Moyes masters defensive art

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On your last point- Keane was a catastrophic waste of money. Unless Liverpool change owners, that was money that Liverpool could not afford to throw away.

I felt strongly in the summer that Liverpool needed a penetrative right winger with flair who is a class above Pennant and Benayoun. Someone like Quaresma.

Robbie Keane has never looked like fitting in, or like forming an effective partnership with Torres. He needs five chances to score a goal. He is not good enough to play for a club with the ambitions of Liverpool.

Good article. Glad to see Everton getting some praise from the media - not a frequent occurance.
Lescott and Jags were immense today, and a draw was all we could hope for really before the game, but if it weren't for Howards howler, then we probably could and should have won it. And, to all those people who complain and moan about long ball, defensive tactics, fouls, rough play, etc - who cares? I certainly don't, as long as it produces the results.

Everton indeed deserve enormous credit for their two simply excellent performances at Anfield within the space of a week. Moyes has worked wonders with a well-documented limited squad and the players deserve equally high praise.

I watched Everton play at home against Fulham earlier on in the campaign and they were fairly woeful despite grinding out a 1-0 victory. However, as their season has unfolded they appear to be getting stronger. They must be an outside bet to exert some sustained pressure on Arsenal's current position as long as their current form continues.

However, Liverpool look like a desperate team based upon the last few weeks. Chelsea must have them firmly in their sights and a positive result for Scolari's side at Anfield in the coming week will all but condemn Liverpool's season to ultimate failure in my opinion.

The team looks disjointed, with only Steven Gerrard and Xavi Alonso playing anywhere near their potential at the moment. Fernando Torres continues to look like he will require time to gain full form after his series of niggling injuries this season, although his assist today was admittedly brilliant.

The likes of Dirk Kuyt, no matter how much his supporters will comment on his superb work-rate, do not deserve their place in Benitez's current starting 11. It is much to do with this as to why Liverpool look blunt in attack and why Tim Howard had nothing to do today until the goal went by him. Had his blunder not happened, I suspect Everton's rearguard would have fancied themselves to hold out, but undeniably the change in momentum resulted in them holding out somewhat.

Ultimately, the buck stops with Benitez. I believe his recent tactics (or lack of) with regards to opening teams up when they do "park the bus" in front of goal to a certain extent, have been poor and his selections equally so. There's no doubt that Robbie Keane for one should have been involved today. It's also a wonder how a player of the quality of Ryan Babel looks so unconvincing and uncertain in his play, when at top form, he possesses weapons that could open up any team in the league.

No matter what sounds are coming out of Anfield, Benitez's Liverpool are feeling the pressure. The pressure of leading at half way, the pressure of games piling up on them and the pressure that Rafa has self-inflicted on his own team. I believe Man Utd with win the league comfortably this season, and I suspect Benitez will be able to look back on the weekend of the Stoke game, and realise this is probably where Liverpool's title aspirations went down the pan.

To be honest, credit to everton is fully deserved. However, anyone who thinks Liverpool only have Gerrard to thank for today obviously didn't even watch the ITV highlights.

One point Phil, at first glance I too thought Gerrards' goal was down to Howard being slow to go down.
But having seen it since, about the best he could have done is get a foot or knee to it as it passed so close to him, so fast, he could never have got down to stop it in time.
As for Everton's defence they deserve all the plaudits going but the Blues will need to be a lot more inventive overall if they are to emerge victorious from the replay.

Great result for Everton, though I would have liked to see them control the ball for longer in a match that Liverpool certainly dominated. I must challenge Benitez's comment regarding Everton's defensive approach though. Torres cost his club only a few millin pounds less than our entire side. It amazes me how some of the top clubs' managers seem to forget the importance of financial resources. Maybe they should all be forced into a wife-swapesque reality show in which they take over conference sides for a few weeks? Much needed reality checks would ensue I'm sure.

How come a team that is meant to play for a draw, score the first goal? And they call us bitter!

Everton defended very well against a liverpool team showing very little creativity (except for Torres' flick, yet even then a howler from Howard was required for Liverpool to score). Countless draws for Liverpool at home to 'lesser' opposition- hardly the form of champions. Indeed if it wasnt for Man Utd and Chelsea being severely of form for long periods, then Liverpool would be in exactly the same position as this time last year. In fact Liverpool are begining to remind me more and more of last season where they create tonnes of chances, and convert very few.

Liverpool have no chance of being champions this year, and if Chelsea get their act together, no chance of a top two finish either!

I did think they performed better at Anfield on Monday actually but well done Everton on getting the draw.

Sure once Arteta is back and they have a striker fit the Toffees will be more open at home.

Yes, well said Phillip.

I'm getting fed up with Benitez and his bleating. Everton's defence were simply magnificent today, and it took a piece of brilliance by Tores, coupled with a rare blunder from the Everton keeper, for Rafa's expensively assembled team to get the draw. What's wrong with good defending? It's an integral part of the game.

Rafa has very little class if he cannot acknowledge this.

Finally a moment of clarity...instead of the normal sweeping under the carpet of all everton fc do and achieve..a honest and well written assement of a team that gets no genuine coverage do to the medias love of the sky 4 and villa..
David Moyes has bought some of the premierships best bargains and forged a great spirit and even with limited resources has managed to develope two great centre backs that if it werent for rio and terry would without doubt be in contention for england duty.
Well done Mr McNulty...my faith is restored

Phil,

Seriously, is all this moderation necessary? Some are awaiting modration for almost an hour. Do me a favour!

Well said Mister Phil . You are a thinker and a good a brilliant blogger. Keep up the good work.

If Scolari does not work out for Chelsea over this season and next then Peter Kenyon could do a lot worse than offer Moyes the role at Stamford Bridge. Yes Moyes has yet to be tested in man managing players with huge egos, and that could be his downfall, but he proves each season with Everton that his sides play with guts, team spirit and determination and I would be quite happy to see him manage at Chelsea.

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I reckon if Everton want anything really from this Season, they need to go and buy and out and out goal scorer. If they do, good night Liverpool. Everton will put them to shame.
I think Raffa has lost the plot completely. He spent 20million on a guy he doesnt deem worthy of a spot against a team they should have beaten hands down. I think the problem at Liverpool is they are living on Legends. They are way too arrogant. Once they touched the top spot they thought the league was theres, Now they belong to the late great Tony Hart school of football. Draw draw draw.
Thank you and good night.

Everton did what they needed to get through the match, so fair enough to them. The main threat in these two games was from set pieces-- with Everton's current lack of strikers that's understandable-- so it's more of a concern that Liverpool seems to have gone backwards on defending them.
What would be far more beneficial on the whole is a creative spark, especially on the right wing, to supply more goals, but that probably won't happen anytime soon because of the owners. Dirk Kuyt can be very useful but a tricky winger he is not, and the lack of options on the right for Liverpool can get frustrating.

Far too much is being made of Robbie Keane's absence-- as if Benitez has never ever ever rotated players before ever. The 4-4-2 wasn't working against Everton so a different formation was tried, that's all.

Its a bit of a concern that the BBCs "Chief Football Writer", thinks that sticking your entire team behind the ball and hoping for the best is the "art of defense".
I would think that anybody who knows anything about football would recognise the subtle difference!!
In addition to this it should be noted, and wasnt how poor Liverpool were at probing the Everton barricade. Nobody tried to carry the ball into the box, everything was lobbed in. As for quality crosses, there were none. A huge number of cross attempts didnt beat the first man, Arbeloa seems to be a specialist at this type of failure to launch, but credit to him for even trying. The crab-like Kuyt will only cross the ball if its his absolute last option ( his decison making tree is, pass back- pass sideways-attempt to get throw in- give the ball away with little "dink" pass - cross the ball).
I wish I had the stats to back this up, but I am sure that if you counted you would find that Liverpool get fewer players into the box when attacking than any other premiership team. Often its none at all, typically its one, and occasionally if Gerrard isnt on the ball, it will be two.
Liverpool have a team full of game watchers. Mascherano NEVER gets even within 10 yards of the box, Alonso makes it that for once or twice a game. Kuyt, well I have discussed him already. Babel and Riera are simply unable to get the ball that far. Keane- I am not sure about him, he is either off the pitch or entirely invisible when on it. Is it possible to be less effective when you are on the field than when off it? If so Robbie Keane has perfected that.
One final blast at my beloved club. I wonder what kind of team we would be if we had combined the Dossena money with the Keane money and bought Andrei Arshavin.
I very much look forward to seeing that man play in the premiership. Kenny Dalglish and Dennis Bergkamp all in one.

I love how people are having a go at Everton for playing conservatively against a team who are top of the league and who's striker cost as much as the team he was facing. David Moyes is more than aware that if Everton try and play Liverpool at their own game they will get taken apart and has therefore played to the teams strengths. Liverpool fans should try taking a look at the fact that they lack the imagination to break teams down rather than criticising Everton for being defensive. Its about time Moyes received some praise for the excellent job he is currently doing with such a depleted squad.

Spot on Phil, why should teams just roll over and play the game that suits their opponents? How can Liverpool accuse Everton of playing for a draw? They scored FIRST!

The tactics used by Moyes has been employed by Benitez in many big Champions League games. I would have thought much more of Benitez if he would just admit his mistakes and his team's failures.

After all it smacks of desperation if you start blaming others for your lack of success.

el-nino84: The appropriate comparison is for the two situations of the clubs today is that Liverpool were without Gerrard, Alonso, Torres, Kuyt and Keane, and Everton had Fellaini, Arteta, Saha and Yakubu. No-one reading this thread thinks that there could have been any other result than an Everton victory.

You huffed and puffed for 90 minutes and Howard had to make one save. Lawrenson said after the game that you are a team which is wholly dependent on only two players - Torres and Gerrard. I look forward to seeing how you will cope when Stevie G is.. ah hem... not available for selection for a time. Chelsea will be licking their lips at facing such a disjointed bunch of misfits and patently hysterical manager next Sunday.

Rather than behaving in such a typically graceless and petulant manner, Benitez might instead like to explain how one of the most expensively assembled squads in the world, at full strength and at home, failed twice in a week to beat a half strength team which cost less in total than his cock-up signing who couldn't even make your bench.

Why do Liverpool supporters expect teams to come to Anfield and play attacking formations against a team that most of them believe have a divine right to win the Premier league? Every manager of a Premier League team knows how to play Livepool. Cancel out Torres & Gerard and they are a very ordinary team, easier said than done I know but with such a weak manager as Benitez, most other managers have sussed him out. He is an underachiever, he's had millions to spend every year and has never come close to winning the Premier League. His constant moaning about other teams tactics when they get the better of him is nauseating in the extreme. You're the manager Rafa, you're supposed to get the better of these 'smaller' teams!

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I see the bitter reds are out again, just because they haven't won the title for almost as long as Everton, they look to blame others for their misfortunes instead of behaving with dignity and class...

el-nino84 ..What you do forget is that on Monday night, Everton actually had 6 times the amount of shots on target as opposed to Liverpool. Yes some were tame shots and how they count as shots who knows granted, but what does that say about the Pool? Liverpool had an extra percentage point and a bit more in the Everton half that night, but where exactly? An inch over the half way line!

Today, they done what was necessary to ensure themselves a better chance next time round, with the possibility of a more quality filled squad as to what was at their disposal tonight, at home. Sound familiar to you by any chance?. For all the Pool's depth they had the luxury of leaving their what is he again? Second most costly purchase in the history of the club if i am not mistaken, out of the squad entirely! But yet for all this possession, this multi talented, super star filled team, couldn't beat a team that encouraged them to attack, with a wealth of strikers at their disposal, (Torres, Babel, Kyut, N'Gog, sorry well he did get in before Keane). Agaainst a team depleted not only of their strike force in their entirety, but the best part of the heart of their midfield with Arteta and Fellaini, not to mention the quickest player in the squad, Yobo. They, Everton were absolutely fantastic in what was no more than what the bookies would have said was a home win banker. Yes they sat back, but give the team credit for beating them at their own European tactics. Take off your red tinted glasses and see it for what it was! And you have the cheek to call the blue side the bitters! Pot-kettle-black

Words from a Everton fan no doubt. If you think putting 10 players in front of goal and hoping to score at set pieces is a "defensive art", then yes I agree, Everton has got that to a tee ! Given that they have no traditional strikers, thats the best Everton can do. But one piece of advice, or should I say "attacking art", you can't win games without goals and you can't win set pieces if you don't attack! Sorry for stating the obvious but clearly thats the point of this blog. Be carefull Everton, Arsenal and Man U will undoubtedly score first against you next week and then you really need to play some football.

Well done Everton and Moyes. Moyes is once again showing his quality as a manager.

Benitez, on the other hand is looking more and more like a condemed man every week. Time and again Liverpool fail to put away teams which just uncovers the shortcomings of this team.

It wouldn't surprise me to see them finish 4th or even 5th and even a full-strength Everton could have them in their sights!

It appears Benitez has a short memory. Am I the only one who remembers the best part of 110 minutes of last ditch tackles and the most obdurate of defending against Milan in the 2005 Champions League final......and of course the plaudits that followed that 'valiant' display?

Sometimes you have to dig in to get a result against a team with better resources than you, especially when you're without a number of your best players. Pompey did similar against United last season and it served them well.

For all their possession, Liverpool only created 2 or 3 chances of any note and were largely predictable in their attack. That they failed to break down a significantly weakened Everton side and only scored due to Tim Howard's blunder should be of far bigger concern to Benitez than our containing tactics.

If you are going to run a blog then why take so long for the 'moderator' to approve readers comments?

Surely the whole point of a blog is to reflect peoples honest opinions, especially those who have taken the time to post on your website

Everton fans will be delighted: 4 throw ins, 3 corners and a couple of free kicks. No chance of silverware, of course but, hey, what the hell! As long as they can win a couple of set plays against Liverpool, they're winners, right?

Roll on Goodison when they will have to attempt an attack or two. Isn't it sad that the only chance of a trophy Everton have, and they play like a petrified Championship team, scared to leave their own half.

Premiership, Champions League and FA Cup. At least one team in Liverpool has to try and play football.

Everton's 18 man squad today cost approx £27m.

Even the £15m spent on Fellaini was covered by the £18m+ from he sales of Andy Johnson & James McFadden.

'Nuff said'

Dear oh dear! Benitez is sounding like the school bully who has had his authority challenged. Everton did what they could with limited resources and Liverpool, with all their suppossed craft and ingenuity, could only muster a few decent chances. Should the red half of Merseyside win nothing this year then I think the bitter Spanish mouth will cross the channel and return to Southern Europe.

I'd like to analyse Rafa Benitez' comment - "one tean came here to win, the other not to lose" - personally I struggle with this for a number of reasons

1) Why would Everton not want to win a cup match - not to mention a Derby match????

2) I hope Rafa concentrates on this one - see in football both teams want to win and neither want to lose. unfortunatlely only 1 team can win!! so it just so happens that if a team can't win they'd prefer a draw to nothing - that make sense??

3) Seeing that Everton were 1-0 up - technically it's Liverpool who played for the draw as they were the one who scored to make it a tie game

4) For all the possesion that you have in a game - if you cant stick the ball in the back of the net you can't win

So to sum up, yes Liverpool were the best team out there - of course they were!! but THEY FAILED TO WIN!! and you can't use Everton - a team with only one young striker and without their best player (Arteta) - as a scape goat for their own short comings. I'd personally like to see Liverpool play without Torres and Gerrard and see how they would play then!!

All I can say is well done Blues and David Moyes I hope you can pick up a striker before the deadline so that (with the return of Arteta and Fellaini ) we can give ourselves a chance of getting through to the next round

I think Everton's ethos of "Not losing" has led them to win 3 "big" games and put them back near the top of the table. Moyes and Everton are punching well above their weight with the players they have available, and all I can do is agree with everything you've said. Good blog.

its funny how everyone forgets, and this leads to the nonsense we see from people and thier opions everyday.
liverpool have sat in the opposition half for most of the season, we have a team that is cautious and this leads us to only once being beaten, or more to the point, throwing a game away, at this stage of the season i can safely say job done.
this liverpool team is in totally new terriotry, they are the best in the league and hardly anyone but the usual man u , chelsea or arsenal will go toe to toe with us,
this liverpool team is getting used to it, yes we are having trouble opening up ten man defences, which is a gray cloud over our form. yet if we do !
if start to get the knack of how to get that killer yard, then all who watch us, will know that we will be unstoppable,
but i do admit that benetiz, did not want crouch to go, he wanted that target man that we severly lack when we have their backs to the wall,
the biggest concern for us, is the lack of headed goals.
we have nobody to cross to, so the whole team becomes very narrow

Happy Red - You had a more expensive player who couldn't reach your bench than the whole of our side on the pitch. Our goalkeeper had one save to make all night. Your bunch of worldbeaters failed twice to beat a half strength team with no strikers. And you have the most graceless and classless manager in England, who made a fool of himself once more tonight. Your captain is in criminal court, your senior defender was booked once more for trying to intimidate the referee, and your most expensive midfielder embarrassed himself again trying to get a fellow professional sent off. Your owners know and care nothing about football and spend their time bickering about who is going to pick up the tab. Your manager and CEO appear not to be on speaking terms. Are you proud of your club?

Liverpool look unlikely to win anything going on current form!
Mascherano and more importantly Torres need to start imposing themselves more in matches. Everton's defence was very good but a lot of teams have carried out the same strategy at anfield and succeded. The lack of goals in the premiership this season is best represented by Manchester United who have managed only 34 goals in 21 games, Barcelona have scored 63 in only 20 games. This reflects the competitivness of the premiership me suggests. Along with the pile up that is the foot of the table. So the ability to show that bit of creativeness and open up an organised defence is crucial. Liverpool dont have enough of this or a pair of Torres's.
Anyway Swansea for the final!!

gratefulkm

'yes we are having trouble opening up ten man defences, which is a gray cloud over our form. yet if we do !
if start to get the knack of how to get that killer yard, then all who watch us, will know that we will be unstoppable,'


Quite literally the same argument every week from Liverpool fans!! I've commented on this a few times now and can't believe people keep using the 'if only this had happened', or 'if we could just do this'......It didn't, and you can't!!

'With 'ifs' a flea could carry an elephant'

Moysey proves once again how good a tactician he is and what pleasure it gives me and other Northenders that he has cut it so well in the Prem .
Year after year he has got Everton "over acheiving " as he did with us , with attention to tactical detail and getting the best out of players .
He is that good he last year gave PNE his right hand man at great loss to himself and massive gain to us , one Alan Irvine , and still keeps Everton at the top .
He is a great character and long may he reign in the Prem in the top 6 and with a bit more dosh you never know !!!

Up the Whites and all the best to Moysey and Everton !!!

Rafa Benitez has become so arrogant and silly in his latest interviews, I wonder if he realises how silly he actually has become.

Without any strikers, with the 2 influential midielders out and playing the league leaders at Anfield of course David Moyes is going to play on the counter attack and try to snatch a point and get a replay at Goodison in 10 days when some key players may be back! At least when things dont go Everton's way David Moyes says it how it is, he doesnt look for excuses by talking about the opponents tactics, the buck stops at Everton.
Rafa should point the finger at his own tactics if he cant break Evertons team down and if his defence are showing cracks. This is Benitez showing us his own limitations, being frustrated in this way, the thing he should know about the FA cup is ya dont get to choose your opponents, its not like a heavyweight champion who can choose suitable opponents to knock out for his title defences. Maybe that is why Alex Ferguson has won the Premiere League before, he knows how to get it right when it matters most.

To all those who moan about a team with less resources and a tremendous injury list unfairly not playing fair and allowing the 'heroes' of Liverpool to win...

Let's bear in mind that injuries (and a suspension) to Yakubu, Fellaini, Saha, Vaughan and Arteta are the equivalent to Liverpool lining up without Torres, Gerrard, Keane, Kuyt or Alonso.

Bring that team to Goodison and then we'll talk about teams playing for a draw.

how can rafa have a go at everton for being too defensive, when
a) they scored first
b) his own team keep drawing (eg arent attacking enough!)

another example of rafa throwing his toys out the pram cos his team's not good enough to win the game.

Phil,

I must say, I really enjoy your blogs, but I would take exception to the fact that you suggest Phil Jagialka is a player with limitations, no matter how you word it.

I am a Sheffield United fan, I should state so have seen Phil play well over a hundred times. He has played central midfield, right midfield, right back and centre back, not to mention goalkeeper with some aplomb on three seperate occasions.

I would suggest he is anything but limited. He is a tremendous athlete, a good reader of the game and has excellent pace.

He is also still only 24/25 so has still time to develop too.

Now he is playing for what would be considered a more fashionable club, let us hope he gets the international recognition he deserves. If Phil Neville, formerly of Man U of course, can be given 50+ England caps, then there is no reason Jags cannot exceed this.

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Kenmano - The difference could also be that when Liverpool shut up shop you have £50M+ of attacking talent that Benitez is utterly clueless to know what to do with. Unfortunately that is not the case with Everton. Benitez does not know how to break down excellent defences, and for this reason you will win nothing again this year. Especially when your captain is unavailable for selection.

Never mind Everton's stickability, Phil, how do you rate their watchability?

If Rafa really wants to make Liverpool the best in the premiership, he has to get over teams parking the bus at Anfield. It comes with the territory. He had a £20m player left on the bench but made no attempt to change the game by bringing him on. Fergie would have thrown on extra attackers, even if there was a higher risk of conceding.

From Everton's point of view, they went to Anfield with a weakened team, scored the first goal and deserved to hang on for a draw. Whats wrong with that?

Rafa needs to stop moaning and get on with it...

I wouldn't get too hung up about anyone saying Phil Jagielka or any other player has limitations. All footballers down the ages have had them. It's just that some have fewer or more than others, and there's nothing wrong with saying that. Heaven knows managers have limitations too, including Rafael Benitez and David Moyes.

Sorry, didn't realise Keane was dropped from the squad yesterday (see point 48), although that raises more questions that it answers. My comment still stands though, Rafa's only attempt to change the game was the like for like change of Babel for Riera. He should have taken off a defender and gone for the win...

Good blog Phil,

Even as a Liverpool fan I can respect what Everton are achieveing at the moment. I have no problem with those tactics- that's football. Sure they were a bunch of spoilers yesterday who, to be honest, did not even look like scoring other than from set plays. They play like Liverpool did the early Benitez years and took the replay they wanted.

Liverpool passed and passed but people are too critical of us. These two games were always going to be difficult and I'm as happy with two draws as I am with our whole season- we're doing well. I just wish some people could see that but the fickle are many these days.

We'll have too much for them in the replay I feel as they will at least have to come into our half and this will suit us but again it will be difficult.

Special mention for Stevie. Sounds a bit silly when up on an assault charge but he has been a true proffessional as always. He's been superb all season but his recent displays show him for the legend that he is. Well played.

I agree that Liverpool's creativity was lacking and that Everton's defensive play was admirable, but for a journalist to laud them so much is a bit extreme.

Everton did nothing more than what Stoke, Fulham, West Ham and Hull have all done this season.

In those results, the Liverpool team was criticised, but when Everton do it and an Evertonian journalist is reporting, Everton are the best team in the World, all of their players should be playing for their national teams and when they get a few players back from injury there will be nothing to stop them!

Has anyone considered that when the more attacking players come back then they will be replacing your currently defensive players and therefore you are likely to start conceding more goals?

Just a side note:- You don't want to buy Lucas do you? Perhaps we could do a deal; buy Lucas and get Benayoun for half price! At least Benitez wasn't stupid enough to play either of them yesterday!

Comment By Novoludo
"The appropriate comparison is for the two situations of the clubs today is that Liverpool were without Gerrard, Alonso, Torres, Kuyt and Keane, and Everton had Fellaini, Arteta, Saha and Yakubu. No-one reading this thread thinks that there could have been any other result than an Everton victory."

Absolutely spot on mate.
Nothing else needs to be said really.

David Moyes could have said a lot more in response to benitez comments, but as the man said, Everton FC prefer to conduct their business with dignity and style. and so he has.

keane 2.5m at most.

Phil, not a bad attempt at putting praise on Everton, but you never actually praise the players but rather comment on them executing a game plan correctly.

Everton deserved the draw because of the team work they displayed and the discipline they showed.

Can you explain your comments about Jagielka please, "he is a player who knows his limitations and performs outstandingly within them"....... so his limitations are what his goal scoring? his passing? Now take those standards and apply them to Carragher, Ferdinand or any other player for that matter. A top class player performs what he is good at brilliantly and then makes up for the poorer elements of his game. This can certainly be said of Jagielka and Lescott.

Face it…. he is in the form of his career and if that continues should add to his one England cap.

As for Liverpool’s performance yesterday, whilst they dominated possession they rarely threatened the Everton goal and it was only when they used Gerrard did they actually look dangerous. Torres was for the most part ordinary and Kuyt and Babbel noticeable by their absence.

Rafa got his tactics wrong AGAIN!!! After 60 mins it was clear that Torres was struggling for both fitness and a knock he had mysteriously picked up. Given the players importance over the coming weeks/months it would have been wise to change him, however, he had no-one with quality on the bench. The only other player in the squad with a proven goal scoring record wasn't even given a place on the bench, this left Rafa with little option to stick to plan A and hope it produced the goods.

It didn't and because of that Liverpool have an extra fixture which they could do without. Especially when Mascherano, Carragher and that brilliant midfielder Lucas have 4 bookings, one more either on Wednesday against Wigan or at the weekend against Chelsea and they could miss the replay. For that matter Gerrard is only a couple of bookings away from a suspension. The extra games could be very important in making or breaking the season of either club.

The two games over the past week whilst entertaining have been lacking one thing…..PASSION. It seems that the days of hard but fair tackles have gone and the days of referees blowing for the slightest touch are here. Lets hope the replay has that spirit back into it.

Phil...are you an evertonian by any chance? I presume you are as having read this blog on quite a few occasions it strikes me that you're biased and lacking in objectivity. Please answer this question as it undoubtedly has an impact on the supposed integrity of this piece (and others I've had the misfortune to read).

Will await your response with interest.

Am not at all impressed with your consistently deprecating remarks about LFC - surely the BBC has enough wit to state that you are a toffee, and therefore we can expect some degree of bias, but to have you masquerading as an objective football fan with no affiliation to LFC or everton is without merit (from all that I've seen you blog about so far) and all too apparent to a fan of the team on the recieving end of your bias.

Kenmano - talking about BBC bias from a red? How about Hansen, Lawrensen and the 'wonderful' Alan Green on MotD / 5 Live every week?

Aries22 - Evertons watchability has generally quite high the last few years but take out all the playmakers for the game and what do you expect?

Anyone having a go at the tactics need to have a reality check, if we play 4-4-2 and get demolished what good is that? If Rafa plays one up top and on the counter in Madrid is that negative or playing to the strength of the situation?

As for Mascherano - put your imaginary yellow card away or at least get fouled first...

Great to see Liverpool potentially falling apart again. Rafa really has proven what an idiot he is this season with his comments at Sir Alex and now constantly accusing teams of setting up to defend whenever Liverpool can't win a game. The guy needs to grow up and realise that any thoughts of winning the league are delusional.

While an avowed Red, I can't help but admire how Moyes has set up his team when they've played us at Anfield. I admire his managerial approach and stoicism.

That said, I'll not join in the anti-Rafa and LFC bandwagon. All teams face challenges and how they bounce out of the same is what matters in the end. It's very easy to dismiss what the Rafalution's brought to Anfield, give or take any mistakes made along the way. Rafa is not inferior in any way to Moyes, Wenger, SAF or Mourinho.

The Kopites are a fabulous team that's having downtime right now. They WILL bounce back, and are formidable on the road. They can't be happy about this stalemate, anymore than Everton are. It's not fair to focus on Evertons' accomplishments vis-a-vis Liverpool's. The Toffees are not a Championship or League 1 outfit, they're sitting comfortably in sixth in the EPL! They also didn't come to Anfield to get beaten. They're just as good a team as the Reds - and that's an honest assessment. Injuries are just bad fortune, not anything to cry about, considering all teams are inundated with such.

I'm very happy about the Reds improved second match and the all-round involvement of everyone, including the vilified Doss.

About Keane, I choose not to speak about him. I can only trust that the coaching staff know something I don't know. I have this feeling Keane will be one of our key players come end of the season. It's still a long way between now and May.

For now, it's kudos to Moyes and his team.

I have read all the comments and felt the need to chip in.
Liverpool, despite the belief of their arrogant supporters, do not have a divine right to win anything. They don't even have a team good enough to win anything at the moment, without Gerrard or Torres.
In Benitez, they have a "cheeky chappie" of a manager whom I tend to like, but he obviously hasn't a clue how to mange his team. He has spent a fortune but cannot get the players to gel consistantly. If David Moyes had had the same amount of money to spend, I feel sure he would have bought more wisely and, as a result, Everton would have won some silverware over the past few years.
Benitez didn't even include his £20 million striker in the squad! To me that suggests he didn't want to bring him in in the first place. Maybe this is why he is stalling on a new contract, until he has full say in who comes and goes.
Let's not forget that Everton are playing without a striker presently. What else can they do but grind out results, hoping to nick a late winner? Any other team that was short of key players would have employed the same tactics. Everton will have several key players available for the replay, and may have one or two strikers available, if they bring someone in during the window. Let's hope so anyway.

Come on you blues!!

I have always found Arsene Wenger's response to 'failure' boorish and ungracious and thought I would never see another so bad. Looks like I might have been wrong. Once again RB is bleating about the opponents tactics instead of saying 'well done but we'll get you in the replay'.

Everton showed obstinance on the field and class off it. Liverpool showed they are still just short of what it takes on the field (but only just) and a complete lack of class when RB was interviewed. Concentrate on finding the missing ingredient in the play, not on whinging, and you could yet finish the year with the title. Carry on whinging and United will stroll home again. Is that what you want???

I've said it before and I'll say it again...they just ain't good enough. Shame.

As an Everton fan who was at the game yesterday I'd like to make the point that I (and the other fans around me) were all a bit disappointed with Moyes's tactics yesterday.

In the league game on Monday we were probably the better side, with the larger amount and better chances on goal and the better tactics and setup, but yesterday we were just too negative in my eyes. We never had an outlet, partly because our midfield is too slow to hit teams on the break and Anichebe is not good enough as a target man. As a result it was inevitable that we would drop deeper and deeper, end up with all outfield players behind the ball and defend for our lives.

But the big problem is that playing in that way we are unlikely to ever score more than one goal. A Liverpool fan has mentioned this already: it's all well and good relying on set pieces, but if you don't attack you can't win the set pieces to start off with. Similarly the chances of shutting Liverpool out for an entire game when you concede so much possession and territory are slim. Therefore, I predict that IF we play with similar tactics in the replay we will lose, but we definitely have the players and capability to be more adventurous and win.

Don't want to be too harsh on my beloved Blues though - the fact is that Liverpool were woeful at opening us up and it's caused by the fact that they have little to nothing out wide. When you play against a team with lots of men behind the ball you have to get in behind players from wide positions. Liverpool can't do that because Kuyt is terrible, Babel cuts inside the whole time and the two full backs lack the attacking quality of the likes of A.Cole, Evra, Rafael etc.

Final points: Everton should have had a penalty in the first half; Mascherano should be ashamed of himself for diving to try and get Cahill sent off; Steve Bennett had a shocker: don't think we got one decision off him all game; and Liverpool only equalised because of a goalkeeping error. A little less luck for Liverpool and they would have lost yesterday.

All you Liverpool people, read The Rescue Man, a very good book set in Liverpool during WW2 and just published. I'm mentioning it because Liverpool need a rescue man. Without Gerrard, where would they be?

Feel sorry for Robbie, he runs around a lot but gets nowhere cos he's a square peg in a Spanish hole and doesn't see much of the bull. I wonder what he's worth now? Everton need a striker.

Evertons "tactics" was obvious, play counter and for set-pieces. They played for the draw and thats what they got. I think they were surprised they scored first. Another piece of poor defending by Liverpool and Rafa needs to sort this out - fast! Zonal marking doesnt work for me.

It is not an art to put the whole team in your own half and counter. I agree with others here, Everton played like a lower league team in a typical cup game - get an away draw and reply at home. Don't forget that Liverpools form is actually better on away games. Therefore, surely, if Moyes was a "tactician" he will attack and get the win at Liverpool ?!! Especially after going ahead 1-0 ! Like I said, he was shocked to be in the lead.

To be fair and frank, no team can play decent football with 18-20 players on one half of the pitch. You can't even walk, never mind passing the ball and shoot. Everton defended well and blocked all shots. Good luck to them in the PL, will they make it to Europe? Not with this sort of tactics they won't.

Also, why are we talking about money here ? some people are saying that one Liverpool player is worth the whole Everton squad etc. What are you saying ? Everton is a "small" club"?! surely not. However, in order to become a bigger club, may be EFC wants to start winning some trophies or at least start playing in big tornaments to order to gain revenue. Even Andy G. can't help you now, yes it has been that long ago. They are 6th now but I can't see them staying there for long, especially after February. Arsenal and Man U will make sure of that, and playing Liverpool again will surely tire the CBs out. Yes, its only January.

Zzzzzzzzz....

If the RS manage - third time lucky! - to win the replay, at least Everton and Moyes will retain their dignity...

..unlike Liverpool and many of their supporters who will continue to demonstrate their utter lack of class and dignity - and Benitez his complete gracelessness.

COYB!

If Liverpool only had the attacking talent to open up stubborn defences at home then we'd be fine. The problem doesn't exist away because the emphassis is on the home team to push up more. A talented play maker is needed like Arshavin. Sell Kuyt(£7m,) Dossena(£5m) and add £8m to get the Russian star.

Why are we not seeking these stars? Man Utd scouts seem to be earning their corn, Ronaldo, Nani, Welbeck, Tosic and the da Silva brothers to name but a few.

Come on Liverpool pull your finger out!

Great column again Phil, it balances a good report with some backing of opinion.
I agree that Everton have played fantastic against Liverpool and I think you can see that Everton's mind games against Liverpool have shown them as being edgy when they can't break through.

Excellent article Mr McNulty. You do seem a bit pessimistic about our (Everton's) chances in the replay though. 5 goals in our last 2 home games without conceding since the 0-0 with Chelsea gives me plenty of hope we can have a good go at them. Particularly with the return of Arteta and Fellaini.

Well done Moyes and Everton. A great display, bearing in mind lack of strikers and 2 influencial midfielders missing.

Benitez is losing his grip/mind!! With a shortage of strikers and most important midfielders missing, what did he expect us to do - go all out attack!!

What a fool!

And questioning our defensive tactics??

Let's look back a week. Liverpool 1 Everton 0, and what does Benitez do?

He takes off his 2 strikers and replaces them with midfielders! What an attack minded strategist. Was he away from home? No he was at Anfield, defending a one goal lead in a Merseyside Derby. Need I say more.

Mr Benitez, a word of advise - forget about referees, forget about Fergie, forget about Everton - start thinking about your own team, your own tactics, your own fans, and your ability to buy and manage a team of attack minded players to a victory and the League title, which you seem to believe that you are entitled to!!

Dream on!!

If Moyes had the money you've had, and the squad you have, and the opportunities you've had, then maybe you would have something to complain about. Get real, see the reality of your tactical mis-givings and offer some praise to a 'small' team (you've got a cheek) that comes to Anfield twice in a week with a greatly depleted squad (and a small squad to start with !!) and you can't beat us.

Find us a multi-billionaire and see if you can hold on to our shirt tails.

Once a Blue always a Blue - once a red always a moaner!

Respones to p57. As a Utd fan I have to stand up for Hansen and Lawrensen. I think these two pundits, bearing in mind ex LFC give unbiased commentry and analysis. They may still support LFC and want them to win but they are not blinkered to footballing matters and they don't pull any punches when talking about recent events. I mention this because although Phil is an obvious Evertonian, given the extent of depleted squad Everton had no choice to play the way they did, and will continue to do so until they get over the worst of their injury crisis. The fact the Rafa blames EFC for putting ten men behind the ball shows what a limited thougt process he has. Of course LFC have a better squad than Everton, the same way Utd have a better squad then West Brom but it does not mean you have a divine right to win the match. West Brom will cause Utd problems tomorrow night because they will play to take advantage of Utds injurys and force Utd to braek them down. If Utd can't do this then they are at fault if they don't win, not West Brom for defending and going for a draw. I am baffled why LFC supporters are so blinkered in their support of a manager who tactically is limited and who alwaysblames LFC limitations on the opposing team for more or less not letting them win! Staggering....

I'm surprised no-one has picked up on what a good result 1-1 was for Manchester Utd.

Liverpool get an extra game in their already busy schedule that they surely could have done without, and Everton get one the same week that they play Utd.

Here's hoping for a really intense replay that goes into extra time on a boggy, energy-sapping pitch ;)

I thought both sets of fans tried to lift up their support for their teams rather than slag off the opposition fans and players, unfortunatley there were some enclaves on both sides who still tried to be unpleasant...
but by far the worst offender was Rafa - in a time when are talking about building up respect for both clubs and to stop taunting each other, he leads from the front in tearing down that respect - no dignity, no class, the sooner he goes the better....

I'll tell you what - as a United fan if Liverpool dont want Keane anymore we'll take him gladly off their hands.

I reckon he'd bag 20 between now and the edn of the season - easy.

not even including him in the squad to me shows how Benitez really is cracking.

Everton deserve their replay.

Bitter Benitez, (thought it was blues who are meant to be bitter) should take note of this. The only available striker was a teenager (who also went off injured), the most creative player and record signing were both missing too. Six days ago, Everton had more possession and more shots at goal, today they didn't. Feel free to swap budgets with Moyes any time, then you can moan, like you also did at Valencia, about not having enough money to spend. When Benitez sends a team out for a draw and gets it, it's 'tactical genius', apparently. Top teams find teams defend against them. The best ones, deal with it. He should just be grateful he's got Gerrard because he'd be completely stuffed without him.

Benitez hasn't coached his side to defend against Cahill, nor did he withdraw his defensive midfielder in pursuit of victory. start looking closer to home.

Benitez hasn't won a game since he cracked up. Keep shouting your banalities instead of concentrating on the job in hand and it will all have fallen away in another 6 weeks.

To aries22:

How can you comment on Everton's watchability!

What about Liverpool's watchability, they are awful. I can safely say that I would prefer to be gaffer taped to the underside of Southport Pier in mid winter, nude and at high tide than to watch a Liverpool match in its entirety.

Now how anyone can say that Everton didn't deserve anything out of that match is beyond me. The tactics displayed by Moyes were spot on, and not to dissimilar to many a Liverpool performance I have had the misfortune to watch in his highly successful reign.

At this moment in time, I am avery happy United fan.

Final words, Everton played to their strengths and got a reply back home. Liverpool did not convert their chances and Howard and CBs played very well. End of.

What I dont like reading is "without Torres and Gerrard, Liverpool hasnt got a team" etc. This is such a lame thing to say and I just wish people would stop saying that. We all know that a team has to gel to perform, take note Robinho and Man C, and agreed, those two are key Liverpool players. But I might as well say your car is not going to run smoothly without the fourth wheel, although arguably the most important part of a car is its engine ! get it.

Two points:

"No-one would suggest Everton did anything other than mount a rearguard action to earn a replay at Goodison Park" ...er, except David Moyes!

Also, Everton have played Liverpool 3 times this season and not come within a country mile of winning. Other teams with even more meagre resources - Wigan or Hul for instance - have achieved much more at Anfield with a much more enterprising approach. But I gusess pointing this out would undermine the basic narrative of this blog...

I don't understand why Everton played defensive football yesterday. Indeed, they didnt want to lose, but no permier league team wants to get a replay, that's the least thing they want, espeically from the Liverpool point of view. Win or lose, it doesnt really matter, that's what the FA cup is all about, you win or lose, go through or not. It's good to see small team get a reply against the perimer league team, becasue they can benfit from it.

I think if the big team wants to play a one-off match like the Carling cup, no reply, let them do it. There's no point to play twice, let's get the FA cup out of the way, then concentrate on the league and champion league.

Just read Rafa's post match criticism of Everton's tactics...

Very harsh considering Everton were without our record signing, our main playmaker and all of our recognised goalscoring strikers. We did all we could with a very limited team.

The man is a complete idiot, and a bitter one at that. Does he think Everton should have just let Liverpool win? I seem to remember Liverpool playing for draws many times in the Champions league!

Liverpool should have been able to break Everton down, but they couldn't, so you shouldn't criticise your opponents for your own inadequacies.

The man lacks honor and respect.

Nice to see some accurate journalism and comments that, in the main, congratulate Everton. Kuyt nearly scoring showed the inherent dangers of us trying to attack, we were left open on the counter. I think we will play in a similarly solid fashion at Goodison but at least we should have Fellaini and Arteta back which will give us a better chance to play more attacking football. Signing a striker would be nice though!

To Rafa and all Liverpool fans mocking our defensive attitude, the one thing I've noticed in the main is that Everton fans are, generally, realistic. We realise our team is small and currently very limited due to injuries, we just want the team to try their very best and not roll over, especially to our merseyside rivals. If Manchester Utd manage to open us up then perhaps they deserve the title more than Liverpool as they play the better attacking football eh? Since when was seeing Liverpool play like watching classic Brazil anyhow?!!

If our suprisingly rich owners (https://www.guardian.co.uk/football/table/2009/jan/07/football-club-owners-rich-list%29 put their hands in their pockets and invested more for players who knows what Everton might be able to achieve.

Liverpool are a so called 'Big 4' right? So when a team travels to the home of 1 of the 'Big 4' with no senior strikers, 2 key midfielders out and one of the best current defensive partnerships - surely they will defend!! If Liverpool are championship challengers then they will have 2 deal with teams defending and get that fat waiter to shut up! Would be good 2 see Liverpool going to old trafford without torres, gerrard and alonso, wonder what there gameplan would be? I have a good idea!! So stop talkin s*it!!

Priceless isnt it, statment after statement about Everton's defensive tactics.... I love the suggestion from most of the plastic faithful from Redruth to Dublin that we always play for a draw away from home, makes it all the more remarkable we have won 7 out of 10 away games does it not?

As has been stated, if Liverpool were without thier best 2 midfielders and entire strikeforce, they would get battered at Goodison.

Oh well petal's its another year without the league, good job you continue to produce (ok, so you still dont produce it, lets say steal) such great youth talent............. surely the likes of Ngog, Lucas and erm will see you dominate the next decade.

Shame, another trip across the North Sea in Feb, those Nordic ferry lines must be delighted with the replay

Let's not persist with spreading myths shall we?

Everton had attacking options, Moyes chose not to use them. Consider that Anichebe (a centre forward), Cahill (a support striker/attacking midfielder), Osman (attacking midfielder), and Pienaar (winger/attacking midfielder) all played. Moyes just asked them all to be as negative as possible, he had the team to try and make a game of it but decided not to.

There should be no criticism in displaying your ambitions to play football this way and it may yet prove fruitful for Everton. Everton are only four places below Liverpool in the league and yet they are being celebrated for a negative performance and trying to stifle the game. Its not exactly on a par with Liverpool against Barcelona is it?

Great Article Phil,

I agree with 90percent of it, but for me it was Everton who came out shinning in this one

"Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez clearly regarded Everton's tactics as a huge irritant, but he actually should have recognised facets of some of his own team's most successful European missions in how Moyes set up his team and carried out their gameplan." - couldnt be truer

im sick of this moaning about defensive tactics, from the master of all defensive game plan setups, when have Liverpool, especially in Europe, actually gone out to win a game, apart from maybe when they are a few goals down, by which point then they have no other real option than to do that!
Benitez, always sets his teams up defensively to break quick and catch the opposition on the break?! cheap shot by him if u ask me, signs of a very sore loser!

Also aswell?! How many times do Liverpool have to rely on Roy "Here I come to Save the Day" of the Rovers?! It seems like their only tactic is to pass the ball to Steven Gerrard if they are losing and hope he can pull something out of his pocket to get them something out of the game?! Its either that or a long "HOOOOFED" ball into the channel for Torres to Chase and run on to! So one dimension at times and thats what Benitez doenst seem to understand, thats why it was so easy at times for Everton to defend them, despite this "Massive" Onslaught?!

Everton were magnificent Yesterday, for a team with no real recognised forwards in their ranks due to injury, and also short ofarguably their best player, their magnificent Talisman Arteta, they were superb at the job they set out to do, how could Benitez possible expect them to come out all guns blazing attack when they are so short of attacking options???

How much would he be moaning if Liverpool were without, lets say Torres, Gerrard, Kuyt, Keane, Riera, Babel, basically all their attacking player, Quite a lot of moaning I would imagine, the excuse book would be in full flow!

But Moyes on the other hand, has to be admired in my opinion, afterall, as is said, people have forgotten their steady march up the table whilst short on resources?! without so much as a moan or groan about the state of his squad ravaged by injury.

His only moan I seem to remember was when Fellaini got the booking to miss the merseyside derby games, which i feel was actually a soft booking, but couldnt really argue due to persistant fouling?!

So Bravo Everton, you deserve a lot of praise!

Great Blog Phil,

It's nice to see model proffesionals such as Jagielka and Lescott get the credit they deserve. Both of them are young (ish) English players that have come through the ranks at Championship sides and have gone to perform at a high level in the Premiership. I'm a Sheffield United fan and while Jags was played in every position on the pitch by Mr Warnock, it was clear to most observers that he was best at centre-back. He's quick, good in the air, can read the game well and is always willing to put his body on the line - the number of last ditch tackles and blocks he makes is amazing.

Well done Daid Moyes for giving these two guys a chance at the top level rather than paying over the odds for an older foreign international who has nothing to prove (Winston Bogarde anyone?!).

Robbie Keane being dropped is not a talking point. He was very poor last game and got dropped because of it, a consequence which happens regularly (eg. Drogba -was poor against united, got dropped against southend), but i suppose it would have been hard to fill a whole article about one of the most negative displays i've ever seen.
Tim Howard wasting time after 25 mins, is that what the 'magic' of the cup is about? I give Moyes credit for achieving what he has done but i fel sorry for the everton fans having to watch that everyweek. I can understand playing for an away point in the league but really, sticking 11 men behind the ball and playing for penaties in a cup game is insulting to fans who pay to watch.

Jagielka and Lescott played well but the best Everton performance, for me, was Pienaar - the only evertonian with any ambition on the pitch.

I look forward to another 'classic' cup tie and i'm sure Moyes has already started digging the trenches.

Everton are a very boring team. The point of this article is that this year they are even more boring than before.
Greece in disguise.

Nothing is better that listening to Benitez rant after failing to be a weakened Everton side. He really is a bad loser.

Well done Moyesy. Good luck for the replay.

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Cantona1968 - I take your point fully about Hansen and Lawro being balanced (although Lawro referred to "we" twice in the second half!) I was simply outlining that LFC have a good proportion of representation on BBC football.

I'm sure as a Utd fan you have as much time for Mr A. Green as the blues do...

"For a team with no strikers, Everton have found a way of - for now at least - avoiding defeat."

That's funy, I though Anichebe was a striker. It's hardly anyone elses fault that Moyes continues to play him on the wing even when they have no other strikers.

Got to say, Lescott is a fantastic defender.

His reading of the game, pace, tackling and heading are top class.

Jagielka was, as you say Phil, superb too.

I fully expect Keane to be a part of Benitez's plans for the replay. Simply because his priorities will shift and he'll now regard that replay as a chance to play some of the lesser names (in his view). Hence why Keane will probably start and will play all 90 minutes...actually what am I saying that'll never happen, no way can Benitez resist hauling him off before the end.

On a day when Spurs are close to resigning another recently sold player i'd love to see us trying to bring Keane back. The guy was fantastic for us the last few seasons and its a shame its not working out for him at Anfield.

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Just to expand on Jagielka, he's an honest, hard working player who reads the game well and times his tackles well.

Anyone who can snuff Torres out the way he did yesterday has got genuine ability and I think any manager would appreciate him in their squad.

On Liverpool.....they played ok yesterday, Everton are clearly struggling as an attacking force with so many injuries, which allowed Liverpool to dominate possession.

But RB's side is still one which has little cutting edge or creativity.

It was Gerrard again who had to bail them out with help from Torres.

This is why they wont win the league.

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There has been a myth all season that Liverpool have been playing well. Apart from the Newcastle result all season they have played less than imaginitive football.

The only reason they were top is because some of their early season form saw the luck going their way in matches they should have drawn or lost...(Wigan/City etc). Now that luck is beginning to go against them suddenly they simply look an average team which is what they are.

They struggle to break teams down, and apart from Torres (who in fairness has had his season hampered by injury) and Gerard who continually gets them out of the mire, they have no world class players.

You cannot continually rely on Gerard, and it is a tribute to him that he is so good that he is keeping them in things...(annoyingly so).

Players like Kuyt, Keane - are hard working players but it would be a travesty if this earned them a championship ...

That is not to say it is not possible....I look back to the average Blackburn team of 95 (who had least had Shearer) and the even more average and appalling Leeds team of 92.

It's just that in reality Liverpool should not be even in contention.

The fact is for the first time now we will see how they cope with a packed second half of the season, when in the past they have managed to get to the Euro semis/finals because Man U and Chelsea have had to contend with the Championship too. This time no chance to rest players before big European nights.

This is in no way to denigrate Everton. I still think it is a great result to go to Anfield when your strikers are all injured and get a draw. Indeed I am not exactly looking forward to you visiting Old Trafford because we ourselves are struggling to break down teams.

The difference is though at least you are not just relying on one player like Looneypool.

Finally it's a bit rich for cracking up Benitez to moan about the bus being parked. Liverpool hardly show attacking fervour in European Matches, and even this seasn against a 10 man Arsenal they hardly stunned the world with their attacking play.

I am not underestimating Liverpool, because rubbish teams can win the league (see comments earlier). However, there simply is no sensible person other than a Liverpool fan who thinks that Liverpool have a decent team and play anything then average football.

There has been a myth all season that Liverpool have been playing well. Apart from the Newcastle result all season they have played less than imaginitive football.

The only reason they were top is because some of their early season form saw the luck going their way in matches they should have drawn or lost...(Wigan/City etc). Now that luck is beginning to go against them suddenly they simply look an average team which is what they are.

They struggle to break teams down, and apart from Torres (who in fairness has had his season hampered by injury) and Gerard who continually gets them out of the mire, they have no world class players.

You cannot continually rely on Gerard, and it is a tribute to him that he is so good that he is keeping them in things...(annoyingly so).

Players like Kuyt, Keane - are hard working players but it would be a travesty if this earned them a championship ...

That is not to say it is not possible....I look back to the average Blackburn team of 95 (who had least had Shearer) and the even more average and appalling Leeds team of 92.

It's just that in reality Liverpool should not be even in contention.

The fact is for the first time now we will see how they cope with a packed second half of the season, when in the past they have managed to get to the Euro semis/finals because Man U and Chelsea have had to contend with the Championship too. This time no chance to rest players before big European nights.

This is in no way to denigrate Everton. I still think it is a great result to go to Anfield when your strikers are all injured and get a draw. Indeed I am not exactly looking forward to you visiting Old Trafford because we ourselves are struggling to break down teams.

The difference is though at least you are not just relying on one player like Liverpool.

Finally it's a bit rich for cracking up Benitez to moan about the bus being parked. Liverpool hardly show attacking fervour in European Matches, and even this seasn against a 10 man Arsenal they hardly stunned the world with their attacking play.

I am not underestimating Liverpool, because rubbish teams can win the league (see comments earlier). However, there simply is no sensible person other than a Liverpool fan who thinks that Liverpool have a decent team and play anything then average football.