Fri 8 Sep 06
204th Merseyside Derby
It’s almost too early in the season for a big derby game, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not sure my nerves are quite ready. Oh well, not much to do but watch and enjoy!
It’s the early game on Saturday and is therefore being aired on Sportsnet in Canada. I was dreading them not showing this one. Everton will have to keep its discipline if it hopes to be able to show its new-found form, particularly on the heels of March’s loss in a card-filled affair. Perhaps Mr. Poll will adopt his three-yellows-and-you’re-out policy to compensate.
Carragher and Riise appear to be out for the Reds, with Stubbs and McFadden out for Everton. I would not have expected the Everton scratches to start any way. There are rumours of Gary Naysmith playing as a winger following Kilbane’s departure to Wigan. Hmm, not sure if we’ll see him, but you know Moyes and his Scottish players.
A big question mark for the Toffees is Andy Van der Meyde. Will he start or play? With all his recent problems and seeing red in the last derby, one wonders if Moyes will start him. Will we see Davies as well? Some underperforming acquisitions that should be itching to get out there. Hibbo-Yobo-Lescott-Valente across the back would be nice.
Pip-Leon-Timmate-OurTater would be my guess across the mid field with Beattie and AJ up front. I’d like to see young Victor Anichebe sub for Beattie at some point as well.
What about Liverpool? The Kuyt and Bellamy pairing did look dangerous against West Ham, accounting for an offside goal which was not counted. It was Liverpool’s old boys that worked up Crouchie’s goal. We can probably expect a Crouch-Bellamy start though.
Whatever - we can expect a rip-roaring affair and I hope the ‘06/’07 Everton side shows up and not the ‘05/’06 one.
Looking forward to ManU and Spurs which is also on tv tomorrow; we’ll see if Jol can get his boys reorganized. Tough match to try to get the accomplished, though.
Mikel C.
Well, geez, I didn’t expect this! Liverpool can have the time of possession and goal attempts, we’ll take the goal and the win. Did you know it took Everton until December 28 last season to notch 10 goals? I just can’t believe this.
Except for perhaps Reina’s total mess-up on Johnson’s second goal, the Everton goals were a nice mix of creativity, flare, toughness and, perhaps most importantly, forcing and then capitalizing on defensive errors. I’ll grant that Leon Osman’s “forcing” was at least a little bit borderline on Cahill’s goal; still, I thought it was a lovely goal. I take that first comment back actually; that was good play getting the ball to Carsley and he made a cracking shot to put Reina all out of sorts.
Johnson’s first goal, nicking it past Hyppia and having Carragher make a howler clearance attempt, and then slotting it past Reina, had me a good two feet in the air off my living room chair.
Fantastic day for Everton!
Oops, why did I think it was 10 goals - it’s 8 (so that makes it Dec14th from last season to reach that mark).