Liverpool’s strike force of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez both grabbed a goal to ensure the reds left Goodison Park in far better mood than last years dismal effort.
On one of the hottest October days Merseyside has ever seen, the game was the early Saturday kick off and the temperature inside the ground suggested it would live up to the classic guts and all derby.
Both teams started fairly positively though – the reds went close with Luis Suarez before Tim Cahill forced Reina to tip over the crossbar at the other end.
In the 23rd minute, one of Everton’s few decent players left at the club – Jack Rodwell was shown an unjust red card. The player initially went in to the challenge sliding with two feet, but did bring his feet back in before the challenge, and won the ball, before sliding in to Luis Suarez.
Some Evertonian’s would have you believe that Suarez play acted to earn the red card, but replays show that the referee went straight for the red card – the incident taking place right under his nose. When I watched the incident live I initially thought it was a red card, but with the benefit of slowed down TV replays it was obvious that Rodwell was given a harsh red card.
Liverpool had Steven Gerrard sent off in the 18th minute of the 2006 Merseyside derby, but still went on to pummel the blues 3-1.
This time, Everton did not have the ability or determination to make a game of it and as time passed by the reds dominated more and more. Liverpool’s main problem was with the final ball, plenty of possession but Downing’s crosses or Kuyt’s through balls were not finding their target.
Even after the injustice of Everton’s red card, it didn’t seem to have any effect on Everton’s tackling. Cahill went high on Adam’s knee, Fellaini went in for Lucas, and Tony Hibbert’s tackle – the worst of the game on Charlie Adam – didn’t even count as a foul. Inconsistent refereeing.
Luis Suarez turn fooled Phil Jagielka at the end of the first half but Dirk Kuyt’s penalty lacked any power and Tim Howard stretched well to save. Then Charlie Adam should have added his name to the list of Scots to score for the reds in Merseyside derbies – his thunderbolt smashing against the crossbar.
The reds wore Everton down in the second half, and when Gerrard and Bellamy are options to come off the bench for the reds it wasn’t long before some Bellamy and Enrique trickery down the left found Carroll to smash in the reds opener.
In the final ten minutes, some calamitous defending saw Distin give Luis Suarez the ball back at the edge of the 6 yard box. Foolish from any footballer. The Uruguayan scores his fourth of the season.
There were ugly scenes towards the end of the game. Bottles were thrown as LFC scored both goals, and at Craig Bellamy during a corner. Luis Suarez also was the target of coins being thrown from the Gwladys Street end.
Liverpool continue their bright points haul to the season, while Everton have done themselves no favours as the club tries to find a new buyer.
Well done Carroll – more goals than the £50M striker. Bargain if you ask me.
Andy Carroll seemed to be more comfortable and will hopefully gain much needed confidence with his well taken goal.
Everton were over-aggressive as usual with their tough tackling and snarling down our throats. They’re certainly a very ugly side to watch due to the fact that they have very little flair and skill in the side.
The sending off was very harsh to say the least but we’ve had our share of bad luck this season so i am not complaining. I do feel we would have eventually scored a few even if Jack Rodwell had remained on the park.
Again the international break has come just when we were gaining some momentum, nevertheless bring on the Man Utd!. The lad Suarez continues to impress with every match where as Bellamy looked good in his short outing and Gerrard will only get better.
welldone koppers, now we are sending a message
hopefully the £35 mil spent on andy carroll could turn out to be a bargain, that’s if he’s able to play against ten men every game, my 8 year old could have scored that goal
That’s it, nothing like getting behind the team. Are you sure you’re not the 8 year old?
Are you serious – is that the best you can do? Why not tell him his mother is ugly as well. Your playground taunts are embarrassing, and tell us more about you then him.
Bottom line is that Carroll is yet to play like a 5M striker, let alone a 35M striker. Maybe he will, maybe he won’t. But if this is as good as he gets, I’d like our money back.
Another smart lad obviously. My previous comment wasn’t meant to ‘tell us about me or him’ as you put it. It was simply to state that the criticism of Andy Carroll is harsh after so few games this season. A player scores a goal in a merseyside derby and is still criticised? Personally I don’t understand that.