FA Cup 4th Round
The second Merseyside derby in a week ended with exactly the same scoreline as the first, this time with the reds scoring the equaliser in a game that Liverpool, once again, should have won.
Everton scored from a set-piece in probably their only chance of the game, a game in which Liverpool dominated more than many games this season. The reds skipper combined well with Torres and scored his second derby goal within a week to ensure that a 211th Merseyside derby will be on the cards very shortly – with a Goodison replay up soon.
Rafa Benitez left out Robbie Keane from the entire squad, in the pre-match interview stating that Keane missed out because he couldn’t pick 19 players for his squad. It appears Keane paid for his poor performance in Monday night’s game, and the reds reverted to the line up with Gerrard supporting Torres.
Liverpool put in a far more impressive performance than on Monday night but despite constant posession couldn’t find a breakthrough. Tim Cahill once again was the scourge of Liverpool’s defence. When Everton managed to get in Liverpool’s half they won themselves a corner which Cahill headed, only for Lescott to get his head on it to send it in to the net.
The reds pressured for the rest of the half but Liverpool couldn’t quite punch a hole in a well organised Everton defence.
Second half, the reds were even more dominant and eventually a moment of brilliance from Torres and Gerrard unlocked Everton’s defence. Gerrard’s header found Torres, and Torres backflip unleashed Gerrard to fire in a shot from out wide that put the reds back in the game.
Liverpool continued to attack, Kuyt had a great chance to finish the tie, and Torres was also unlucky not to put the reds ahead. Even Dossena had a crack from distance to test Tim Howard.
As it was, the minutes ticked down and Everton’s defence hung on. Improved performance from the reds, but the killer punch is still missing. Liverpool will travel to Goodison for the replay, although all eyes will be on what team Benitez plays as the reds face a fixture pile-up.
Gerrard’s goal
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Dossena, Kuyt, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel (Riera 75), Gerrard, Torres.
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Aurelio, Benayoun, Leiva Lucas, Ngog.
Booked: Alonso, Carragher.
Goals: Gerrard 54.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Anichebe (Gosling 71), Castillo (Rodwell 76), Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Cahill.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Yobo, Van der Meyde, Jacobsen, Jutkiewicz.
Booked: Cahill, Pienaar.
Goals: Lescott 27.
Att: 43,524
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
good luck losing
They (b s—-) seem to think the game is now won ,but I’ve got news for them .
We are gonna beat you you horrible creatures.
On your own turf!
Firstly I think it’s worth noting how bad Everton are. I can’t remember too many eras in which they’ve come to Anfield purely to defend. They hardly showed any ambition and celebrate draws against us these days with all the passion and ferocity of a cup final win. That said, we just haven’t got what it takes to break these negative sides down. Another draw at Anfield along with Everton in the league, Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Hull. It pains me to say it but the mancs were fairly average at times against spurs but they attack with 3-4 men at any one time. It’s no wonder they never struggle to score goals. Most of the time when we were pumping balls into the box last night, we only had Torres in there fighting for every ball. We made Jagielka and Lescott look like world beaters because we were so void of ideas. All those Babel fans out there, did he do enough to justify a place in the side? I thought he was pretty awful to be honest. By the way dos anyone reckon Gus Hiddink could be our next manager? Seems strange he came out the other day to say he though Gerrard was the best player in the world. No smoke without fire?
What would Liverpool do without Stevie, we just need a clone of him. But a flash of torres magic real game intelligence seems to know where Stevie is at any given time.
We should have won it, Kuyt had the best chance, and could be the man of the match, but as usually kuyt wasted it.
Again, loads of time on the ball, but no killer pass. Has keane personally insulted rafa’s family or what? I don’t get that in tight games, when a poacher is what’s required, keane isnt in the frame.