Everton FC (0) – Liverpool FC (2)

I’ll be brutally honest when I say that the Reds never really looked like convincing winners during the game, at least not till Kuyt’s goal did the Reds deserved all 3 points.

You could even be forgiven  for thinking that Everton was the better team on the day, as they astutely ran ragged our defenders with their aeriel prowess and brute strength.

Simple yet effective tactics to destabilise any mean Premiereship defence and would you believe it that this time round, lady luck visited our goal (in disallowing 2 good Everton goals) and even did as much as placing Reina onto the right spot to block Fellaini, barely less than 3 yards from goal.

Indeed Fellaini was a thorn, overpowering the Reds defence time and time again, and I must admit how highly impressed I was at his calm and collected performance.

He knew when to hold the ball, when to make that pass, when to cross, when to run, where unlike our Lucas who seemed lost whenever the ball was in his possession.

If there was a Worst Footballer Of The Match award, Lucas would have singlehandedly picked it up, but not to say he wasn’t any good at all, just that his weakness and his prowessess, well they’re  still 50-50.

One’s not too sure if he’s a footballing aristocrat or or footballing brat.

Anyway, the goal should be credited to Mascherano simply because he ran 3/4 of the pitch just to kiss the Liverpool badge in front of his fans — and does that look like someone who’s looking for a move away from Anfield?

My Man Of The Match award goes out to Masch, for his selfless runs, well thought passes, last-ditched tackles, and the constant harassing of Evertonians, and if only it was for the latter reason, I’d give him the award.

So where was Stevie G during the game, inconspicuously missing for large part of the game, and you get the sense that either he’s frustrated at playing alongside ‘kids’ or he’s yet to reach a 100% fitness level.

Let’s face it, Lucas is no Alonso replacement, while Ngog is no Torres replacement either, and it makes it extremely difficult for a world class player to ‘communicate’ football amongst ordinary men.

Nevertheless, Rafa finally managed to secure another 3 points in the bag and lift the club into 5th place, no thanks to Manchester City drawing yet again.

No doubt this will lift some of the pressure off his shoulders and allow him much needed breathing space as well, for the moment.

So Everton 0, Liverpool 2. Not the classic 4-3 encounters of the past, but just as cracking indeed.

———-

ART’s Top 3 Players:

1. Javier Mascherano
2. Dirk Kuyt
3. Pepe Reina

ART’s Worst 3 Players:

1. Joseph Yobo
2. Lucas Leiva
3. *Coin Toss* Tim Howard / David Ngog

———-

AUTHOR BIO: Mar is a passionate, understanding and tolerable Reds fan through and through. Until he gets to visit Anfield and experience the KOP end, he’s not quite the perfect Kopites as yet, but he’s getting there, nevertheless. Catch him at his personal blog.mar.sg and say hi.