled the score-line if it had not been for the deflection off Naismith which sent it narrowly over the bar.

Everton never really threatened Mignolet in the Liverpool goal until late into the match when Barkley was brought on, he went on a run at the Liverpool defence before setting up Seamus Coleman who sent in his shot which was well saved by Mignolet to keep the scores level.

Although the match lacked any goals, and the attacking play in the final thirds of the pitch was not as good as it should have been, the match was still an enjoyable one, maybe more neutral fans if I am being honest really! As mentioned at the start Everton will be the happier of the sides as they can go into their next game, against Chelsea, still on an unbeaten run recently and also knowing that they seem to have stemmed the flow of goals conceded which blighted their early season form.

SkemNews man of the match

There was no one player that really stood out in the game, a few played well, such as Besic for Everton who seems to have settled in well recently and he is starting to look a good signing for the team. John Stones had another good game and he kept Sterling fairly well controlled. Emre Can played well once again in what is technically a wrong position for him but he played well and would have made people think this was his natural position. However I will have to give the man of the match award to Jordon Ibe, he made only his second start for Liverpool and his first Derby match appearance and he never looked worried or under pressure. He played confidently and can count himself unlucky not to have opened his goals account with what would have been a memorable first strike for Liverpool.

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