Match Thread Liverpool v Everton - Preview, Report and MotM Poll

Everton Man of the Match

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blue to the bone said:
Don't do it to yourselves lads...
Hope is a dangerous thing
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Has to start with us. Can’t blast the players afterwards for being cowards if we spend the whole week telling each other that there’s no way we can possibly win. If we limit our own propensity to mess up, and don’t allow the ref to give a pen or red card, then we have a good opportunity to beat them after that as they have shown this season they’re not controlling games as before.
 

LydiateLee said:
All hinges on a strong ref.

As long as our rhythm and focus arent completely upset by a shocking decison (Arsenal away, United away, every derby in living memory) then we have a real chance.

Our midfield is infinitely stronger than theirs.
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Agree with the first paragraph, but this narrative around our midfield is the exact kind of thinking that sets us up for disappointment. We have an infinitely stronger midfield yet we’re 11 points behind them in the league? The two don’t mix. On paper we probably had a “better” midfield than United as well and we still lost (with some awful refereeing as well mind you).

I don’t actually think midfield is the key in this game either- they’ve been messing around with theirs all season, changing players and formations and by all accounts their new signings have been very poor- yet they’re still second. They’re clearly doing some things right. The big question is whether we can get at their defence which has undoubtedly been quite solid all season and create some good chances. Press high and aggressively much like Red Star did and we should have some joy.

From our own perspective though we haven’t played an open game in this fixture since the Martinez years- it’s reduced the number of goals conceded, but we’ve still only losses and draws as we’re never going to win shutting up shop from minute 1.

I just hope (and expect) Silva sticks to his principles and doesn’t change too much for this one game. Some pragmatism is fine, but we should be treating this game just like Chelsea away. Go in with the same attitude and mentality and we’ll be off to a better start than in years before a ball has even been kicked in Sunday.
 
I can't make it thankfully but I hope the away lads really rattle the deluded lot, get the blue pyro in the ground and sing our hearts out.

Make no mistake their fans think this is an easy 3-0 / 3-1 game. If we score 1st the whole ground will see their arse and should we grab a 2nd they'll fall to pieces.

Nothing to lose for us we are comfortable in 6th and even if Utd go above us the week after they play Arsenal and we have Newcastle so can probably go back above them.

The main thing is win the midfield battle and non stop press them and their defence into making a mistake. Its why I would go with 3-5-2 as it allows us to press and even if they punt it long to their speed merchants atleast we would still have 3 at the back covering.
 

bluestevon said:
Two things have caused them problems, dudes who've pressed them.high, both arsenal and Leicester did that, don't give vvd time to stroll out with the ball effectively as he's a better passer than their midfielders. And pace down the channels. We have both.
Think we're currently covering the list distance and pressing amongst the best in the league, with them playing midweek, we can outwork them significantly then it'll come down to being able to take the chances early when we get them.

Can't be missing chances like we have been the past 5-6 games
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I am just gathering the stats but a third thing is conceding first. If we execute the high press effectively and were to nick the first goal, I could really see them losing their heads. To balance it out, if they go ahead it's a long way back for us I fear.
 
catcherintherye said:
I am just gathering the stats but a third thing is conceding first. If we execute the high press effectively and were to nick the first goal, I could really see them losing their heads. To balance it out, if they go ahead it's a long way back for us I fear.
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The problem is if we press high they can just hit it long to Mane or Salah and put us under pressure. We have to go 3 at the back imo if we are to effectively press them with numbers.
 
Despite not having the best run at the moment I suspect Theo will start based on experience alone and the ability to track back. So I see the same starting line up and you don't change a winning team.
 
Think we will be well up to it.

Two things that worry me is the referees and clinical ness we need to take our chances and hope for a decent ref
 

In a season where they're tipped to win the league/runners up, its more important than ever we take points off them.
I think we can. If they play like they did when they last came to Goodison I'd fancy us taking all 3.
 
EverBlue92 said:
The problem is if we press high they can just hit it long to Mane or Salah and put us under pressure. We have to go 3 at the back imo if we are to effectively press them with numbers.
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We’ve barely played three at the back all season, and they thrive on spaces outside for long diagonals to Salah and Mane. I’d dather just back our usual back 4 to be disciplined and not go mad joining our attacks and be decisive with any clearances (so many of their goals come from ricochets in the box when defenders don’t clear it properly at the first chance).

We should really have some simple rules for plying them knowing how they set up:

Don’t go to ground in the box unless absolutely necessary as it will result in a penalty good tackle or not.

Don’t take a touch in your own penalty area if under pressure. Just clear it immediately

Don’t play passes in your own third that aren’t 100% on

Don’t allow full backs to overlap if a central mid isn’t covering their flank.

Most of their goals come from teams being unable to do these simple things against them.
 
Saint Domingo said:
We’ve barely played three at the back all season, and they thrive on spaces outside for long diagonals to Salah and Mane. I’d dather just back our usual back 4 to be disciplined and not go mad joining our attacks and be decisive with any clearances (so many of their goals come from ricochets in the box when defenders don’t clear it properly at the first chance).

We should really have some simple rules for plying them knowing how they set up:

Don’t go to ground in the box unless absolutely necessary as it will result in a penalty good tackle or not.

Don’t take a touch in your own penalty area if under pressure. Just clear it immediately

Don’t play passes in your own third that aren’t 100% on

Don’t allow full backs to overlap if a central mid isn’t covering their flank.

Most of their goals come from teams being unable to do these simple things against them.
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I'm not keen on 3 at the back either because it will mean we will effectively have to go man to man with there front 3. 4 at the back means the full backs pick up the wide men and the centre backs pick up the central player depending which side he is on leaving the other one spare to mop up.
 

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