Hello everybody, you’re very welcome along to our minute-by-minute coverage of today’s highly-awaited Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park.
Manchester City are currently top of the Premier League after yesterday’s 1-0 defeat of Bournemouth (as close to a 1-0 hammering as you can get) and Jurgen Klopp’s men will be seeking to change that this afternoon against their bitter rivals.
Divock Origi scored a famous 95th-minute winner when these sides met at Anfield just before Christmas, his first goal of the season, and we’ll be doing well to enjoy a similar level of drama and intrigue today.
You do get the feeling that that 1-0 win on 2 December ignited Liverpool’s title charge in a major way, with the Reds winning seven games on the bounce afterwards to climb to the top of the Premier League.
Their form after Christmas has not been to the same standard, with Pep Guardiola’s defending champions bit-by-bit eroding away at what was once a seven point lead at the summit.
Marco Silva’s men have laboured through a disjoined season at Goodison, currently sitting mid-table in 10th place. They are no-where near a title challenge, but would relish the opportunity to deny their cross-city rivals their’s with a win here today.
Stick with us, kick-off is coming up in an hour’s time at 4.15pm. This is going to be a good one.
Let’s get started with the team news…
⚠ MERSEYSIDE DERBY TEAM NEWS ⚠
— Everton (@Everton) March 3, 2019
2⃣ changes.
🔄 @KurtZouma returns.
💫 @b_10duarte starts.
COME ON YOU BLUES! 💙 #EFCmatchday pic.twitter.com/rnONwL8PSj
TEAM NEWS: Everton make one change as Bernard replaces Richarlison, while Jordan Henderson captains Liverpool with James Milner on the bench. Roberto Firminho returns from injury, but takes his place amongst the substitutes.
Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Zouma, Digne; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Bernard; Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Jagielka, Kenny, Gomes, Davies, Tosun, Richarlison.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Fabinho; Salah, Mane, Origi.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Milner, Keita, Lallana, Shaqiri, Firmino, Sturridge.
Across the park arrivals 👊 #EVELIV pic.twitter.com/1OCsYggy3v
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 3, 2019
A massive day for both sides, but for Liverpool you do get the feeling that they cannot afford any more slip-ups. Four draws in five games — against Leicester, West Ham, Bayern and Man United — has shown a bit of fatigue has worn in. But they put any of those concerns aside with an impressive 5-0 victory against Watford midweek to get back on track at their free-scoring best. How do you see today’s game going? Let us know below.
Poll Results:
Some pre-game reading material ahead of kick-off:
- ‘Fans can’t win derbies in the office’: Klopp determined to earn bragging rights for Reds fans
- Robbie Keane to captain Ireland XI for Sean Cox fundraiser against Liverpool Legends
- Liverpool celebrated derby winner like it was World Cup final – Toffees boss Silva
- Both Man City and Liverpool will drop points in title race, insists Guardiola
- Van Dijk scores twice as Liverpool roar back to form against Watford
What the manager’s have said…
Marco Silva: “First we must be ourselves, to believe in ourselves. Of course it’s a long time without a win for us as a football club – that means it’s a difficult match.
“I didn’t see a big difference [between the sides] when I managed my first Liverpool derby. If we can perform the way we did [then] in December it will be very good, because we were very close to winning the match. In that match we deserved something more.”
Jurgen Klopp: “The Everton fans don’t want us to win anything and probably for our fans it’s the same.
“In the game it’s very emotional and passionate, and I hope it’s like that again. That’s how football should be.
“At Goodison they really support their team so let’s go there and use the atmosphere because it will be loud, it will be wild, and we have to deliver on the pitch.”
Irish keeper Caoimhin Kelleher out warming up with Alisson and Simon Mignolet. #lfc #efc @offtheball pic.twitter.com/Ot7EHAmCAC
— Nathan Murphy (@nathanmurf) March 3, 2019
KICK-OFF: We’re underway at Goodison Park for the 233rd Merseyside derby!
A start full of all the usual hustle and bustle which comes with a derby. The crowd at Goodison are up for this one, motivated with a sinister desire to snatch this potential title from Liverpool’s grasp. It’s been 29 long years for these travelling Reds fans, but the Toffees faithful would love it if they beat them. Love it.
Trent Alexander-Arnold gets on his bike to propel Liverpool forward in what is the game’s first proper attack. He spots a massive gap where Morgan Schneiderlin should be protecting his centre backs and exploits it with a quick turn of pace. He offloads to Divock Origi, who beats Seamus Coleman, but his cross is cleared by Michael Keane.
Theo Walcott picks up the game’s first booking, receiving a yellow card from Martin Atkinson for a foul on Virgil Van Dijk, who was bringing the ball out of defence following a decent Everton attack down that lefthand channel.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin peels away from both van Dijk and Joel Matip to try and leap for a header, but Theo Walcott’s cross into the danger zone is caught by Alisson, who is forced to come from his line.
Chance! Gylfi Sigurdsson dances through the box and plays the ball across goal towards Calvert-Lewin, but van Dijk recovers to boot the ball out for a corner kick. The Iceland playmaker could have went down there under the challenge of Andy Robertson, but decided to play on. Nervy, nervy moment for Liverpool there. Good start by the hosts.
Liverpool come close at the other end. The ball fumbles and fizzes left and right before Jordan Pickford brings an end to the momentary panic by collecting possession. Jordan Henderson causing all sorts of problems with a cross to start the attack.
Mohamed Salah cuts inside dangerously. He beats his man with a swivel of the hips before smacking a powerful effort intended for Pickford’s top corner. The England goalkeeper stands his ground, though, and catches with little fuss.
Before that attack Seamus Coleman provided a crucial interception. A long ball hoofed upfield was brought down excellently by Salah. He looked like having a potential one-on-one with Pickford, but the Ireland skipper read the danger and got a toe to the ball to force it clear.
Very good, persistent pressing from that Everton frontline of Walcott, Bernard and Calvert-Lewin puts Alisson under pressure. The Brazilian enjoys playing the ball out from the back, but this time has no option but to punt it clear. He doesn’t like that.
More nervy defending, but this time it’s in front of the Everton goal. Michael Keane attempts to head the ball back to his goalkeeper, but is not aware of the danger posed by Sadio Mane lurking right behind him. The Liverpool forward almost gets a toe to it, but Pickford is slightly quicker to save Keane’s blushes.
Twenty minutes gone and no breakthrough for either side. Even though it’s 0-0, this has been a very enjoyable derby so far. Plenty of nervy moments and lots of energy from both teams. Everton have more than held their own.
Just as I say that, there has been a quiet lull over the course of the last five minutes. Long, aimless balls at both ends, with a pair of defences marshalled by Virgil Van Dijk at one end and Kurt Zouma at the other, keeping chances to a minimum.
Theo Walcott threatens down the right wing and manages to cut inside. But his final touch is too heavy and gives Fabinho the chance to clean up. The Brazilian snags possession and drives out of defence with confidence.
Close! Mohamed Salah with the closest chance of the game so far. He sprints free with oceans of space to make use of, but his first touch lets the Egyptian down. He tries to recover and opens up his body to have a go on his left foot, but Jordan Pickford makes himself big and provides a crucial save from point-blank range.
That was a top, top save from Pickford. Salah didn’t look confident having a go on his right foot and was forced to twist himself around to try a low effort on his favoured left boot. All that time seemed to close the space, though, with Salah not opening his body enough to wrap the ball around Pickford and into the bottom corner — instead hitting his shot at a comfortable height for the Everton shot-stopper.
Salah making inroads again down that right wing. He twists and turns Lucas Digne with ease before sending a low cross towards the front post. Michael Keane hacks it clear as Everton are pinned back.
Walcott with another chance. He beats Andy Robertson to a cross-field ball down the right wing and bears down on goal with a chance to shoot, but his right-footed effort is well off target. It flies well and truly over the crossbar.
Five minutes to go before the break and still no breakthrough for either side. Liverpool have probably just about shaded it so far, with that Walcott shot just now Everton’s first of the game after 38 minutes. The Reds have offered three attempts on goal, but Jordan Pickford has managed to navigate each and every one so far.
A big “waheeeeey” from the home crowd as Virgil van Dijk is forced to fully stretch to try and make a header. The big Dutch defender makes a decent connection, but by that stage he has meandered three or four yards wide of the target. His header follows suit and flies well wide.
There will be one minute of stoppage time to come at the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: EVERTON 0-0 LIVERPOOL
HALF-TIME Everton 0-0 Liverpool
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 3, 2019
A tense opening exchange in the Merseyside derby#EVELIV pic.twitter.com/jPyzS5xxT8
We’ve reached the halfway stage. No goals but more than enough action to make this a decent-ish derby so far. Everton have held their own, not letting Jurgen Klopp’s men roll them over like they did against Watford during that 5-0 win four days ago. All that said, a draw is still a poor result for Liverpool in the context of the title race. Two points dropped could be detrimental. More action to come shortly!
SECOND-HALF: We’re back underway at Goodison for another 45 minutes!
A big 45 minutes this will be for Liverpool. A point is a point, but to be perfectly honest a draw is no good to the Reds today. Goodison Park is not an easy place to win whatsoever, but if Klopp’s charges really do want to end that 29-year wait for a title, they need a goal pretty soon.
Save! Alisson is forced into some quick reactions to keep it level pegging. A corner swung into the box is met by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who gets in front of Virgil van Dijk, but the Brazilian goalkeeper reads it well to get his hands to it.
Trent Alexander-Arnold tries his luck at the other end with a free-kick from 25 yards. He aims for Pickford’s bottom corner and succeeds in hitting the target, but the Everton goalkeeper gets down low to make the save.
Everton survive another scare. Some excellent work by Joel Matip feeds Mohamed Salah through on goal, but his touch is very poor and gives Pickford and Coleman the opportunity to block and clear for a corner. The Reds are really applying pressure at the moment, forcing their opponents further and further back.
Close again for Liverpool as Roberto Firmino crosses towards the back post having been introduced off the bench in place of Divock Origi. Sadio Mane leaps high but heads over the crossbar.
It’s all Liverpool right now ever since the break. Another opportunity sees Andy Robertson cross towards Virgil van Dijk. He attempts a shot off his left boot but Lucas Digne recovers at the last possible second to clear.
James Milner is free as Mohamed Salah scrambles into space down the right wing. The winger tries to pick out his team-mate with a pass, but it’s right into the welcoming arms of Jordan Pickford, who catches inside his box. Frustration growing for the visitors.
Andy Robertson picks up a yellow card as Everton flood men forward. A free-kick into the box from the right boot of Gylfi Sigurdsson finds Cenk Tosun free, but he knocks a poor effort wide of the target. Things are really heating up — this has been a fraught second half so far.
Fabinho picks up a yellow card from Martin Atkinson. Andre Gomes snagged possession and was gliding through midfield before being hacked to the ground by the Liverpool midfielder. Taking one for the team, Fabinho might argue.
Pandemonium inside the Liverpool box after Seamus Coleman lofted a dangerous ball right into the mixer. It spills to Andre Gomes, who has a cross which acts more as a shot — forcing Alisson to punch it clear at his front post.
Virgil Van Dijk with an absolutely crucial interception. Bernard had a free pop at goal on the edge of the box before, all of a sudden, the big Dutch defender arrives with the slightest of slide tackles which brings the ball away brilliantly. Expertly read by van Dijk.
Liverpool pushing and probing, but to no avail. The ball falls to Roberto Firmino inside the box, but a wall of bodies in blue shirts block and hack the ball away to safety. This is so intense.
A half-shout for a penalty from Everton supporters as Lucas Digne goes over right on the edge of the box. The contact appeared to be minimal, but Martin Atkinson awards the free, which is a tame effort that is crossed out for a throw-in. This is helter-skelter.
Another attack for Everton. Andre Gomes wins possession from an Alisson kick-out. He drives forward with intent before offloading to second-half introduction Cenk Tosun, but his run is too slow and the ball goes wide for another goal kick.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time to come at the end of the second half.
FULL-TIME: EVERTON 0-0 LIVERPOOL
Everton prevent rivals Liverpool reclaim top spot#EVELIV pic.twitter.com/hRJWLnOBpU
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 3, 2019
There we have it then. Everton earn a share of the spoils after holding Liverpool to an entertaining 0-0 stalemate. It means Manchester City remain top of the Premier League by a point, as the Reds drop two points and remain in second. Thanks a million for joining us. Until next time!
FT | It ends all square at Goodison Park. #EFCmatchday pic.twitter.com/NvB97zCMA0
— Everton (@Everton) March 3, 2019
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