Everton FC v Liverpool FC, Goodison Park, Liverpool

Everton FC 2 – 0 Liverpool FC

The 214th Merseyside Derby was the most important in years, both clubs had to win, neither could afford to draw let alone lose.

At the start of the day Everton were just outside the relegation zone where they had been all season, whereas Liverpool were well and truly in it. As a Liverpool fan it’s a hard pill to swallow when you feel that Everton have been playing some decent football this season and the Mighty Reds haven’t. Their fans may say otherwise but from what I’ve seen they have just been unlucky, particularly against Aston Villa a game I felt they should have won.

Liverpool on the other hand I’m not sure where to start. This season has been crazy. The team have been totally under performing with home defeats to both Blackpool & Northampton. While off the field the club has been going through turmoil with Tom Hicks acting like a total fucking cunt concerning the sale of the club which finally went through on Friday to New England Sports Ventures. Lets hope that NESV don’t leave us in the shit like Hicks and Gillet did, and more importantly return us to where we should be.

The Goodison crowd was in good voice (as always), more so with our position being below them in the league. They started well and it wasn’t long before the chants of Going Down started to ring round this famous ground. Tim Cahill was running everywhere and my immediate thought was that he is really up for this, way more than anyone in red. He soon scored before the first half was over with a well taken goal. After the break Liverpool did look better than in the first. Mikel Arteta then put the home side 2-nil up with a cracking strike.

Liverpool did try to press but not well enough at all to get anywhere. The final ball was nonexistent. Everton deserved this victory as Liverpool still aren’t playing well at all under Roy Hodgeson.

I’m a little lost as to how he can claim that this is the best they have played under him. Liverpool were not good against Everton. I said after the Utrecht match that I don’t think he’s the right man for the job and I’m still not convinced. Never in my life have I thought that Liverpool would be 2nd bottom of the Premier League yet we are. I’ve never before really got on the back of a manager before and I’d never have dreamt of doing it after so few matches but Roy isn’t the right man for Liverpool. Yes he is a talented manager that I do not doubt but he’s not the right fit for Liverpool. This needs to be fixed sooner rather than later.

Personally I think that the new board should sit down with him and have a chat which ends in Dalglish taking over till the end of the season. The players will play for him. Kenny knows Liverpool and what the club is all about. Then if Kenny does a good job then he gets the job for longer. This may shock some fans but I don’t think Kenny is the full time choice at the moment, of course if he does wonders then the job is his.

Goal Scorers

Everton: Cahill (34), Arteta (50)

Match Report: BBC

A massive thank you to both Jo and Karen who managed to get Michel and I tickets for this one.