Visualized: Liverpool 0-0 Everton

Previous Match Infographics: Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



We are settling into a routine. And it's a routine I'm not especially fond of.

For all the "this is like the 3-0 win over Bournemouth, maybe we're okay" after housing Watford, we're back to "oh hell everything's boned," just like after 0-0 United.

The last two home matches have been basically the same. And now, the last two away matches have been as well.

And it's all about the attack.



Part of this is simply Liverpool's failings. Had Salah's touch been better when Coleman and Keane made their last man tackles, had Fabinho's been better when Digne made his, had Matip actually put his free set play header on-target.

More of this has to do with what the opposition did. Or, more appropriately, what the opposition wouldn't let Liverpool do.

In one word: press. More words will do, but that's a starting point.






Get rid, get rid quick. Dump it long, force Liverpool to restart, get men back. And if Liverpool don't turn you over when you're penned deep, Liverpool ain't gonna create much. There are damned few counter-attacks coming the length of the pitch when the opposition's able to bunker at 0-0.

It is not coincidence that Liverpool's best chance, Liverpool's only clear-cut chance, came when Fabinho won possession in the center circle and immediately found Salah on the run.

That's when Liverpool resort to long passes of their own, playing far more than usual just as Everton did, hoping that they'll find one of the front three's runs, runs which became fewer and farther between as the match when on.

That's when Liverpool resort to crosses. Which, sometimes it works (hi Watford) and sometimes doesn't (hi United), depending on both the quality of delivery and opposition defending.

That's when Liverpool hope for something from set plays. But the deliveries weren't consistent enough, van Dijk was well defended, and neither Fabinho or Matip could convert the half chances they got: Fabinho receiving van Dijk's header across the six-yard box after a short corner, unable to control, and Matip's free header wide.

Liverpool's attempted remedy, to make this different than Liverpool's last away match, was to keep the same surprising front three which started against Watford. Which is understandable; that took both Watford and us by surprise and worked to a tee. Well. On Sunday, Sadio Mané did not register a shot or a key pass as the central striker. Divock Origi had one off-target chance similar to that he scored against Watford, but also an average position on the halfway line, deeper than Wijnaldum, Henderson, Alexander-Arnold, Mané, and Salah. Salah had Liverpool's best openings, but Salah couldn't convert; which, to be fair, also happened against Watford.

Granted, away matches are harder than home. Everton and United are tougher than Watford and Bournemouth; Watford's higher in the table than Everton, but a derby's still a derby's.

On the plus side, there's one thing the last four matches all have in common. Zeroes for the opposition scoreline. That's now four consecutive league clean sheets, five in all competitions. Liverpool haven't kept five consecutive clean sheets since November-December 2006. 2006!

Liverpool's opponents haven't registered an xG total higher than 0.63 in these last four matches. Watford's, with Gray's clear-cut chance denied by Alisson, actually posted the highest total. Bournemouth's xG was 0.39, United's 0.48, and Everton's 0.24. That Gray chance and a Paul Pogba set play header are the only clear-cut chances Liverpool have allowed in these four games, and I very much quibble with classifying Pogba's chance as one.

Liverpool had a higher xG in a single match against Bournemouth or Watford than the last four opponents have had combined. That, contrary to current opinion, bodes fairly well.

This is a historically good Liverpool defense. It's a defense propelling Liverpool's title challenge. And I doubt many would've guessed that happening back in August.

At the current rate, Liverpool are on pace for 22 league clean sheets, which would be the most for a Premier League side since Manchester United in 2008-09. Liverpool already have 17, which is the most for the club since 2009-10, Rafa Benitez's final season. Liverpool are on pace for 91 or 92 points, which would have won the Premier League in all but three of 26 previous seasons, all except 2004-05, 2016-17, and 2017-18. No side's ever earned more than 90 points and failed to win the league.

Unfortunately, Liverpool are also in a title race with one of the most dominant sides that the Premier League has seen. And the margin for error is basically zero.

Liverpool 0-0 Everton

We watched this exact match a week ago. It annoyed then, and it annoys even more now.

Like Manchester United, a point's more than good enough for the home side. A point's great, not only because Liverpool have been a better side all season long and are higher in the table and can absolutely gut you if you let them (hi Watford) but because of where Liverpool are in the table and what Liverpool could possibly achieve this season.

Keeping Liverpool from achieving that is worth far more than three points. Which is exactly how I'd feel in the same situation.

So, yeah. 0-0. Again. The fifth draw in the last seven matches. 1-1, 1-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0. Not enough shots; just ten taken today with only three on-target. The lone clear-cut chance saved, Salah taking the angle too tight to Pickford. Three last-man tackles from Everton, from Coleman, Keane, and Digne on Salah, Salah, and Fabinho.

Liverpool profligacy and an opponent defending as if their lives depended on it. As if 0-0 was a World Cup winner. Again. Can't blame 'em.

As against United, Liverpool started well enough. And as in the M62 Derby, it's a typical start for a Merseyside Derby. Blood and thunder and pressing and running and it looks like there will be goals or red cards or maybe both and then everything just ebbs away. Liverpool get frustrated, Everton get emboldened.

So many passes go awry in the final third. There are the misses and those last-man tackles, all three due as much to poor Liverpool control as fantastic Everton defending. Alexander-Arnold's crosses are nowhere near as effective today. Mohamed Salah amazingly can't control in the final third. Nor can Mané. Joel Matip's Lego Head puts a free set play header off-target. Etc. Etc. Etc.

As against United, substitutions baffle. Of course you bring on Firmino and sure, Milner for Wijnaldum makes sense I guess, but Lallana for Mané? With Shaqiri and Keïta on the bench? Unsurprisingly, the game gets worse as the game goes on, both due to Liverpool's disjointedness and Liverpool's overwhelming frustration, while Everton's subs – Richarlison, Tosun, and Andre Gomes – actually improved their side. Everton are probably the better side over the final 20 or so minutes.

Of course, that's the point where Liverpool usually win it. See: Sadio Mané in the 94th minute, Divock Origi in the 96th. But no such luck today. And, yes, I absolutely mean luck. But I also mean bad attacking and worse finishing.

Liverpool had a seven-point lead on Manchester City when they met exactly two months ago. Now, City are a point clear, in addition to their superior goal difference. And it's the goals that have done it. Those 1-1s and now these 0-0s.

Yes, there are still nine matches left. There have been nine matches since Liverpool traveled to City. A lot can happened in nine matches. But we all remember the times we've been here before. Goals drying up and too many draws ruined Liverpool title charge in 2008-09. and you can't help but worry that it's happening again.

Visualized: Liverpool 1-0 Everton

Previous Match Infographics: Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



In case you were wondering how vital the press is to creating chances, yesterday was a good example.

It is no secret that Liverpool's attack has struggled lately, whether playing 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. And that attack struggled some more against Everton, needing a hilariously – I mean HILARIOUSLY – flukey 96th minute winner.

But Liverpool also had five clear-cut chances, for the first time in the league since Opening Day. Liverpool should have scored long before Jordan Pickford wrote his name in Merseyside lore.

Two of those clear-cut chances came from scrambled set plays, both from Origi in the dying minutes, both from about a combined two yards out, the first off the cross bar, the second the winner. A third came from quick build-up, hoofed out from the back, Fabinho to Firmino to Mané in the 54th minute. But the other two came from possession regains in Everton's half by Liverpool's midfielders. The other two came from Liverpool's press.

12th minute. Wijnaldum tackles Andre Gomes, who's trying to carry the ball out of his defensive third. Robertson picks up, to Salah, to Mané, blazed over.

34th minute. Fabinho tackles Gueye inside Everton's half, playing the ball directly to Salah. Turn, passed wide to an open Shaqiri, the shot too close to Pickford.

Not coincidentally, those were Liverpool's first two clear-cut chances, taking the game to Everton early in the match, before the sides settled into a more familiar pattern, before both Liverpool and Everton began to tire.

Similar goes for Everton, though. They had two clear-cut chances of their own. A set play – where Mina should have been flagged for offside – and robbing Salah of possession in Liverpool's half, quickly transitioning to the move which saw Gomes' point blank shot saved then cleared off the line.

Transitions matter, deeply. And Liverpool have not been able to transition often enough and quickly enough in recent weeks, whether due to how the opposition are playing and how often Liverpool's front six choose when and where to press. Liverpool pressed more vigorously yesterday, especially in the first half, while Everton's style of play under Marco Silva also allowed Liverpool more opportunities to press.

And if for better finishing, this game would have been over long before Pickford had the opportunity to go Full English Goalkeeper in the 96th minute. So that's still an issue with the attack. Once again, Liverpool fail to put shots on target, with only three of 16 on goal – a horrific 19% shooting accuracy. It was Liverpool's second-lowest shot accuracy in the league so far this season, after only putting two of 11 shots on-target in the 1-0 win at Huddersfield in October.

Once again, I also remain worried about both Salah and Firmino in this 4-2-3-1 formation. Neither played badly; Firmino took three shots and set up Mané's 53rd minute clear-cut chance, Salah was Liverpool's most creative player with four key passes, two of them for clear-cut chances.

But Firmino was still nowhere near as involved as he's been in previous matches, dropping increasingly deep to pick up possession, with just 27 passes attempted, the vast majority around the center circle. And is the best use of Salah as Liverpool's most creative player rather than shot taker, shot scorer? Salah's lone shot was a 20-yard curler, receiving possession with his back to goal marked by a central defender, pushed wide of the post. So many long passes played towards him by midfielders and defenders, in the hopes of finding him before being too closely marked, with little success. It's one thing to use him as a central striker when Liverpool have already scored, when the game's stretched, when there are chances to counter. It seems another to use him as an orthodox front-man, back to goal and marked by at least one center-back rather than in space to run down the right flank. Salah attempted just one dribble yesterday, in the ninth minute, unsurprisingly unsuccessful.




But, to be fair, that's all a bit moot for at least two more days, when Liverpool travel to Burnley. It's the Merseyside Derby; who gives how it happens, as long as it's a good result after 90 minutes. I'd rather focus on the result. I'd rather focus on Jordan Pickford doing this in the 96th minute.



And I still cannot stop laughing.

Liverpool 1-0 Everton

Goals:
Origi 90+6'

I cannot even. How are you even supposed to summarize that.

It's 0-0 for 95 minutes. It's a typical Merseyside Derby score line without being a typical Merseyside Derby. There are actual, honest-to-goodness chances. For both sides. There is actual, honest-to-goodness football. From both sides. Both sides press, both sides attack, both sides are denied goals only due to incredible defending or errant finishing. Four clear-cut chances from Liverpool, two from Everton. There are only a handful of vicious tackles, play acting, or any of the other ugly that's become all too typical in this fixture, although Everton had clearly retreated deeper and deeper in the second half, happy to maintain their point.

But it's still 0-0.

And then Liverpool have a free kick. It's unsurprisingly a scramble, seemingly ending with van Dijk's errant volley skyward rather than at goal. But it's one of those awkward, arcing efforts where the goalkeeper's not entirely sure whether he's going to need to tip it over. Jordan Pickford, with his wee little arms, goes to tip it over. And he completely fails, somehow pushing it onto the crossbar, deflecting directly to Divock Origi about a yard out from goal. Divock Origi, who has not played a league game for Liverpool since August 2017.

1-0. With the clock at 95:08.

I cannot even.

It's even better than a 4-0 riot. It's even better than Sadio Mané in the 94th minute at Goodison. It might even be better than McAllister's free kick from absolutely nowhere at the absolute death at their place, and that was more than 17 years ago. Just because of the comedy. The utter failure. The "why always us????". It could not be funnier. It could not be crueler. Supporting Everton must be the absolute worst. I'd feel bad except, well, you know.

So, yeah, we can analyze a bit, but where's the fun in that? Liverpool reverted to 4-2-3-1, the familiar iteration with Fabinho and Wijnaldum holding, Shaqiri on the right, Firmino in the hole but at least further forward than we've seen in more frustrated fixtures. Liverpool were better in attack, although it certainly helps that Everton wanted to press and attack more than other recent opponents. Liverpool still had problems in attack, at least in finishing. Mané firing over in the 12th minute, set up by Wijnaldum's final third regain and Salah's chip. Shaqiri in on goal later in the first half, set up by Fabinho's pressing tackle and Salah's through ball, the shot too close to Pickford. Mané in on goal in the second half, Fabinho again, this time flicking a long pass towards Firmino, chest control, through ball, shot pushed wide.

But at the same time, Liverpool were tested. Yerry Mina's set play header wide in the 4th minute, offside but uncalled. Alisson somehow denying Andre Gomes' header in the 21st, a point blank save then cleared off the line at the last possible second by Joe Gomez. Both sides looking to press, both sides sending their full-backs forward, both sides with spells of pressure and dominance with the ball trapped at the opponents end of the pitch meant we got a surprisingly open match, at least for the first half. It was more familiar in the second half, with Everton dropping increasingly deep, Everton increasingly happy to ugly the match, Liverpool increasingly frustrated and tired, but Richarlison remained a threat on the counter, supported by Sigurðsson and two attacking full-backs.

Klopp threw all but the kitchen sink at proceedings, bringing on Keïta for Shaqiri for increased dynamism in midfield and Sturridge for Salah for a more orthodox striker, then went with the kitchen sink in Origi for Firmino. Everton were happier to hold what they had, Lookman for Walcott – for increased counter-attacking pace – the only substitution that mattered until time-wasting changes at the very end. And despite Liverpool's efforts, because of Everton's efforts, this still looked likely to end in frustration, as in both Merseyside Derbies last season.

Then that moment happened. Jordan Pickford happened. Divock Origi happened, karmic payback for the career changing injury he suffered against Everton two and a half years ago.

Liverpool happened to Everton, as Liverpool seems to always happen to Everton.

The little brother just cannot get a break against the bigger. And I cannot stop laughing.

Liverpool v Everton 12.02.18

11:15am ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
0-0 (a) 04.07.18
2-1 Liverpool (h; FA Cup) 01.05.18
1-1 (h) 12.10.17
3-1 Liverpool (h) 04.01.17

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 1-2 PSG (a); 3-0 Watford (a); 2-0 Fulham (h)
Everton: 1-0 Cardiff (h); 0-0 Chelsea (a); 3-1 Brighton (h)

Goal scorers (league):
Liverpool: Salah 7; Mané 6; Firmino 3; Milner, Shaqiri, Sturridge 2; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Wijnaldum 1
Everton: Richarlison, Sigurðsson 6; Calvert-Lewin, Tosun, Walcott 2; Coleman, Keane 1

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (LFC History) (WhoScored)

Guess at a line-up:
Alisson
Trent A-A Gomez van Dijk Robertson
Fabinho Wijnaldum
Shaqiri Firmino Mané
Salah

Is the Merseyside Derby more or less fun when Everton is actually decent?

It's been a while since we were nervous going into this match. Even when Liverpool are off-form, Everton usually aren't much better. And Everton always come into the match with a massive inferiority complex. Sometimes it leads to last season's league meetings, a dire 0-0 at Goodison, an unfortunate and almost unfair 1-1 at Anfield. Slow, slow deaths rather than fire and fury.

But Everton have a new, more progressive manager. Everton are in good form. Everton press, Everton attack, Everton actually score. And Liverpool – despite still unbeaten in the league, despite still second in the league and actually almost keeping pace with Manchester City – are doing those things intermittently, are doing those things less than in the last season or two.

Everton are more free-flowing compared to previous iterations. Liverpool are grittier, uglier. Does this change the way either side almost always approaches the Merseyside Derby?

Wednesday's match at Paris St-Germain was something of an advertisement for this season's 4-2-3-1 formation. Or, at least, an explanation why Liverpool have been using that rather than the 4-3-3. If the attack's going to struggle, if chances are fewer and farther between, it makes sense to get more attackers who can create and shoot and score on the pitch. So it seems as if Liverpool will do so again.

That Henderson is suspended after last week's red card seemingly makes that more likely. Fabinho hasn't looked great as the holding midfielder in a three-man unit. Wijnaldum can play there, but hasn't so far this season. Chances are we see those two as a pairing, but Wijnaldum-Milner-Keïta isn't completely out of the question if Klopp decides to stick with the 4-3-3. That should, at least, be a more dynamic unit than that deployed in France. And even in the 4-2-3-1, Fabinho or Keïta seems a valid question now that the latter is fit, with Wijnaldum capable of playing in a more reserved role and Keïta more likely than any other Liverpool midfield to break lines and add to the attack.

Just do more of the attack, Liverpool. Fix the attack, Liverpool. The defense is doing more than fine at the other end of the pitch.

Meanwhile, Everton. The first of the rest outside the top five, a point ahead of Manchester United. Marco Silva's got Everton doing well enough at the sharp end of the piych – 10th in the league in xG, sixth in shots taken, doing more through volume rather than precision – but they're much better in defense, fourth in shots allowed, eighth in xG allowed, and fifth in goals allowed. Much better defensively, I'll add, under Marco Silva than "defensive manager" Sam Allardyce.

Everton's defense starts in midfield. It starts with Idrissa Gueye, superlative at closing angles and taking the ball away from the opposition. That sort of one-man midfield wall makes me nervous given Liverpool struggles progressing from midfield to attack when in possession. Gueye's the sort of midfield who'll cut out all those entry passes to Salah and Firmino when Liverpool try to advance into dangerous attacking positions.

Get around Gueye and that's a defense that can be gotten at, whether it's Andre Gomes' lack of extra protection or Coleman and Digne's attacking from fullback or Keane's ability to commit errors at unwelcome times or Yerry Mina still acclimatizing to Everton and to England. It's getting around Gueye that's harder than it seems.

The XI seems likely to be Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Digne; Gomes, Gueye; Walcott, Sigurðsson, Bernard; Richarlison. That's the side used against both Chelsea and Cardiff in the last two matches. Ten of those 11 started the three previous matches as well, with only Zouma preferred to Yerry Mina. Everton have no real injuries and a fairly settled XI. Maybe Lookman replaces Walcott or Bernard, or Tosun or Calvert-Lewin start up top with Richarlison on the flanks, but that's about it. I find it hard to believe they'll change tack that much going into this.

As crucial as Gueye is to Everton's defense, Sigurðsson and Richarlison are to Everton's attack. Richarlison on fast breaks, Richardlison on the end of crosses and through balls. Sigurðsson from distance, Sigurðsson from set plays, whether the corner cross in or direct free kicks. Six goals each, through just 13 matches. Everton's top scorer last season was Wayne Rooney, who scored all of ten goals through the entire campaign.

Everton are dangerous opponents. Everton are an honest-to-goodness decent side. But, then again, I'm yet to be convinced that form actually matters in this match. Everton haven't won a derby since 2010, when Roy Hodgson was Liverpool's manager. Everton haven't won at Anfield since 1999, when Trent Alexander-Arnold was 11 months old. Until proven otherwise, Everton need to demonstrate they can do more than ugly up these matches. Everton still need to prove that they can compete.

However, this is the Everton side best-placed to compete in a very long time.

Visualized: Liverpool 0-0 Everton

Previous Match Infographics: Manchester City [CL], Crystal Palace (a), Watford (h), United (a), Porto (h), Newcastle (h), West Ham (h), Porto (a), Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Huddersfield (a), Swansea (a), Manchester City (h), Everton (h), Burnley (a), Leicester (a), Swansea (h), Arsenal (a), Bournemouth (a), West Brom (h), Everton (h), Spartak Moscow (h), Brighton (a), Stoke (a), Chelsea (h), Sevilla (a), Southampton (h), West Ham (a), Maribor (h), Huddersfield (h), Tottenham (a), Maribor (a), United (h), Newcastle (a), Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



There remains very little to say about this match. Which remains very weird for a Merseyside Derby.

No goals, no cards, and aside from two saves from Pickford and two Everton misses late in the match plus that first half save from Karius, not much goalmouth action to care about.

But that's where these sides are now. Liverpool have other priorities, and a lot of key players missing. Everton have become incredibly Sam Allardyce, and are now 17 matches without a win in this fixture.

So let's focus on a couple of facets which will play a big part in Tuesday's Champions League decider.

First, step forward Gini Wijnaldum. Actually, no. Stay deep, Gini Wijnaldum.

This was the first time Wijnaldum's played as a lone holding midfielder for Liverpool. And it went pretty well!



(You may notice a discrepancy in Wijnaidum's passing totals here versus the above infographic. The map I used for this came from Squawka, which doesn't count free kicks. WhoScored's total does.)

Sure, there's a big gap forward and to the right, and I'm inclined to blame Henderson and Ings. But blame isn't really the right word. Henderson, deeper than Milner and often on the same line as Wijnaldum, was responsible for more of Liverpool's passes up that flank, to Clyne, Ings, and Solanke. And at the same time, Ings didn't show enough for passes out of midfield.

But there's still a reasonable amount of progressive passes, mainly to Milner, who was Liverpool's most threatening attacker. More importantly, Wijnaldum showed for the ball, something he's had issues with both away from home and when further forward. He was comfortable on the ball. He kept possession of the ball. Add three successful dribbles, turning away from a pressing player and striding out of the center circle, an interception, an aerial duel win, and a handful of recoveries in the middle of the pitch, and it was a fairly comprehensive performance as a #6.

Which Liverpool will very much need against City, who will ask Wijnaldum a lot more questions than Everton did. There are going to be a lot more players around Wijnaldum when he's in possession, not just Davies, Schneiderlin, Gueye, or Rooney coming at him one at a time.

Second, Liverpool's defense. It's still pretty good, guys.

Liverpool have now kept seven clean sheets in last ten games, including all three Champions League games. Only two sides have taken more than eight shots during that ten-game stretch: City last week and Porto in the 0-0 at Anfield – both in the Champions League and both without scoring. Liverpool haven't allowed more than seven shots in a league match since the draw against Tottenham more than two months ago.

And Liverpool's opponents have scored just one clear-cut chance over these ten games. Liverpool have allowed nine in total – which isn't great but still less than one per match – but almost half of those came in Liverpool's win at Crystal Palace. The one scored came in that match as well: Milivojevic's penalty. As Tottenham's one clear-cut chance scored also came from the spot, Liverpool haven't had a non-penalty clear-cut chance scored against them since Swansea in mid-January. During that span, Karius has saved six clear-cut chances and the opposition's missed five. And none of those clear-cut chances have come in the Champions League.

Yes, everyone's playing pretty well – Robertson, Karius, Alexander-Arnold, etc – but my main takeaways is still that Southampton probably should have asked for more than £75m for Virgil van Dijk.

So, yeah, this game was a training exercise. Which, again, is super weird to say about a Merseyside Derby, and Everton should very much take offense at that.

But from Liverpool's point of view, it was game time for Clyne, Ings, and Solanke. It was match practice for Wijnaldum in a position he'll have to play more of during what's left of this season. It was evidence that while Liverpool are obviously weaker without Firmino and Salah, Liverpool can still control a game despite all those missing players and changes to the XI. The defense is getting better and the squad's getting deeper – Liverpool were missing its two top scorers, two central midfielders, and three defenders, and still kept a clean sheet and arguably could have won had Solanke taken one of his early chances. These are obviously good things.

But tomorrow's match will ask Liverpool a lot more and a lot tougher questions than Everton could or did.

Liverpool 0-0 Everton

Whatever.

Sam Allardyce's master plan almost worked. Hold onto your butts for 75 minutes, try for 15. Make it ugly, made even uglier by the drenched conditions.

And if Everton weren't pretty terrible, they'd have pulled it off.

Once again, Everton will not get a better chance to end their eight-years-plus Merseyside Derby voodoo. Clyne made his first start of the season. Ragnar Klavan played left-back. Gini Wijnaldum played as the holding midfielder, ostensibly in preparation for Can injured and Henderson suspended against City. Ings made his first start under Klopp, on the right wing. Solanke started up front. Four players who'd probably start were out injured, while Firmino and Oxlade-Chamberlain were on the bench. Liverpool had three kids never involved in a first-team squad before – Conor Masterson, Curtis Jones, and Rafa Camacho – as other substitutes. Everyone was obviously far more worried about Manchester City on Tuesday, and rightfully so.

Which maybe says something about how far the Merseyside Derby has fallen, but probably says more about how important the Champions League is.

Yet the sum of Sam Allardyce's ambitions is "hold onto your butts for 75 minutes and then try to win for just 15." And this is what you usually get from that.

So, yeah, Liverpool could have been ahead by the time Everton discovered ambition. Solanke won't have a better chance to score this season than he did in the 16th minute, only to shoot straight at Pickford. Pickford also denied Milner's rasping wide-box effort ten or so minutes later. Wijnaldum, Mané, and Oxlade-Chamberlain blasted squirming efforts over from distance. Solanke headed another decent chance wide and had a couple of shots blocked.

Liverpool weren't bad, but Liverpool were very much unfamiliar – both the XI and the players in individual attacking roles. It was rainy and it was wet and the ball was doing dumb things and we all care a lot more about City on Tuesday. And Everton were basically happy to soak it all up and hope for the best later.

And Everton almost got the best later. Liverpool did slow down. Everton did come forward. Everton did take advantage of Henderson's energy falling off a cliff, of Solanke's inability to hold the ball up literally at all, of Clyne's first start of the season, of Klavan at left back. Tosun nearly got on the end of Baines' cross after he burst into the box past Clyne. Walcott's cross around Klavan found Tosun at the back post, over Clyne, his shot-slash-knockdown rarely missing Coleman. Calvert-Lewin blasted over when wide open in the box. All in the last 15 minutes.

Had Everton discovered this ambition earlier, they probably would have won. And probably would have deserved to do so. But, as Everton have learned over the last few months, this is what you get with Sam Allardyce. Enjoy the ride.

We discovered Solanke and Ings can't quite replace Firmino and Salah. Wijnaldum did some decent things as the deepest midfielder, but I'm very worried about what he'll do in that role on Tuesday. The James Milner Renaissance remains impressive, Liverpool's best player today. We remembered that Nat Clyne is actually a good footballer, doing well considering how long he's been out. Karius made a nice save and a couple of nice claims.

All that really matters is that Liverpool didn't lose and no one else got injured unless we're counting Moreno in the warm-ups. Sure, top 4 gets a little hairier if Chelsea win their games; the gap will be five points if they win tomorrow and their game-in-hand in a week-and-a-half. But it's still a five-point gap.

And Everton still haven't won a Merseyside Derby since Roy Hodgson was Liverpool manager.

2,729 days ago.

Liverpool at Everton 04.07.18

7:30am ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
2-1 Liverpool (h; FA Cup) 01.05.18
1-1 (h) 12.10.17
3-1 Liverpool (h) 04.01.17
1-0 Liverpool (a) 12.19.16

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 3-0 City (h); 2-1 Palace (a); 5-0 Watford (h)
Everton: 1-3 City (h); 2-1 Stoke (a); 2-0 Brighton (h)

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Salah 29; Firmino 14; Mané 9; Coutinho 7; Can, Oxlade-Chamberlain 3; Sturridge 2; Alexander-Arnold, Henderson, Klavan, Lovren, Matip, Wijnaldum 1
Everton: Rooney 10; Niasse 7; Calvert-Lewin, Sigurðsson, Tosun 4; Baines, Walcott 2; Bolasie, Davies, Gueye, Williams 1

Referee: Michael Oliver (LFC History) (WhoScored)

Guess at a line-up:
Karius
Clyne Lovren van Dijk Moreno
Alex O-C Henderson Wijnaldum Mané
Solanke Ings

*throws hands up exasperatedly*

Can, Matip, Gomez, Lallana, Klavan, Woodburn. Probably Salah. All dealing with injuries. Not to mention the players who almost assuredly need rest. The first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal will have ended around 63 hours prior to this, and the second leg will take place around 77 hours after this ends.

Karius, Henderson, and Ings are the only players that I'm certain will start.

So, yeah, great time for a Merseyside Derby.

They could use the rest, but at least one of Lovren and van Dijk have to as well, and probably both, as 19-year-old Conor Masterson's the other options. We could get first choice full-backs if Klopp's okay with each's fitness for this stretch, or we could get both back-ups. Clyne's fit again and Moreno's around as well – and I also wouldn't mind seeing Moreno further forward if need be.

The above guess at the front six leads to a 4-4-2 just because of player availability. Both Solanke and Ings are fresh. So let's start both! Then we've pretty much got to 4-4-2, unless you're playing Ings on the left, which whatever, maybe. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mané are fine on the flanks, which would leave Henderson and either Wijnaldum or Milner in midfield. It's certainly not ideal, but it's not a bad side either.

Or maybe we get youngsters in midfield – Herbie Kane or Curtis Jones, players who've never made a senior team bench. Or maybe we get closer to full-strength. We all know Firmino hates games off. Maybe it's Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Firmino, Ings, Mané. Or Oxlade-Chamberlain in the front three with Milner in midfield. I don't know. You don't know. I'm not super excited to find out.

Meanwhile, Everton. This might be their best chance to break the Derby voodoo that they've had, yet to win since Klopp became manager, without a win in this fixture since October 2010. Since Hodgson.

They're at home. They, unlike Liverpool, aren't dealing with many injuries – McCarthy, Sigurðsson, Holgate, and Mangala are out, with two of those at most likely to have started. They're not in terrible form, coming off a thorough loss to City, but having won three of their last six, fairly secure near the top of the bottom tier of teams in ninth, but only one point closer to sixth than to the relegation zone.

It'll probably be an XI of Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Williams, Baines; Gueye, Schneiderlin; Walcott, Rooney, Bolasie; Tosun. Both Baines and Coleman missed this season's previous two meetings, Gueye missed the last, Walcott and Tosun have joined since this sides last spoke. And it'll probably be very Big Sam.

Everton's underlying statistics are not great. Only Huddersfield and Swansea take fewer shots per game. Only Burnley allows more. And while they've conceded a bunch of goals this season, they're scoring reasonably well – mid-table, which is exactly where they sit points-wise. And the goals-against has gotten better; since Allardyce took over, they've conceded three or more just three times: four at Tottenham, five at Arsenal, and three against City last week – all understandable results. But they've also kept just one clean sheet in 2018 – against Brighton last month.

So, yeah, who knows how this will go. Even with a "depleted" line-up – and who knows how depleted it actually will be – Liverpool should win. Liverpool should still have the talent to win. Liverpool, obviously, will want to win; top four ain't quite sewn up yet. We'd all prefer as few bumps on the road during the run-in as possible.

But Everton will have hope, something they've often lacked in recent meetings.

It'll be up to Liverpool to stamp out that hope early and repeatedly.

Visualized: Liverpool 2-1 Everton

Previous Match Infographics: Burnley (a), Leicester (a), Swansea (h), Arsenal (a), Bournemouth (a), West Brom (h), Everton (h), Spartak Moscow (h), Brighton (a), Stoke (a), Chelsea (h), Sevilla (a), Southampton (h), West Ham (a), Maribor (h), Huddersfield (h), Tottenham (a), Maribor (a), United (h), Newcastle (a), Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



I'm actually amazed that Everton had a go. Everton actually tried to make a game of it.

That's not what happened a month ago, with Everton sitting as deep as possible, with Everton having the fewest possession and attempting the fewest passes of any side to face Klopp's Liverpool. That's not what happened in the previous two Anfield derbies, both routs, finishing 3-1 and 4-0.

This was a contentious, closely-fought, often ugly Merseyside derby. One where Everton nearly succeeds in dragging Liverpool down to its level. It's been a while since we've had one of those. It's almost refreshing, although it certainly didn't feel like that while watching.

Average position maps can lie, but compare Friday's to last month's league match at Anfield.



Liverpool's forwards, midfielders, and fullbacks were far deeper; Everton's midfielders and fullbacks much further forward. Aside from Allardyce actually loosening the reins a little, there were two reasons for this. One, the absence of Salah allowed Martina far more license to get forward. Two, and more importantly for Everton's point of view, Yannick Bolasie was available.

Bolasie posed Liverpool a lot of problems, especially early on. He's fast, he's good with the ball at his feet, and he's a more-than-capable crosser.

And Liverpool dealt with him surprisingly well.



Five successful tackles for Andrew Robertson, a tackle and two interceptions for Van Dijk on that flank. Four of Robertson's five tackles dispossessed Bolasie. Six of these eight defensive actions came in the first quarter of the match, with Everton at their most attack and the game very much in the balance.

Robertson's becoming a hell of a left-back with increasing game time, just as we'd hoped he would. And boy does Virgil van Dijk look the part. Of course, we'll never fought a debut derby winner, but happy to shout at everyone to direct his defense, even though he's been with the club less than a week, and comfortable in both battling aerially, defending in his box, and playing out from the back.

To be fair, a more "attacking" Everton took all of one more shot than they did in December's Anfield draw. Four shots versus three. Just one came from inside the box: Calvert-Lewin's off-balance and errant header.

And, of course, Everton still defended, and fairly well. As you'd expect from a Sam Allardyce side. Liverpool struggled to break into the final third. Which is obviously worrying given the absence of both Coutinho and Salah, Liverpool's star attackers. I'm really hoping that's because Merseyside Derby and not a sign of problems to come.

Regardless, five of Liverpool's seven first-half shots came from outside the box – all of them bad shots – with only Milner's penalty and wide box volley inside the area. Liverpool only took 14 shots in total, with only four on-target. Only one Liverpool player created more than one chance: Oxlade-Chamberlain with four, but with three of those coming from set plays.

Which is helpful, because Liverpool very much needed set plays.

During this 17-match unbeaten streak, Liverpool have learned how to score from set plays. Although, to be fair, Liverpool have scored any and every type of goal.

In the first 15 matches of the season, Liverpool scored three set play goals: direct free kicks from Alexander-Arnold and Coutinho against Hoffenheim and Leicester, and a free kick goal from Firmino in the rout at Maribor.

Since then, Liverpool have scored eight goals from corners, two from free kicks, and another Coutinho direct free kick. And a lot of them have been important goals: openers against Sevilla and Brighton, the often-crucial second goal against Huddersfield, West Ham, Bournemouth, and Swansea, and now game-winners in the last two matches, both in the last 10 minutes of the match.

Eight goals from corners is only two fewer than Liverpool scored through all of last season. Six free kick goals already equals last season's total.

Coutinho had been responsible for the delivery on almost all of them during this stretch, so it's been heartening to see the last two coming from Oxlade-Chamberlain: both the free kick at Burnley and the corner against Everton. And given that Coutinho is not a Liverpool player anymore, Oxlade-Chamberlain is going to have a large role in replacing him. Not just from set plays, but set plays sure help.

As usual, I'm fairly content to take a Merseyside Derby in isolation. My main takeaway is that Liverpool won, and that's all that matters. The good things are good, the bad things are *shrugs*, and hopefully won't turn into trends. There were signs for concerns, but there were far more positives than negatives. Robertson and van Dijk. Set plays. Another comeback despite conceding an equalizer, a match that Liverpool would almost certainly have drawn a month ago – as they did a month ago. A 2-1 win, the third in a row, and another late winner.

17 matches unbeaten. Liverpool keeps rolling on and over.

Liverpool 2-1 Everton

Goals:
Milner 35' [pen]
Sigurðsson 67'
van Dijk 84'

Imagine scoring the winner on your debut. You're the new club-record signing, the largest transfer fee for a defender in history. It's a debut none of us thought you'd make, having joined the club four days ago and having not played since early December. And you score in the 84th minute. In front of the Kop. Against the most hated of rivals, who'd somehow managed to equalize barely 15 minutes earlier.

Good lord. I'm getting endorphin-overload just thinking about it.

This is, was, and will forever be the Virgil van Dijk Derby. The narrative is overwhelming and incredible and I love it to death.

So, yeah, it wasn't a great match. It was actually very, very Merseyside Derby, and not the derby we saw last month. Or the romps we saw in Klopp's first two derbies.

It was scrappy. It was ugly. Passes and touches didn't come off, neither side consistently threatened, although Liverpool unsurprisingly had more shots and more possession. Mané and Oxlade-Chamberlain weren't as effective as when on opposite flanks last match; Lallana looked like a player who had missed the last few months; Milner perpetually looks a man running through molasses. But this also wasn't "defend as deep as you can and deny space as much as physically possible." Everton actually attacked, mainly because Yannick Bolasie was available this time, and also a draw's not helpful to Everton this time either. And two Everton players probably should have been sent off, because of course they should have been.

Two highlights to the first half. Liverpool won a penalty almost but not quite as soft as Calvert-Lewin's last month, with Lallana going down in the general vicinity of Holgate, with Milner converting from the spot. And then Mason Holgate's insane push on a full-speed Firmino trying to slow down before crashing into the advertising boards, which sent him over said advertising boards. You rarely see anything more dangerous in football. Firmino jumped out of the stands, rightfully furious, screamed something that the Internet's Lip Reading Community has decided was "are you crazy, you son of a whore?!" in Portuguese, and we got one of those famous everyone shoves around and are we fighting no no we are not fighting. Oh, and Holgate also grabs the referee; you know, what Cristiano got a seven-match ban for earlier this season.

Mason Holgate was not even booked. Um, okay.

So, second half. Which becomes uncomfortably familiar. Liverpool are on top. Liverpool, now 1-0, are getting more chances. Better chances. Gomez misses a back-post header. Lallana shoots wide from the top of the box when put through by Oxlade-Chamberlain. Robertson has a blast saved at the near post. Van Dijk heads a corner straight at Pickford.

Shit, they're gonna score now, aren't they?

Yep.

Liverpool corner, Everton counter. Lookman runs at a retreating Robertson with only Milner as cover, with Lallana and van Dijk trying in vain to get back. He finds Jagielka which – that derby a few years ago notwithstanding – fine shoot please shoot no don't lay it off to Sigurðsson. He's open. Lallana and van Dijk have retreated too far. And he's really accurate in those positions.

And dammit, not again.

But no, not again. Did you not learn anything from the last week?

For some reason, it's different now. Liverpool get late goals now. Liverpool get late winners now.

2-1 v Leicester, despite going behind in the third minute, with Liverpool's winner in the 76th minute. 2-1 at Burnley, despite conceding an equalizer in the 88th minute, with Liverpool's winner in the 94th minute. And now, 2-1 v Everton, despite what happened late month, with Liverpool's winner in 84th minute. A set play winner, for the second match in a row. A winner from Liverpool's new record signing, on his debut.

Sure, maybe it's variance. Swings and roundabouts. Three consecutive 2-1 wins, three consecutive late winners, after going so long without.

But maybe the team needed to prove to themselves that they're capable of it. Maybe they're finding, they've found, that resilience we've been begging for. Maybe this isn't the same side, same squad which stuttered and stumbled in September. Maybe this winter won't be last winter.

And, also, Virgil van Dijk. Wow. What a start.

Liverpool v Everton 01.05.17

2:55pm ET, live in the US on Fox Sports 1

Last four head-to-head:
1-1 (h) 12.10.17
3-1 Liverpool (h) 04.01.17
1-0 Liverpool (a) 12.19.26
4-0 Liverpool (h) 04.20.16

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 2-1 Burnley (a); 2-1 Leicester (h); 5-0 Swansea (h)
Everton: 0-2 United (h); 1-2 Bournemouth (a); 0-0 West Brom (a)

Goalscorers (all):
Liverpool: Salah 23; Firmino 16; Coutinho 12; Mané 8; Can 4; Alexander-Arnold, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge 3; Henderson, Klavan, Lovren, Matip, Wijnaldum 1
Everton: Rooney 11; Calvert-Lewin 7; Niasse 6; Sigurðsson 4; Baines 3; Gueye, Lookman, Vlasic, Williams 2; Keane, Sandro 1

Referee: Bobby Madley (LFC History) (WhoScored)

Guess at a line-up:
Karius
Trent A-A Matip Klavan Robertson
Wijnaldum Can Milner
Alex O-C Firmino Mané

I am still not sure how much to care about the FA Cup. Yes, yes, Liverpool exist to win trophies. Klopp's yet to win anything. But Liverpool are also in a way-too-tight battle for top four and in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. Once again, domestic cups are seemingly the lowest priority.

I am always sure how much to care about Merseyside Derbies.

So, yeah, this is gonna be a strong team. This is not going to be last season's, or the season before, FA Cup third round XI. It's Everton; it ain't Exeter or Plymouth.

Salah's doubtful with a minor injury. Coutinho's got another case of transferitis. Mané's gonna be a doubt because he's traveling to the African Cup of Nations awards today – and the same would be true for Salah were he fit – but I don't expect that to keep him out of the squad. Henderson, Clyne, Sturridge, and Moreno remain absent with longer-term injuries.

And, yes, Virgil van Dijk is available, but I suspect it'll be for the bench at best, given he's had all of two days of training and hasn't played since December 13.

But that's about it. And with five days since the last match, Liverpool are more rested than they've been in almost two months. There will be nine days between this and Liverpool's next match, albeit with that next against Manchester City.

So it seems easier than usual to pick Liverpool's XI. I've only got two questions. What happens if Mané doesn't make it back in time? Probably Lallana, who could start regardless, but you'd think he'd be protected if possible considering the last match was his first start of the season. Who starts at center-back? It'll almost certainly be two from Matip, Lovren, and Klavan, but which two?

I mean, maybe we get the 4-4-2 with both Firmino and Salah up front; two from Mané, Lallana, and Oxlade-Chamberlain out wide; and two from Can, Wijnaldum, and Milner in midfield, but I doubt it.

I am contractually obligated to say that "form doesn't matter in derbies" – see: last month – but Liverpool are 16 games unbeaten. Everton were winless over the festive season, with two draws and two losses in their last four games. 0-0 v Chelsea? Not bad! 0-0 at West Brom? Less good. 1-2 at Bournemouth, losing to a late winner? Not great, Bob. 0-2 v Manchester United? This is my surprised face.

Yes, that's one goal scored in the last 360 minutes of football. In case you were curious why Everton are frantically trying to finish a deal for Besiktas' Cenk Tosun before this match. Everton got its Allardyce bounce – unbeaten in his first five matches, including that still-infuriating 1-1 draw at Anfield – but these last four have been an unsurprising descent back to earth. The festive calendar can be cruel, as Liverpool have certainly experienced in previous seasons.

But that won't stop Allardyce from doing Allardyce things. Defend deep, keep Liverpool out, frustrate, frustrate, frustrate and maybe sometimes once or twice try to do a goal. Which have been incredibly annoying for Liverpool in the past, both with Everton last month and every other side in the league that he's managed.

So I suspect that tomorrow's XI will look a lot like the one at Anfield in December. Pickford; Kenny, Jagielka, Williams, Martina; Gueye, McCarthy; Bolasie, Rooney, Sigurðsson; Calvert-Lewin. Jagielka, Bolasie, and McCarthy are back after missing last month's meeting. Maybe Lennon starts in place of Bolasie or Sigurðsson; maybe Schneiderlin in place of McCarthy; maybe Niasse up front, or Tosun if the transfer's done in time. I doubt we'll get 4-4-2 again, as at Anfield, as Allardyce felt the need to switch to 4-2-3-1 at halftime. Baines, Coleman, Stekelenburg, Funes Mori, Keane, and Barkley are all out.

Always be wary of Sam Allardyce's sides. Always be wary of Merseyside Derbies. This almost certainly won't be fun, and wouldn't be fun even if Liverpool were at full-strength. But also remember last month. Remember the form and function we've seen over the last two months. And just beat this lot.

Visualized: Liverpool 1-1 Everton

Previous Match Infographics: Spartak Moscow (h), Brighton (a), Stoke (a), Chelsea (h), Sevilla (a), Southampton (h), West Ham (a), Maribor (h), Huddersfield (h), Tottenham (a), Maribor (a), United (h), Newcastle (a), Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



We have said it before, we will say it again.

Liverpool live and die by the goals they score. And they only scored one on Sunday.

The finishing pixie is a cruel mistress. Liverpool had been on an almost unsustainable scoring streak. That ended against Everton.

The three above pieces showing Liverpool's shooting should be sufficient. That shots, assists, chances created graphic. That shot-by-shot graphic. That shot location graphic. Ouch.

23 Liverpool shots, but only three on-target: Salah's goal, Mané's egregious bicycle kick attempt from just outside the box, and Coutinho's free kick from 30 yards out. 13% shooting accuracy, when the side had averaged 42.5% in the six previous league matches since the Tottenham defeat.

Three Opta-defined clear-cut chances, all with Liverpool up 1-0, and all off-target: Mané's miss with three players waiting for the tap-in, and Salah and Gomez's second-half headers. Liverpool converted 13 of 18 clear-cut chances – 72.2% – in the six previous league matches since the Tottenham defeat.

Sure, Liverpool's shot quality was a good deal worse than in previous matches. 13 of 23 from outside the box, and an average xG per shot of 0.087. Liverpool's xG per shot this season prior to Sunday's game was 0.116 and since Spurs it had been 0.149.

But Liverpool still had the chances to win that game.

One of which will live long in the memory.

This game hinged upon two moments. Sadio Mané's miss in the first-half added time was the first.



*screams internally*

Remember Liverpool's second goal against Spartak Moscow? Mané to Salah to Firmino to Coutinho. Quick passes, unselfishly looking for a teammate rather than doing it yourself. The final pass taking the chance quality from – and this is a rough guess here – something like 15% to 40%. Do that. Always aim to do that. Don't do this.

If Liverpool get a second goal, going into halftime two-up rather than one, there's an excellent chance that Liverpool score more. Everton have to come out, whereas they can stick deep and continue to hope for just one moment and one mistake at 1-0, and even though two of Liverpool's best counter-attacking players weren't on the pitch, Salah and Mané should have thrived with more space in behind compared to how the match played out at 1-0. Two Liverpool goals had led to at least three in eight of the previous nine matches. Liverpool have finished with just two goals twice this season, and never in the league, and it hasn't happened since early September.

But 1-0 still should have been enough. Because Everton's penalty in the 77th minute was the second moment. And that was not a penalty. (Edit: I don't know why the GIFs aren't loading here; click on them to open in a new window and play)

Come on, now.

Okay, yes, camera angles can lie.

So, here, this is a worse angle for Lovren – which unfortunately, was also the referee's angle – but you can still see Calvert-Lewin move towards and into Lovren, then fall to the ground as Lovren's pulling his arms away from him.

I don't care that Lovren's caught on the back foot and gets too close and "gives the referee a decision to make." I don't care that Lovren has previous, which makes us extra likely to extra blame him. That you're giving that penalty against Liverpool on Liverpool's own ground when Everton have had just two shots and next to no possession is a crime against humanity. Especially after the non-penalty which Brighton got last weekend. That was forgivable because Liverpool were cruising by that point. That made it almost funny. This was assuredly not funny.

I also can't help but think that was Grade A "Big Sam's an English manager and Calvert-Lewin's an English striker" beef.

Without one of those two moments, the other doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter that Liverpool rotated more heavily than expected, that Liverpool left out both Firmino and Coutinho, as well as Can and Wijnaldum. Liverpool should have done enough, even if 1-0 is rarely ever enough for this side.

And now we get a result that brings memories to the mediocre old days. Liverpool's fifth 1-1 draw of the season, the most common score line so far. Three of those 1-1 draws came with Liverpool taking the lead but losing it – the last three of them.

The mediocre old days of an inability to break down incredibly deep sides, with a bunch of possession and a bunch of shots but not enough good shots and not enough of those shots converted. The mediocre old days of drawing a match that Liverpool *should* have won against a side they *should* be beating. Something we thought we'd mostly gotten past with the wins over Huddersfield, Maribor, West Ham, Southampton, Stoke, Brighton, and Spartak.

So, yes, it's a set-back. But it's not the end of days. It's one match, one during a spell overloaded with matches, against seven before where Liverpool did what they couldn't on Sunday.

Liverpool 1-1 Everton

Goals:
Salah 42'
Rooney 77' [pen]

We've been Allardyced. And Pawsoned. And it's really damned annoying.

But the story is still the story we've known before, even if it's been awhile since seeing that story. If Liverpool don't score more than one, Liverpool are at risk of doing a Liverpool. Which is exactly what happened, even if it was never a penalty because come the hell on.

It's everybody's fault.

It's Sam Allardyce's fault, because he made the game exactly as ugly as he always does. That felt more like a Sam Allardyce match than a Merseyside Derby. Not ugly as in vicious, which these games can be, but ugly as in the least ambitious side Liverpool's faced this season. Which is completely their right, and proven right. Two massively, massively deep lines of four, the most possession Liverpool have had in a match this season. The most since losing 0-2 to Burnley in August 2015, actually.

It's Jürgen Klopp's fault, because Liverpool couldn't cope with the ugly. Because Klopp kept Firmino and Coutinho out, again using the full squad to prevent the winter collapse which happened last season. Because he continued to make unexpected changes to the starting XI but this time got burned. Because that 4-3-3 couldn't play through the middle because Henderson and Milner aren't creative enough and Mané and Salah were too wide, and crossing did not work. Eight Liverpool shots in the first 41 minutes of the match: three off-target, five blocked. Five from outside the box, just one in the Danger Zone.

It's not Mohamed Salah's fault, because in the 42nd minute, Mohamed Salah did Mohamed Salah things, turning Cuco Martina, beating Idrissa Gana, and curling an unstoppable shot past Pickford to finally break the deadlock. His 13th goal in the league this season, his 19th goal in all competitions. He's really good at the football.

It's Sadio Mané's fault, because just before halftime, Mané wins possession and steams towards goal and he's got three runners inside for a tap-in and he screws a left-footed shot wide of the goal. That was Liverpool's first clear-cut chance of the game. And 2-0 kills the game. It kills it dead. Liverpool desperately needed 2-0. Liverpool would not get 2-0. This remains unforgivable.

It's Jürgen Klopp's fault, because he took off Liverpool's best player in the 67th minute. That was Klopp's adjustment to Allardyce's changes. Not Can or Wijnaldum for bodies in midfield. Not Coutinho for creation. Firmino – who is a very good player who I like very much but does the pressing more than anything else and that's not what was needed – for Salah. I understand worries about player overload, especially in regards to Salah, but we've proven time and time again that 1-0 isn't enough for Liverpool.

And 1-0 wasn't enough today. Even though Everton had next to no possession, even though Everton had all of two shots to that point, both from well outside the box and not dangerous in the slighest.

It's Craig Pawson's fault, because that was almost as soft a penalty as Brighton's in Liverpool's last match. It's Dejan Lovren's fault because he did a Dejan Lovren thing again. It's Firmino's fault, because he tried an incredibly unlikely back heel to try to get a doubly-marked Mané a chance at goal and lost possession and now Liverpool have five players ahead of the ball (including both left-sided players) and Everton countered down Liverpool's left side and Rooney crossed to Calvert-Lewin from deep and Calvert-Lewin fell over because Lovren looked in his direction.

And it's Liverpool's fault. Because, once again, Liverpool lost a one-goal lead they took into the 70th minute. As at Watford, against Sevilla, at Sevilla, and against Chelsea. Because, once again, Liverpool couldn't find a needed late winner; the last time Liverpool got one after the 70th minute was 2-1 at Stoke last April. The last time Liverpool got one after the 80th minute was at Everton almost a calendar year ago. Because, once again, substitutions did little and the other manager's changes helped more than Liverpool's.

23 shots to three. 79% possession. And Liverpool drew. Because they couldn't create more chances, they couldn't take the few chances they did create, and then they committed one soft, unlucky, and stupid mistake that a referee absolutely helped. And then dropped points from a winning position for the fifth time this season and the 23rd time since Klopp became manager. Against the team you want to beat more than any other.

It is absolutely infuriating.

But here's the thing. Liverpool are still unbeaten in their last 10 matches. Liverpool are still fourth, a point ahead of Arsenal and two ahead of Tottenham. Everton still haven't won a Merseyside Derby since Roy Freaking Hodgson was manager. Mo Salah remains amazing, Joe Gomez is an absolute prodigy, and on the whole, Liverpool did more good things than bad things today. In the seventh match the side's had to play in the last three weeks.

Still. It could have been more. It should have been more. And – not to be too selfish after all the good we've seen over the last eight weeks – it's certainly not for the first time this season.

Liverpool v Everton 12.10.17

9:15am ET, live in the US on NBC Sports

Last four head-to-head:
3-1 Liverpool (h) 04.01.17
1-0 Liverpool (a) 12.19.16
4-0 Liverpool (h) 04.20.16
1-1 (a) 10.04.15

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 7-0 Spartak (h); 5-1 Brighton (a); 3-0 Stoke (a)
Everton: 3-0 Apollon (a); 2-0 Huddersfield (h); 4-0 West Ham (h)

Goalscorers (league):
Liverpool: Salah 12; Firmino 5; Coutinho, Mané 4; Sturridge 2; Alex O-C, Can, Henderson, Matip, Wijnaldum 1
Everton: Rooney 7; Niasse 5; Baines, Calvert-Lewin, Sigurðsson 2; Williams 1

Referee: Craig Pawson (LFC History) (WhoScored)

Guess at a line-up:
Mignolet
Gomez Lovren Klavan Milner
Mané Can Henderson Coutinho
Salah Firmino

This seems like a good place to start:

It is a mischievous question to Jonjoe Kenny that may require some thought.

What is preferable? Winning the Under 20 World Cup or ending an 18-year winless streak at Anfield in the Merseyside derby?

No hesitation. “Winning the derby,” he says, snappily. “Everything I have ever wanted is win a derby. To go to Anfield to win? I don’t think you would get much better.”

Liverpool haven't lost a Merseyside Derby since October 2010 – since Roy Hodgson! – 15 derbies before tomorrow's. Liverpool haven't lost a derby at Anfield since September 1999. Jürgen Klopp's won his three derbies by a combined 8-1 margin.

This is the history that Everton has to cope with. And these are the expectations that Liverpool has to cope with.

It's seemingly a good time for Liverpool to play one of its most important matches of the season, at least for the supporters. They're unbeaten in nine with seven wins and two draws. They've won their last three matches by a combined 15-1 margin, including 5-1 and 7-0 wins in the last two. Liverpool's attacking superstars – Coutinho, Salah, Firmino, and Mané – are simply taking folks to the woodshed, but Liverpool have also kept clean sheets in five of those last nine, including four of the last five at Anfield.

Moreno is the only new player ruled out – and I very much expect to see Milner instead of Robertson tomorrow – although I guess I'll mention that multiple outlets ran with a "Coutinho not pictured in training!" story yesterday. For what that's worth. I'd be surprised if he missed out, but let's not pretend I have any special insight.

I suspect the larger question is Liverpool's formation. 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 or something else? It remains wild that I'm writing that sentence after we saw 4-3-3 in literally every match for 12 months, no matter personnel or opposition.

I'm often of an "if it ain't broke..." mindset. And Liverpool certainly ain't been broke lately. But the above XI could clearly line up in 4-3-3 – as we thought would happen prior to kick-off against Spartak, and I suspect it'll be that XI whether Liverpool decide to play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. I remain concerned about Henderson in a double-pivot, I'd be concerned about both Coutinho and Milner ostensibly on the left given that neither is left-footed.

That is also almost exactly the same XI as against Spartak on Wednesday, with Henderson, Milner, and Mignolet for Wijnaldum, Moreno, and Karius the only changes. And we've usually seen one or two more changes over the last few weeks, given Klopp's emphasis on fresh players to maximize Liverpool's style. So, maybe Oxlade-Chamberlain. Maybe Sturridge or Solanke. Maybe even Lallana, who's back in full training and available. I've been guessing wrong a lot more than guessing right lately, and given results compared to guessing right a lot more often last season, I'm okay with that.

Whichever formation, and whomever starts, the game plan remains the same. Attackers attack, early and often, from all angles. Defenders defend. Midfielders support where needed, more often slightly deeper than we saw earlier in the season.

Get at these, no matter local rivalries. Do you, do what's succeeded in recent matches against varying opponents.

Meanwhile, Everton ain't doing too badly, at least compared to doing really, really badly for the first few months of the season. They've won three consecutive, after a spell where they won just once in 12.

They've got a new manager. We've met him before. Sam Allardyce.

Multiple clubs under Allardyce have foiled multiple incarnations of Liverpool. Including in Allardyce's last two matches: a 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Anfield with Liverpool throwing away a two-goal lead in the final 10 minutes, and a 1-2 loss against Crystal Palace at Anfield despite Liverpool scoring first and scoring early.

There are players in this Everton squad who can hurt Liverpool. Calvert-Lewin on the break. Sigurðsson on set plays. Wayne Rooney loves playing against Liverpool, sometimes too much. Pickford is an excellent keeper, and there remains the worry a keeper will somehow play on turbo mode against Liverpool.

Everton have used pretty much the same XI in the last two league fixtures, the first before Allardyce was technically manager. 4-1-4-1, with Pickford; Kenny, Keane, Williams, Martina; Gueye; Lennon, Davies, Rooney, Sigurðsson; Calvert-Lewin. Everton, already eliminated from the Europa League with just one point through the first five group games, played a completely changed side in Cyprus – even Allardyce didn't bother to go – and I doubt any involved will start tomorrow, including Lookman, Klaassen, Schneiderlin, and Mirallas. McCarthy, Barkley, Funes Mori, Coleman, Bolasie, and Stekelenburg are out injured; Leighton Baines is doubtful. Both Keane and Jagielka are back after missing the last match.

We know how Allardyce will try to stop Liverpool. We know that Allardyce's alpha and omega will be stopping Liverpool, then maybe hoping for maybe a counter-attack or set play stomach punch. Defend deep, deny space, have a little kick at those dangerous Liverpool attackers. Maybe more than a little kick; it is a derby after all, where a referee might tend toward leniency. Frustrate, frustrate, frustrate.

It's worked against Liverpool before, both for Allardyce and for others. But not lately. Not when tried by Huddersfield, Maribor, Southampton, Brighton, or Stoke.

Now Liverpool have to do it again.

Visualized: Liverpool 3-1 Everton


Previous Match Infographics: Manchester City (h), Burnley (a), Arsenal (h), Leicester (a), Tottenham (h), Hull (a), Chelsea (h), Swansea (h), Manchester United (a), Sunderland (a), Manchester City (a), Stoke (h), Everton (a), Middlesbrough (a), West Ham (h), Bournemouth (a), Sunderland (h), Southampton (a), Watford (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Brom (h), United (h), Swansea (a), Hull (h), Chelsea (a), Leicester (h), Tottenham (a), Burnley (a), Arsenal (a)


All match data from Stats Zone and Who Scored.



Thanks, Everton.

Even at full-strength, Everton would have to have been at their best to get any sort of result against Liverpool. There's the disparity in both squad and finances, league position, and recent record. Liverpool are now unbeaten in the last 14 Merseyside Derbies, a streak dating back to October 2010. It's Liverpool's second-longest unbeaten streak against their City rivals since Liverpool's promotion back in the First Division in 1962, one behind the unbeaten-in-15 stretch from March 1972 until October 1978.

But Everton didn't need to make it easier for Liverpool. And Koeman's personnel and tactics, some forced and some by choice, made it easier for Liverpool.

In theory, three/five at the back makes sense. You want to deny Liverpool space to operate in the final third, as so many other sides have done to reasonable success this season. Three central defenders clutters the final third, especially if you keep the wing-backs deep and have a player like Idrissa Gueye to go and destroy.

In practice, it failed miserably, because Tom Davies is much more an attacking midfielder than a defensive midfielder and Idrissa Gueye didn't destroy but ran headlessly and poor Matthew Pennington was woefully out of his depth. And Liverpool fully exploited those players.

Let's play a quick game. It's called "where are Everton's central midfielders?"





And here's a bonus image. Which way do you think Coutinho's going to go, Matthew Pennington?



Idrissa Gueye, who's been so good this season, had a starring role in all three Liverpool goals. Beaten by Mané to start the move for the first after rashly charging and diving in. Beaten by Coutinho just before the second, having to try to charge him down when out of position earlier. Outpaced by Coutinho just before the third, leaving the space for Coutinho to roll it in for Origi as Davies doesn't get back and Williams' is sucked towards the ball.

But Liverpool still needed to get past Everton players before each of the goals. Which Liverpool did, because Liverpool were really good on the ball on Saturday, especially in the first half and especially in the final third.



Each goal featured a reasonably long run from a Liverpool player before scoring, with two successful take-ons from Mané in the opening goal, another from Coutinho in the second goal. Six of those 17 successful take-ons came from Coutinho, all in the final third, six of the seven he attempted.

It really was Coutinho's best game since returning from injury. He scored just his second goal since coming back, following a consolation at Leicester, and tallied his first assist. His three key passes were a joint-high since coming back. He put both of his shots on-target, both from inside the box. And those six of seven dribbles were by far his best since his return, with just nine successful dribbles from 26 in total in the nine previous league matches since his return.

The beating of Gueye before scoring aside, this was probably my favorite.

Ross Barkley being sent for The Echo. #LFC pic.twitter.com/DyLORaIz2y

— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) April 2, 2017

And, of course, it helps when you finish your chances so exceptionally. Just 10 Liverpool shots, none a clear-cut chance, but six on-target and three goals. None of Liverpool goals were an exceptionally easy finish. Only three blocked shots, only one – Origi from wide on the left – off-target. 60% shot accuracy, 42.86% goal conversion. Liverpool aren't hitting those marks in many matches.

Meanwhile, for the third derby in a row, Everton offered next to nothing at the other end. Lukaku, averaging 2.8 shots per 90, 1.4 key passes per 90, and with 21 goals and six assists on the season, created just one chance. That's after taking just one shot in December's meeting at Goodison, and failing to register either a shot or assist in last season's 4-0 win at Anfield. For the second-straight derby, Ross Barkley's performance was notable solely for staying on the pitch despite yet another horror tackle. And, like Pennington, poor Calvert-Lewin was simply out of his depth, a surprising choice given both Mirallas – who's actually played well against Liverpool! – and Valencia on the bench.

Of course, Liverpool did concede – an equalizer no less – but that's been done to death. Corners, specifically the second ball from a corner, etc etc etc until the end of time. And the score was level for all of two minutes and 57 seconds. Yawn.

I am surely tempting fate by writing this, but I can't help myself. The beatings will continue until morale improves, Everton.