From my seat: Liverpool (H)

Eye-witness report from the man who was there...

The derby here at last and we all assembled for breakfast at L4 and a pre-match run through of every scenario possible. It was surprising how many people had the ref bowing to Gerard and allowing him to ref the game. It seems like we have become so accustomed to this happening, it has now almost become a given for every derby; sad really.

We made our way up to the ground earlier today so we could take part in holding up our Blue paper squares and turning Goodison Blue just prior to kick off. On the way up, it was most apparent that this was a sell out with the streets knee deep in Blues and every outlet had its own big queue. Fans were taking photos of the ground and even the big new badge didn’t put any off. There was a buzz that no other fixture can generate and almost every emotion from optimism to hope to apprehension and that well known ‘behind the sofa’ feeling, hoping it will be soon be over, was apparent from snatches of conversation picked up. In a mass of Blue and White, we got to our turnstile, up the stairs, and to the seat. We turned Goodison Blue and gave the team a raucous reception. "That will lift them," I thought... "Let’s get at ‘em."

Well we did start fast and attacked them with purpose but, within five minutes, Liverpool won a corner and went and scored. The ball seemed to go through players in Blue and Red shirts and find its way to the back post and Coutinho smacked home despite McCarthy’s attempt to clear from the line. What a downer. Still, we had plenty of time left in the game to recover. As it turned out, we needed less than three minutes. We won a free kick, much to the delight of those assembled with a ref phobia; Baines floated it in and Barkley, who had been given a starting role today, got something on it and wrong-footed one or two and Mirallas nipped in across Gerrard and flicked home. Now that is what you call a roar as we all celebrated.

The Blues were starting to shade it now and no-one played a bigger part than Jags who led by example from the moment we went behind. He was coming into midfield with an infectious swagger and determination and it did rub off on others who seemed to up their game. None responded better than Barkley; in one move, he brushed off a couple of players and let one go which the keeper had to make a very good save and palm away.

That nasty piece of work Suarez was always a danger though and, along with some excellent football, he demonstrated his skill at the dive and the sly kick — but so far no bites. He forced a corner out of Distin which came to nought and twice he wriggled free from two players but his crosses were crowded away. On the 20-minute mark, McCarthy fouled Suarez some 20 yards out, he took it himself and somehow got it either through or past the wall and into the net. From the Blue faithful, just silence.

Lukaku just didn’t seem able to get going but in one aerial duel Mirallas picked up second ball and lashed one across goal then Barkley lashed one very high after a good powerful run but then got booked for a dive, yet from my seat I reckoned Lucas tripped him but the ref was better placed than me.

Mirallas must have had the studs down the Achilles by Suarez from last season’s match on his mind and got some late retaliation in and whacked him one on his knee. He got yellow but it could easy have been red. Still it was about fair as Suarez got nothing for his stamp last term.

The funny side to this was that Suarez had been limping some time before Mirallas connected but now he decided to get up and emphasise it more — well it made me laugh! The half was drawing to a close and Baines seemed to be limping a bit after hitting a first timer that went well wide.

Half-time and the chat was of every bit of cheating that had been noted, with the elbow that Gerrard pushed into Barry’s face being the main topic.

The second half started with no changes, even though Baines limped back on, and as the game started he was obviously in some discomfort. He soon had a free-kick to take and limped over to the other side of the pitch and took a shocker. "Get him off" was the cry of many. We had time for another spat betwixt Mirallas and Suarez when the latter dived in and Mirallas, in a jumped attempt to avoid injury, unfortunately landed on the Uruguay man feet first before Martinez saw sense and pulled Baines and sent on Deulofeu with Barry going left back.

Barkley was now required to play an orthodox midfield role and looked comfortable doing it. At times, he and Deulofeu looked exciting but getting anything on goal was not forthcoming until we broke down a Liverpool attack and sent the Barca man on a run to goal — he must score... all on our feet... he shot —straight at the keeper! Doh... the deflation.

We were on top now but everything seemed to break down in the last third and then almost disaster as Suarez went on a trade mark dribble past three players and gave Allen a tap-in from about eight yards which he duly placed the wrong side of the post, an unbelievable miss — thank the lord.

We pushed hard again for the equalizer and their keeper was by far the busier; he thwarted Lukaku three times when certainly at least one if not all should have counted. We then got a free-kick in Baines territory but alas no Baines. Up stepped Lukaku and, from a fast bowler's run-up, he smashed one in that the keeper just parried the ball away. Mirallas got onto it and raced to the by-line and crossed low for Lukaku to side foot home. Shear unbridled joy and celebration took place. Hugging and kissing complete strangers was noted.

No "holding what we have" with this manager — we went for it. Lukaku was put through on a break with options left and right but his final ball was dismal to say the least, it went to the one lone Liverpool defender! With these tactics, we were prone to a sucker punch on the counter but Jags and Distin were strong and Coleman and Barry steady. However, we got caught on the break again and, from a left-side cross, Suarez got in a point-blank header that caused Howard to make a world-class save. Deulofeu was causing havoc with his pace and trickery and these skills got him one-on-one with the keeper three times and three times he fluffed it: all three too close to the keeper.

I got that sickly feeling that, if we didn’t take just one of these chances, we would get done but my spirits were lifted when Mirallas put in a beaut of a corner and Lukaku — rising with power and purpose — headed powerfully home for a goal to be treated with unbridled joy and the sight of all the hands and arms going — it resembled a feeding frenzy. We were in front... hell, how good does that feel??? Just eight minutes to go... I wonder how many joined me in thinking: "They can’t — Can they?"

The clock ticked, Stones replaced Pienaar as Jags headed away a dangerous cross. Osman replaced Mirallas with one minute to go. "Keep em out, Blues" was the cry as another ball was cleared by Jags. Liverpool were now throwing caution to the wind and Distin gave away a silly free kick which Gerrard swung in with pace, dip and swerve — wouldn’t you just know it, the late sub Sturridge rose unattended and glanced beyond Howard. Stunned shock sums up the faithful.

Four mins of added time and either side could have won it. Howard turned a fierce Suarez shot for a corner and, from the kick, Sturridge put the ball home but the flag was raised so it didn’t count. Deulofeu raced in on goal again, wriggling along the by-line, but he shot straight at the keeper when a pullback could have been much more productive. Then, right on the whistle, with us keeping the ball in their area, we saw McCarthy in point blank but his shot hit the keeper as the whistle went.

It felt like a loss after feeling like a win.

MotM – Jagielka.

Overall, I thought it was the best derby I have seen in years. Cut and thrust and very little between the teams. I thought today was the day Ross Barkley came of age as he put in a measured performance that, if he can keep his level up for the remainder of the season, he will on the plane to Rio and on the radar of the wealthy.

There were some good performances in spells and I thought Deulofeu was best summed up as being ‘as good as he is bad’ We trudged back to our ale house and went over things but a draw always seems to stifle heated debate much more than a win or a loss.

I don’t know if what we saw today was the Martinez way or not but I would love us to carry on in that vein in a consistent way for the rest of the season and we could surprise ourselves with what we can achieve. Whatever we think of Liverpool, they are no mugs and we more than matched them so that word consistency is ever important.

Stoke next and a different challenge but if we can just pick up from today and who knows those chances we didn’t take today will start to go in. See you there to find out.
UP THE BLUES!

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