WE WERE AT Anfield for the first Merseyside derby of the season.
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Liverpool 1-1 Everton
Good afternoon. With the Ryder Cup, the All-Ireland senior hurling final replay and eight Premier League matches to be contested, it’s an absolute cracking day of sport.
We’ve broken away from Gleneagles for the meeting of Liverpool’s big two at Anfield and it’s just 20 minutes away from kick-off so here are the teams:
Liverpool: Mignolet, Manquillo, Moreno, Lovren, Skrtel, Gerrard, Henderson, Markovic, Lallana, Sterling, Balotelli.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka, Stones, Barry, McCarthy, Besic, Mirallas, Naismith, Lukaku.
The big news is that Daniel Sturridge misses out for the home side with Lazar Markovic getting the nod with Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana behind Mario Balotelli.
The Toffees are without Ireland full-back Seamus Coleman due to an injury so Tony Hibbert makes his first start since December 2012. A big day for the 33-year-old.
Both sides come into the fixture on the back of disappointing league defeats. 11th-placed Liverpool were outdone by West Ham last Saturday while Everton, currently one point behind today’s opponents in 14th, lost 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace.
Which way do you see this one going?
Poll Results:
‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ has just been belted out so here we go.
Liverpool are immediately on the attack and Adam Lallana is chopped down by Gareth Barry 20-odd yards out from goal. The game is only a minute old and the former England midfielder has picked himself up the first yellow card of the afternoon.
Gerrard, Balotelli and Henderson stand over the set-piece. It’s Balotelli to take but his effort crashes off the wall.
Lukaku received the ball out wide right and allows it to roll through his legs before taking on Alberto Moreno. The Belgian striker cuts into the box and goes down but referee Martin Atkinson is having none of it.
Good stat this…
Sterling has just had a sight at goal. His shot is on target but easily saved by Tim Howard.
Moments later, Jordan Henderson threads a pass through to Balotelli who is through on goal but shoots straight at the Toffees keeper. Imatters little though as the referee’s assistant has raised his flag.
Big penalty shout! Barry appears to block a shot with his raised arm but, again, Atkinson waves play on.
Barry really is in the thick of things here and needs to be careful after brining down Balotelli. The Italian international dusts himself off and fires a shot at goal, which Howard bats away.
Half chances at either end with Balotelli failing to connect properly after a cross from the left before Lukaku stings the hands of Mignolet down the other end.
An Everton cross makes its way all the way over the opposite flank where Leighton Baines has bust a gut to get forward. He cuts the ball back to a dangerous area but it’s cleared away.
Henderson with a decent shot from distance, which Howard deals with.
And we’re going to have our first substitute. Kevin Mirallas attacks with intent on the left wing but pulls up with what appears to be a hamstring injury. That’s his day finished with Ireland’s Aiden McGeady on in his place.
Martin Skrtel is off the pitch receiving treatment so Steven Gerrard has slotted in to act as a makeshift centre half for the moment.
Henderson intercepts a Barry pass and slots Sterling in. The England attacker goes for goal but is again thwarted by Howard.
Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 Everton
Shouts from the home support for a penalty. Lallana makes space for himself to cut the ball back where Balotelli tries to get on the ball. He loses out to Jagielka, who is strong in the challenge. No foul.
A super ball from Sterling puts Markovic in but his first touch is a poor one and James McCarthy gets in swiftly to win the ball.
Lazar Markovic, yet to find his feet at Liverpool, is making way after a quiet 60 minutes. The Serbian will be replaced by Coutinho.
Decent effort from Naismith there but it’s far too close to Mignoley and makes a routine save.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Everton (Steven Gerrard 65′)
Baines trips Balotelli and Liverpool earn themselves a big chance 20 yards out from goal. Gerrard steps up… and curls it home with Howard only able to get a hand to it on the way in.
A minute or so after the opener, Balotelli’s volley clips the bar after latching onto a Sterling cross.
Here’s the strike:
Everton have brought on 20-year-old defender Tyias Browning for Tony Hibbert.
In all my excitment, I’ve forgotten to tell you that Muhamed Besic has left the field of play with Samuel Eto’o coming on in his place.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Everton (Phil Jagielka 92′)
Deary me, that is an unbelievable hit! A cross is cleared as far as the edge of the box and England defender Jagielka hits the ball perfectly on the half-volley to curl it Mignolet injury time.
Full-time: Liverpool 1-1 Everton
Phil Jagielka will never score a better goal than this:
