Liverpool arrested a two-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against Everton, but it’ll feel like a loss after a stunning last-minute striker from Phil Jagielka overturned Steven Gerrard’s second-half free kick to break the hosts’ hearts.
3 things we learned from Liverpool’s draw with Everton
An incredible goal from Phil Jagielka meant that the Toffees escaped Anfield with a point. Here’s what we learned from the match.
Alex Livesey
A frenetic start saw both sides denied what seemed like clear-cut penalties, with Romelu Lukaku hacked down by Alberto Moreno as the big forward steamed into the Liverpool box and then Gareth Barry handling from Raheem Sterling’s shot just moments later.
There were more orthodox chances too, most notably Adam Lallana’s free header on a corner, which the England international powered goalward only to see his effort kept out superbly by Tim Howard. The American was kept busy by Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Mario Balotelli as well, both of whom would have found the net if not for his intervention.
But mostly we had blood and thunder, which is exactly what you’d expect from a Merseyside Derby. Everton in particular were playing some nasty stuff, with Gareth Barry probably responsible for three yellow card-worthy offences in the first half alone (he received one booking). But it was the pace of the game rather than the wanton disregard for health which caused the game’s first injury when Kevin Mirallas went down with a hamstring problem.
The second half began in much the same fashion as the first: Liverpool were the more dangerous side, but were fashioning very few true scoring chances, shooting when they shouldn’t and getting stonewalled by the Toffees defence when the tried to force an opening in the centre. But they were bailed out by Steven Gerrard, who curled in a peach of a free kick just after the hour mark to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Balotelli really should have doubled the Reds’ advantage from close range shortly thereafter, but the striker could only rattle the bar when it looked easier to score. At the other end of the pitch, Lukaku should have restored parity but failed to get enough on his free header to trouble Simon Mignolet.
With time winding down, it looked as though Liverpool were going to collect the points. But Everton’s pressure eventually told through a thoroughly unlikely source: In injury time, Phil Jagielka, pushing up from the back, caught a 30-yard half-volley perfectly, blasting it beyond Mignolet and in off the bar to secure a huge point for the Toffees.
No, we don’t know how Jagielka did that either.
Liverpool starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Simon Mignolet; Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel, Javier Manquillo; Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson; Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana, Lazar Markovic (Philippe Coutinho 59'); Mario Balotelli (Rickie Lambert 88').
Goals: Gerrard 65’.
Everton starting lineup (4-3-3): Tim Howard; Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka, John Stones, Tony Hibbert (Tyias Browning 71'); Muhamed Besic (Samuel Eto'o 80'), Gareth Barry, James McCarthy; Steven Naismith, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas (Aidan McGeady 31').
3 things
- Everton are too reliant on Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian is an extraordinarily dangerous player, capable of crushing opposition players if he gets them isolated one-on-one. But Everton, especially a Kevin Mirallas-less Everton, are leaning on him to be both the primary goalscoring and creative threat, and he simply can’t shoulder that burden. His vision is superb for a striker, but his reach exceeds his grasp, frequently trying tricky passes which he has no right making and, predictably, result in turnovers.Having Lukaku play through the middle and supported by someone with more sensible link play than Steven Naismith would be a huge improvement for the Toffees.
- Mario Balotelli shoots too much. Shooting is a great way to end possession. Granted, it’s the only real way a team can score, but low-percentage shots don’t result in goals very often, and that’s the sort of shot Balotelli seems to have fixated on recently. With four blocked shots alone in the first half, he was ending Liverpool moves too early and preventing his side from developing serious scoring chances in open play.More patience is needed from the whole team, but with Balotelli leading the line, it should start with him.
- Liverpool should be worried. This is a match that the hosts should have dominated. Everton were extremely limited going forward, and although they defended well they didn’t defend spectacularly. Last season, this would have been a comfortable victory for Brendan Rodgers and friends; this year a pair of excellent long-range efforts meant that the match ended in a draw.The problem? Being without Daniel Sturridge is a blow, but in reality the Reds miss Luis Suarez. Nobody in the league had his ability to move a defence around and allow everyone to exploit the resultant space, and that made everyone look better. Without him, they’ll need to find a new way of doing business.(Bonus!) Phil Jagielka can do that. What?
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