Merseyside derby time as Liverpool and Everton look to get their Premier League seasons back on track
THIS weekend’s Merseyside derby at Anfield offers Liverpool and Everton the chance to kick-start a season that just refuses to get going.
TO say it’s been a fairly inauspicious start to the season for both the red and blue half of Merseyside would be a massive understatement.
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The euphoria of last season when Liverpool went within two points of claiming the Premier League title and Everton finished an impressive fifth has quickly died away to be replaced by fan concern about a possible long season ahead.
The ‘it’s only early’ excuse is running thin and both sides need to start firing up or risk being left behind.
So, the latest edition of the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Saturday has come at an opportune time.
After all, there is no better occasion to get the passions flowing and everything back on track.
Momentum for both sides may be non-existent, confidence low and managers extremely frustrated, but this is a game like no other.
Catch the game live on Fox Sports 2 from 9.35pm (EST) and from 9.45pm (EST) on EPL on Demand on Saturday night.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH LIVERPOOL?
Five games in and Liverpool just can’t get going post-Luis Suarez. Three defeats leaves them languishing in 11th, eight points off leaders Chelsea.
Even their first foray into Europe for four seasons was inconclusive while the Capital One Cup marathon against Middlesbrough hardly instilled much confidence either.
While manager Brendan Rodgers has been busily praising his players ‘persistence and resilience’, there has been a distinct lack of quality, outside of Raheem Sterling anyway.
He even had to jump to the defence of Anfield legend Steven Gerrard in the face of some previously unheard of criticism.
“I have no concerns about him. If you look at his numbers and games, it has been as good as ever,” he said.
“He is at the age where we need to treat him individually. We want him to be involved in the big games because of his experience and we will always taper that recovery to allow him to be at the very best he can be.”
Goals are not flowing in, let along at the almost-impossible rate of last season, while the defensive line, even with some new additions, is as problematic as ever.
And while new signing Mario Balotelli has made a favourable first impression, he’s not the type of striker to grab 20 goals a season. Daniel Sturridge is, of course, but his absence through injury has been telling.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH EVERTON?
Everton are placed even more precariously, in 14th, and are conceding goals at a record rate.
They have shipped 11 in three home games alone and were guilty of some clangers when conceding three more at Swansea in the Capital One Cup midweek.
They have, in fact, conceded at least two goals in four consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since October 2008.
And the normally super-reliable Tim Howard is coming under fire as well. He’s conceded 13 Premier League goals, but made only eight saves.
Manager Roberto Martinez has remained positive throughout and clearly sees the problem as a mere anomaly.
But with a busy schedule, including a Europa League adventure, upgrades are required, especially in the centre of defence where the ponderous Sylvain Distin and inexperienced John Stones are being exposed, come January.
“We had two very good performances defensively previous to the Palace match, so it is not that there is a problem that has been developing,” said Martinez.
“I do think that the performance and clean sheet against West Brom brought our defensive intensity back to our play. I think it was back against Wolfsburg as well, and against Palace it was just a bit different.
“Unfortunately we made a couple of bad decisions and errors which cost us goals. But I don’t think it’s the case of a lack of a defensive attitude of the team.”
HISTORY LESSON
Everton great Tim Cahill has tried to rally the troops with a big social media push, but despite his recent heroics - he scored three goals at Anfield - Liverpool’s home ground has not been kind to the Toffees in recent seasons.
They not only lost the corresponding fixture 4-0 last season - two goals from Sturridge and one each from Suarez and Gerrard - but haven’t actually scored a goal in their last five visits.
They, in fact, have not won at Anfield since September 27, 1999. Amazingly, this game comes on the 15th anniversary to the exact day.
“I think the psychology is a very important point because if you look at the stats, 15 years without a win at Anfield, then it needs to be about a bit more than football. It can’t always be a football reason why you haven’t won a game over that period,” Roberto Martinez said.
“I’ll accept that but I think, with the psychology of this group, we are ready to go anywhere. I’m not highlighting Anfield as a place we don’t look forward to. I think the mentality of the group is to go anywhere and focus on our performance.
“Will be it be a difficult game? Of course. They are in a position where they need to perform well at home and get points, but I don’t see that psychologically we are not ready to go to Anfield and be ourselves. But, if you look back over the last 15 years, there could be a question mark.”
What an occasion for redemption!
On that day, Steven Gerrard was one of three players sent off and Kevin Campbell scored the winner after just four minutes.
The match report from that day said Everton defended superbly, something they uncharacteristically haven’t done so far this season.
LIKELY RESULT
It’s not as though Everton aren’t playing well enough to come away with the three points.
They are scoring goals and have the attack to really cause Liverpool significant problems. But winning at Anfield, for whatever reason, has proven beyond them.
It doesn’t look as though that will change this season either, although a draw - with plenty of goals - looks highly likely.
Originally published as Merseyside derby time as Liverpool and Everton look to get their Premier League seasons back on track