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From My Seat: Liverpool (H)

Not the greatest from a purist’s viewpoint but a meaty roller coaster derby that aroused emotions that only these encounters can. I think every fan got their money’s worth today.

Long three week wait for a home game and it’s the Derby with all the build up that brings. The walk up to the ground was damp and quiet in Derby terms. Plenty of people, yet little atmosphere. Maybe this had something to do with the majority of thoughts in our pub that although we had a good start and they had a poor one to the season the derby would yet again be a thorn in our side. I got the impression that the Distin back-pass was still lingering in minds.

Almost 40,000 of us assembled and just before kick-off Kevin Sheedy was presented and received a tremendous ovation.

The game started with us attacking the street end and doing well for starters. Mirallas was ever dangerous and sorties down the left had the crowd roaring. He twisted, turned and shot or crossed causing the Red rearguard consternation. For 15 mins we bossed it... yet always looked a tad susceptible to a quick counter – something that has been with us all season – and needs addressing further...

On the 15-min mark, the shaven headed Enrique scampered down the left and his delivery seemed to cross the box far too easily and find Jacques Cousteau – sorry, wrong diver – it was Suarez, he drilled the ball hard and low across the box toward the corner flag but low and behold it hit Baines and flew into the net.

This was met by a deathly hush except for a group of undesirables dressed in red who made a fuss of the goal. The scorer’s celebration consisted of a rush toward the dug out with a finger firmly pointed toward the Everton manager and culminated in a swallow dive with skid. Didn’t go down to well with those assembled in the Blue.

We had the wind taken out of our sails with that goal and had a touch of anxiety about our play after looking the better side until the Baines intervention and whilst in this state some five minutes later we conceded again. The youngster Sterling, who seems to be coached by Suarez in the darker arts shall we say ‘won’ a free kick which was rightly disputed but our ref was unbending and his on field assistant Gerrard curled one in that was glanced home by the man most love to hate, you got it – Suarez.

0-2 down in 20 minutes, many must have had thoughts of Rush and 0-5... but our twelfth man came immediately into play and in fine raucous fashion had the players going that bit faster, that bit harder and putting the reds onto the back foot.

With Moyes resembling a windmill in the technical area Jelavic and Fellaini combined and Fellaini shot and won a corner which was swung in only for the keeper to punch clear to just outside the box where the lurking Osman pounced and flashed a shot into the far corner. Pandemonium broke out and an almighty roar left the players in no doubt that more of the same was required from them.

Mirallas was a constant threat and one turn in the box leaving defenders stranded would have graced the Nou Camp and Liverpool were not slow in realizing the danger he posed and a series of kicks on him was ultimately to see him withdrawn at half time. In the meantime though he gave Wisdom a torrid time as he responded to the promptings of the excellent Osman who was the pick of both mid-fields as he expertly stitched front to back. This allowed Mirallas to create a great chance for Fellaini and one for himself as the crowd had the ‘Old Lady’ rocking.

Then ten minutes to the break Mirallas was at it again when after further treatment for kicks he both did well and got a bit of luck when his hard hit cross hit Fellaini who scampered after it and from the byline hit another cross into the box which saw Naismith racing in anticipation and converting to send Goodison into melt down.

Liverpool were rattled and had to withstand severe pressure until the half-time whistle and from being 2-0 down early we were somewhat unlucky not to be leading as the whistle blew.

The half-time chat was predictable on a derby day as many were convinced a man in Blue would be sent off and a fluke goal would see the neighbours home. Every time we play em it’s the same. We must be league champs at hard luck derby stories.

Second half and at the off the visitors had made two changes such was their disarray. The giant Coates to combat Fellaini and Shelvey just because Suso was all but invisible.

Moyes made just the one as our main attacking threat had succumbed to the kicks from inferior players and had to be replaced by Gueye. This was a big blow as unfortunately Gueye is no Mirallas.

The half got under way and after about ten minutes I had this feeling that a goal for either side would be hard to get as Liverpool had flooded the midfield to bring us on and had the craft of Suarez and the speed of Sterling up front to hurt us on the break therefore for long periods there was stalemate, yet entertaining stalemate as no quarter was asked for or given. The ref was berated by players from both sides and by both sets of fans as almost everyone believed he was against their team. Although not perfect I thought he did ok when the performances of some other refs still linger long, loud and clear.

From one Sterling break he left Jags for dead and was one on one with Howard who stayed big and saw Sterling scuff well wide much to the delight of the street end.

At the other end Fellaini headed wide when well placed, Coleman got to the by-line and hit a hard daisy cutter that must have evaded the toe of Jelavic by the breadth of a gnat’s whisker. The same man placed a header wide from a Baines free kick from just six yards out when from my seat it seemed easier to score.
That odious fellow Suarez should have seen red for stamping on the Achilles area of Distin. Then the sight of him ball juggling while the physio came on instead of at least an apology left a bad taste to the mouth. He did see yellow though.

With time flying past we saw a rarity when Baines took a very poor free-kick which saw Liverpool break quickly and cause some consternation at the back before Jags hooked clear. Then Gerrard had a clear sight of goal from the edge of box but a last gasp block from Jags thwarted him. Five mins to go and Oviedo replaced Naismith. Coleman got booked for what seemed very little and ‘You’re not fit to referee’ rang around the Park.

We roared as Oviedo got a hard cross in but it lacked a little finesse. Suarez hit the deck once again and won a free kick which the assistant ref took and was hopelessly off target. Sort of more Goodison Road than Gwladys Street.

4 mins of injury time and we attacked Oviedo put in a great cross that begged to be attacked but the sight of Jelavic taking no interest in it was extremely baffling.

Then at the death Liverpool had a free kick into our box and the giant Coates headed down for Suarez to lash home. The self-proclaimed assistant ref ran and then slid on both knees to his adoring admirers only to be brought up short by the hoots of derision from the faithful as the liner held his flag aloft. Final whistle brought an end to a most enjoyable game. Not the greatest from a purist’s viewpoint but a meaty roller coaster derby that aroused emotions that only these encounters can. I think every fan got their money’s worth today.

MotM — Osman. Probably would have been Mirallas if he had not been kicked out of it.

Overall a typical derby in as much as it could have gone either way yet this was an exciting one with hardly a dull moment and the time just flew.

A little tale from my mate in the family enclosure. As Carragher was warming up a wag shouted to him to show his tattoo. He replied in good banter ‘It says Blue shite now’ and would you believe a person reported the remark to a steward for inappropriate language!! Make of that what you will.

Time to lick our wounds before the trip to the Cottage and hope today’s injuries can be cleared up in time as we do seem a little short on numbers to sustain our decent start. The table after the Spurs home game may well be revealing.

Still time to reflect on today and enjoy the day out and in a hard fought encounter we won the yellow card count 4-3.

Have a good week see you at the Cottage.
UP THE BLUES

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