A last minute controversial disallowed goal
for Luis Suarez ensured honours were even at Goodison Park for the Merseyside
derby on Sunday Afternoon.
Liverpool squandered a two-goal lead to
Everton in an eventful first half featuring four goals. Leighton Baines turned
into his own net before Luis Suarez doubled the visitors’ advantage. In the
space of 13 minutes, Leon Osman and Steven Naismith clawed Everton level to
earn a point.
Team news filtered through that Glen
Johnson was set to miss the fixture, resulting in Jose Enrique returning to left
back. Brad Jones continued in goal, as Pepe Reina started on the bench.
With just a minute on the clock, Jose
Enrique regained possession in his own half from an Everton corner and drove
towards goal with options either side of him. But the Spaniard was unable to
pick out the surging Raheem Sterling on the right, misdirecting his pass into
the path of the Tim Howard.
An Everton attack featuring Nikica Jelavic,
Marouane Fellaini and Kevin Mirallas looked to cause the Liverpool defence
early on. Mirallas done exactly that, the Belgian’s mazy run past three
defenders almost gave the hosts an early lead.
However, it was the visitors who struck
first courtesy of boyhood Liverpool fan Leighton Baines in the 14th
minute. Luis Suarez’ powerful drive across the face of goal was inadvertently
deflected in by the Everton defender.
The Uruguayan ran across to the dug out and
celebrated with a dive towards David Moyes, after the manager’s comments about
Suarez in the press leading up to the fixture.
Five minutes later, Suarez doubled the
Reds’ lead. Steven Gerrard whipped in an inviting cross from a free kick,
leaving an un-marked Suarez the simple task of glancing it past Howard.
Everton replied instantly. Brad Jones’ weak
punched clearance fell to Leon Osman, who drove the ball into the bottom corner
on the half volley from outside the box.
Liverpool were rocked. Everton committed
bodies forward at every opportunity searching for an equalizer. The visitors
failed to take the sting out of a comeback by keeping the ball for a spell and
were eventually punished.
Down the right, Fellaini combined with
Mirallas and crossed for Steven Naismith to hammer home from close distance.
Two goals in 13 minutes wiped out a
Liverpool lead. Everton weren’t content; they poured forward hunting for a
third. But, Liverpool held on to enter half time at 2-2 after being 2-0 up
inside 20 minutes.
Brendan Rodgers opted to bring on Jonjo
Shelvey for Suso and Sebastian Coates for Nuri Sahin during the interval,
switching to three at the back.
Playing in an advanced position off Suarez,
Raheem Sterling was guided in behind the Everton defence neatly by Enrique.
Opening up his body one v one against Howard, Sterling looked to curl it past
the American, but totally miss-hit his effort wide. Suarez was livid with the
winger’s decision.
An excellent one two by Coleman took him past
Agger, but Martin Skrtel denied Jelavic a tap in with a last ditch tackle.
The defensive formation shift tightened up
the defence and restricted Everton to a limited number of chances. The tempo of
the game died down and the intensity didn’t match the first half precedent.
In the 93rd minute of stoppage
time Gerrard swung in a deep free kick, Coates towered to win the initial
header and knocked down for Suarez. The number seven tapped in and peeled away
to celebrate with his teammates. The joy was short lived as the linesman raised
his flag for offside. Replays showed Suarez was clearly onside and goal
should’ve stood. A tough blow for Liverpool, the majority decisions this season
have gone against Rodgers’ men.
Sikander
Najib
5 comments:
Fantastic blog and love this blog because this is the best way for me.
Fantastic blog and love this blog because this is the best way for me.
nice information.....
superb information....
What an Awesome post. Just wanted to drop a comment and say I am new to your blog and really like what I am reading. Thanks for the share.
Post a Comment