Season › 2012-13 › News
Everton vs Liverpool
Match Preview
It's cliched but there really is nothing like the derby. There can't be another game that generates such a mixture of excitement and dread; no result — save, of course, for a Cup semi or final — can lift you higher with a victory or leave you so crushed by defeat.
It seems lately, though — and I don't think I'm alone in this — that any excitement for an impending derby has been so consumed by dread of this fixture that they've become an occasion not to savour but to avoid contemplating and to get out of the way as quickly as possible... unless, of course, you've got some well-placed Betfair Premier League bets on the game to keep your mind occupied!
Therein lies we Blues' problem with the Merseyside derby: we've developed a disturbing psychosis around playing Liverpool and it's to the point now where we're handicapping ourselves on the very occasion where we need to be as mentally, spiritually and physically strong as possible. Exhibits A and B: the Anfield surrender in March and the FA Cup semi-final defeat where, in the latter case, a club as one seemed to lose its self-belief after one game-defining error by Sylvain Distin.
On paper going into it, the Goodison derby of a year ago was an altogether more even affair and Moyes's side was crippled by the shocking refereeing of Martin Atkinson, but those two most recent encounters with Liverpool seem to have sent we Blues into a psychological tailspin.
Everton's record in the derby under David Moyes stands as a constant reminder of this apparent inferiority complex, one borne originally of an ever-increasing gulf in resources and available talent but one that is now, thanks to the manager's patient building and the Blues' form in 2012, no longer supported by any factual rationale.
The current Liverpool team is without doubt the worst in more than a generation. Their own attempts to rebuild a side capable of recapturing former glories through a succession of managerial appointments has been a massively expensive failure and they've now had to lower their sights and dig in for the kind of long haul with which Evertonians have become very familiar.
Moyes's Everton is a side that has been talked about as dark horses for the Champions League places come May and the team's early season form had borne that out until a combination of refereeing incompetence, injury to key personnel and, last week at least, some ill-advised tinkering with the most productive area of his formation has seen them drop important points against lower-table sides..
With Steven Pienaar suspended for last weekend's incredibly harsh second yellow card, Darron Gibson ruled out for another week and Marouane Fellaini doubtful, this weekend's game at Goodison may not be tipped quite as much in Everton's favour as it might with a full squad.
Nevertheless, though they might not admit it, the Blues remain favourites based on home field advantage and their excellent sequence over the last 16 League games, a run disrupted only by a solitary defeat at West Bromwich Albion.
Liverpool have just a pair of wins — one at home, one away — and, their rout at Norwich aside, have struggled to score goals. That should give Moyes confidence if he can shore up his own defence which has had a propensity to concede soft goals early in recent weeks.
Tony Hibbert may help in that regard if he is passed fit after recovering from a calf injury but Seamus Coleman will likely continue at right back if not. In left midfield, Kevin Mirallas is expected to get the nod to fill in for Pienaar, while Steven Naismith, who impressed as a second-half sub at Loftus Road last week, could benefit from the South African's absence with a rare start, either up front with Nikica Jelavic or wide right.
Sooner rather than later, Moyes must find the psychological key to getting both himself and his players "over the hump" when it comes to playing the enemy from across Stanley Park. It can start this weekend with an organised, commanding, confident performance against a Liverpool side that is still finding its feet under a thus-far unconvincing manager.
It shouldn't be hard if the players deliver on the talent they possess. In the likes of Jelavic (albeit starved of service in the last two games), Leighton Baines, and Mirallas we have match-winners; in Jagielka and Distin we have a potentially watertight defensive pairing to keep Luis Suarez and his diving antics quiet; in Moyes we have a superior manager; in the Goodison faithful, we have the perfect 12th man. As difficult as it will be not to let any anxiety cross the threshold onto the pitch, the onus will be on the home fans to be vociferous and unyielding in their support.
Reader Comments (75)
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2 Posted 27/10/2012 at 07:52:58
It's Saturday I'm in work and all I can think about is the derby ffs. I'd luv it, just luv it if we beat them...
Com'on ta fuck, Everton. COYB
3 Posted 27/10/2012 at 07:42:53
I think Fellaini will be fit but my concern is the pairing of Neville and Osman; I can just see Liverpool having a field day. I would have Anichebe or Naismith behind Jelavic, stick Fellaini in midfield and consider Hitzlsperger as the defensive midfielder. Oviedo on the left and Mirallas on the right. If we are struggling, we can then put Fellaini up front and consider Osman.
As Ferguson once stated about Saha, if he hadn't have been so injury prone, he wouldn't have left OT; ditto Gibson. Hopefully Moyes will have some money to spend in January because we are desperately short in midfield.
Fingers crossed the referee has a decent game and we play as well as we know they can, if that happens I would be surprised if we got beat.
4 Posted 27/10/2012 at 09:21:50
• If Gibson and Fellaini both started, we would win this one, finally.
• If one started, we would draw.
• If neither, we will drop another 3 points (and given how poorly we played at QPR, our confidence is probably ebbing again).
I will be watching the teamsheet with interest...
5 Posted 27/10/2012 at 09:32:04
6 Posted 27/10/2012 at 09:43:12
Howard
Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines
Mirallas Osman Fellaini Oviedo
Vellios Jelavic
I know a lot of people will think it's suicide going for 4-4-2 but I can see Jagielka and Distin hoofing the ball a lot in this game because they won't be given time on the ball; having 2 up front gives us a better chance of the ball staying up there.
Jelavic has been missing in the last 2 games because he has had no support or service and I do believe having a partner will help him. I was tempted to put Hitzlsperger straight in ahead of Osman who only plays for 10 - 15 mins a game but I think it would be asking a bit much considering it would be his first match in a long time.
Moyes's likely 11:
Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Distin Baines
Neville
Anichebe Osman Mirallas
Fellaini
Jelavic
If he plays anything like this side, I fear for us. I fucking hate derbies.
7 Posted 27/10/2012 at 09:30:41
I have been going to Goodison since 1969 and it's NEVER been any different. Why the hell is this? As supporters we seem to quickly loose faith in our side if things don't always go to plan and it's not something that's just happened under Moyes — it's always been the same.
This anxiety and negativity that's embedded in certain sections of our support is self fulfilling. You don't need a degree in psychology to know it makes its way onto the field via the slagging off of our players and then that affects how they play. Sure, we may have criticisms of our players, but when something happens in a match which suddenly causes us to start having a go at our team, it helps no-one except the opposition. It's amplified in a derby as we are even more anxious and you can then see the confidence drain from certain Blues players (over the decades).
I have known a few professional footballers over the years and they have all said the same. That is, the Blues support is intimidating and a genuine 12th man when it's right behind our team, but they always had a hope that it could suddenly switch and then they felt they were in with a chance. They always looked to frustrate our team and hoped our support would get on our team's back and work in their favour.
Let's just all show some bottle and get behind the lads for the whole match and do what we're best at ie being the best supporters in the land. We can work at saving the moaning and slagging off until after the match. However hard the emotion of the occasion makes this, we need to hold our nerve as it will help our team to hold theirs, perform to their best, and beat the feckers.
8 Posted 27/10/2012 at 10:05:31
Call me a harbinger of doom but I have absolutely no faith in Moyes's ability to negotiate these matches successfully; even if we were ten points clear of `them`, he would still see us as the underdogs.
9 Posted 27/10/2012 at 10:20:10
The last derby I went to was the 2-2 at Mordor the season before last, and you could practically smell the fear from the players (it's a knives and gunfight sort of thing).
So here's my predictions... Filthy slimey diving bastard will win a pen, to even up our early goal and it will end up one a-piece.
10 Posted 27/10/2012 at 12:47:57
However, in last season`s Goodison derby, I felt before the Saurez dive, we were looking the most confident that I have see us in a derby. But in the end, it was an ominous defeat, adding to the negative feeling that, even if we outplay them, some snide red or blind ref is going to cheat us.
I think we should certainly leave out Osman, Hibbert and Anichebe, who as locals carry this negative baggage into derbies more than the other players. Here's hoping against fate. COYB
11 Posted 27/10/2012 at 12:50:50
Howard
Hibbert
Baines
Jagielka
Distin
Coleman
Neville
Osman
Mirallas
Fellaini
Jelavic
12 Posted 27/10/2012 at 12:35:37
Forget the bloody past, this is now! I hope I am right but I've got a feeling Kevin Mirallas will have a cracker tomorrow!
13 Posted 27/10/2012 at 13:16:27
14 Posted 27/10/2012 at 13:16:09
Good tactics and captaincy are the key but we are somewhat devoid in that department on too many occasions. Derby games are all too frenetic due to Liverpool's emphasis on speed and so our midfield need to work hard and tackle well to keep Gerrard quiet as he is their catalyst still.
15 Posted 27/10/2012 at 13:35:30
I could go back to 3 seasons ago, when we lost 1-0 at Mordor. At one time we were both down to 10 men, Kariakos (?) sent off and Fellaini off injured and we bossed the game. Then Howard comes for a corner identical to the Southampton corner this season and the rest as they say, is history.
But that was in the middle of the best set of results, when we drew with Arsenal at the Emirates, beat both Manc clubs, Chelsea and Sporting Lisbon, and Liverpool were a very ordinary team. We just cannot seem to be able to beat them, I’ll watch it tomorrow with very little hope or expectation.
But WTF, COYB
16 Posted 27/10/2012 at 13:27:55
I would put Hibbert in & play Naismith on the right of midfield.
Unless Anichebe is on for the last 20 mins in the middle to throw his weight around — he is a waste of a shirt.
17 Posted 27/10/2012 at 13:50:57
Anyway, fuck it, I'm still going for 2-0 to us with Mirallas first GS. 60/1
18 Posted 27/10/2012 at 14:06:02
But ffs.. our defence this term is leaking to many silly goals and this must be addressed first against a not so potent LFC strike force. I think it will be another draw if we tried to win and not go there trying not to lose. Come on Moyes... let's not slip away after a great start to the season. COYB!!
19 Posted 27/10/2012 at 14:21:56
20 Posted 27/10/2012 at 14:46:00
21 Posted 27/10/2012 at 14:43:27
If the fans can ride the early storm of the tackles and going in here there and everywhere and the players can handle the tension and apprehension in the atmosphere, then I think our quality will come through and the home crowd will roar us on....
I'm off to get pissed just so I can sleep properly tonight.
22 Posted 27/10/2012 at 14:56:30
A few injuries, a suspension, and a couple of draws and I'm now much more at ease.
Says something about the way this club has conditioned me!
COYB!
23 Posted 27/10/2012 at 14:56:16
24 Posted 27/10/2012 at 15:30:13
25 Posted 27/10/2012 at 15:36:28
As silly as it sounds, I think the game could end up on how Neville plays, he is capable in these games of putting in a good show; however, we get the other performances.
26 Posted 27/10/2012 at 15:40:52
27 Posted 27/10/2012 at 15:52:22
Having said all that, they do have more than their fair share of luck and more so in Derby matches so that's their main hope of winning. It would be nice for the Blues to have some good luck in this game.
28 Posted 27/10/2012 at 15:47:41
Let's get behind the lads and give the shite a hammering; I would've loved Gibbo to be fit and Pienaar to be available, but hopefully if The 'Fro turns up and Fizzer can get some fire in his belly then we can beat them. COYB
ps: I can't stand Brendan of Mordor.
29 Posted 27/10/2012 at 17:28:28
30 Posted 27/10/2012 at 18:09:20
1 - 1
31 Posted 27/10/2012 at 18:24:53
Be positive and the result we all crave will come.
Coybs
32 Posted 27/10/2012 at 19:37:47
It's strange that we've rolled over the big sides at home in the league but seem to freeze when we play these lot... What's Moyes's paranoia with them? I'd love to know.
Even though we've got players missing, we should have enough to beat them. But you just know we won't. And what's the betting that having slagged Cilla Black off this morning, the carrot-munching prick will get the winner?
The sad thing is we'll never have a better chance to beat them. But where have we heard that before?!?!
33 Posted 27/10/2012 at 20:02:15
If we think we will win, we won't as we are playing the devils spawn; if we don't expect to win, then we could come out on top....
Be strong my friends....
34 Posted 27/10/2012 at 20:00:32
Howard, Jags, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Osman, Neville, Fellaini, Mirallas, Naismith, Jelavic.
Hope that Moyes reshuffles this though, Neville at RB, Fellaini in the middle, Coleman on the right and Naismith a chance to shine behind Jelavic.
35 Posted 27/10/2012 at 20:05:37
Get a grip, look at what's happened since Shanks had enough of EFC being top dogs and did something about it.
I won't go into it for fear of frightening the fragile but just look at the results and trophy
cabinets.
About time someone at Everton pulled their finger out and took these reds as seriously as Shanks took us back in the day.
Mystery indeed.
36 Posted 27/10/2012 at 20:15:46
The tempo will be breakneck and I don't think Neville's knees will cope as the game progresses.
37 Posted 27/10/2012 at 20:34:51
38 Posted 27/10/2012 at 21:05:05
39 Posted 27/10/2012 at 21:10:16
40 Posted 27/10/2012 at 21:18:54
I know the big man has done a good job in the more advanced role but I think we need his presence where the battle is likely to be.
41 Posted 27/10/2012 at 21:58:05
For those going to the game or watching on TV, roar the boys on with pride knowing we are better than them, on and off the pitch.
I for one will not be watching out if choice, I will be going to work locked away in a bathroom replacing tiles, for the first time ever I simply cannot watch this game, I've never not watched a derby in 20 years, but I simply cannot go through the turmoil and the stress of bizarre refereeing decisions going against us anymore.
COYBs
42 Posted 27/10/2012 at 22:51:27
Here's hoping from the line-up that Naimsith plays as well tomorrow as he did with Jelavic in Scotland. We need them to link up well; one chance is all we need for Jelavic to score.
COYB!
43 Posted 27/10/2012 at 23:59:00
Howard
Hibbert Jagielka Distin Baines
Naismith Schnitzlsperger Fellaini Mirallas
Osman
Jelavic
I worry that we're without Gibson & Pienaar against this lot yet again; we missed them terribly at Wembley. I also fear Evertonians are going overboard with how poor Liverpool are; they've been the better side in most games they've played this season, they just haven't had a cuting edge. Praying they don't suddenly rediscover one tomorrow. Susso and Saidi or whatever his name is look decent players and could cause us problems, but I'd hope Hibbert/Baines would be good enough and experienced enough to nullify the threat of Sterling.
It'd take a convincing win against the shite in a really meaningful match to eradicate the nightmare of Wembley, but it really would be sweet if we could bury these bastards 4 or 5 nil for a change.
Come on Blues...get after them!
44 Posted 28/10/2012 at 01:22:22
COYB!!
45 Posted 28/10/2012 at 02:37:56
All will be revealed in the next exciting installment of derby Wars. Win lose or draw, we need to play well.
46 Posted 28/10/2012 at 04:01:07
47 Posted 28/10/2012 at 05:20:39
Losing Pienaar last week really threw any optimism I had for this game out of the window... but, as the week has moved on, I find myself waking with an unusual calmness. My plan for the day is to go and have a big breakfast and take a drive for a couple of hours. I will then call my boy who will be sitting in the Lower Gwladys for his first league derby (his first one was the Gosling cup game) and I have told him the only time derbies are ever fun is when you win.
No beer today just me alone in my apartment in Nairobi. (I don't want to be near anything in red today.) With a knot in my stomach waiting for them to get every bastard decision. Screaming at Osman... when he backs out of a 50-50. Knocking the lampshades of the ceiling when we score.
Come on Davey (Brenda Rodgers isn't fit to lace your boots), send us out with positive intent today, we are Everton Football Club, a club to be proud of, so let's go and let that shower of horrible bastards know why we are above them in the league. Osman to score today as well a Jelavic, us to win.
Just going to go and be sick.
49 Posted 28/10/2012 at 07:54:02
First time all season I've wished we had Cahill available.
50 Posted 28/10/2012 at 08:14:17
"Liverpool had so many good players when I first came it was difficult to work out how to stop them.Maybe it is still like that"
10 goals in 8 games they have scored,what position are they in the league?
You can pack that in straight away David.
51 Posted 28/10/2012 at 09:08:21
52 Posted 28/10/2012 at 08:58:17
53 Posted 28/10/2012 at 09:19:35
54 Posted 28/10/2012 at 09:41:47
High tempo, loads of movement, speed of thought and run the shitheads off the park.
55 Posted 28/10/2012 at 09:55:11
Tony 687.
You have left out Osman and whether you like it or not Osman will play. If Hibbo is fit then he will get RB and from what I'm hearing thats going to happen. So Neville will then stay CM with Osman.
Your front four will probably happen though I would say Naismith and Coleman are fighting for the right mid position.
With the right attitude and good football to the front two we will win this match.
56 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:05:43
What the hell are these people on
57 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:06:01
* a debacle of blatant piss poor referee decisions which ruin the game
* a display of cheating
* a display of negative overly defensive tactics surrendering the game
58 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:08:04
Personally, I think there's been a change in Moyes in the build up to this one. No plucky underdogs. Time to smash them!
59 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:09:14
60 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:19:48
Will we see a centre-mid pairing of Neville and Heitinga? Osman on the left and Anichibe on the right? gosh... can't wait.
61 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:28:47
RIP Brian Woolnough, the journalistic voice of reason
62 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:34:53
63 Posted 28/10/2012 at 09:47:59
Players out of form like Neville will be picked, and the poor use of Anichebe as a winger will come back to haunt us too.
What makes us feel ill is the fact that Moyes makes a mistake before or during the game.
I hold out little hope of a win, our midfield with Neville and Osman is the worst in the league.
By the way, a far as league form goes, the Red Shite are on 10th and we are in 9th, that gives us a clearer picture of what we are up against!
Moyes will be the one who controls the result here, if he picks Neville and Osman then we are in for a shitty match, just like the QPR and Wigan game.
Home form does not matter as long as Moyes plays the weakest possible central midfielders.
Gerrard will have a field day with both of them.
I pray and hope Moyes makes a change to the central midfield, but Moyes has his old favourites he will never drop. Like Cahill last year who was abysmal.
My nerves before the game comes from not knowing if Moyes will fix our midfield up, or not.
64 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:39:32
Like eveyone here I'm worried about refereeing decisions, I was watching the Clattenberg derby on ESPN last night and even though I knew what was comig, I was still effing and blindin' at the TV. Marriner needs to stand tall and grow a pair for the 90 minutes of cheating, whining and diving. COYB
65 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:50:57
66 Posted 28/10/2012 at 10:50:04
67 Posted 28/10/2012 at 12:25:00
He says the same thing every time we play them,then khasis the game.
Lets hope today is different. COYB
68 Posted 28/10/2012 at 12:43:08
69 Posted 28/10/2012 at 12:43:49
70 Posted 28/10/2012 at 12:47:49
http://www.toffeeweb.com/comment/live/
71 Posted 28/10/2012 at 12:45:31
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20109061
Its a forum discussing cheating in the game, there are some real idiot reds!
72 Posted 28/10/2012 at 12:55:00
73 Posted 28/10/2012 at 13:06:12
74 Posted 28/10/2012 at 13:02:47
75 Posted 28/10/2012 at 13:19:11
77 Posted 28/10/2012 at 14:27:07
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1 Posted 27/10/2012 at 06:55:16
This from an article in today's Daily Mirror and it says it all about Moyes and his big game bottling inferiority complex about the RS.