The Liverpool Offside - Liverpool v. Everton, 05.05.13Zeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2013-05-05T16:14:17+01:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/40559752013-05-05T16:14:17+01:002013-05-05T16:14:17+01:00Recap: Dire Derby Ends in Draw
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<figcaption>Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
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<p>Jamie Carragher's final Merseyside derby proves to be a completely forgettable one, as neither side looked particularly impressive and ended up with the points shared.</p> <blockquote>
<p><b>Liverpool 0</b><br><b>Everton 0</b></p>
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<p>With no changes from the side that waltzed past <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Newcastle</a> United last weekend, Brendan Rodgers' squad inspired a bit of optimism ahead of <span>Jamie Carragher's</span> last Merseyside derby , as the win at St. James' Park was among <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool's</a> most impressive of the season.</p>
<p>And so, in typical Liverpool fashion, it would make sense that they conspire with Everton to produce one of the most suffocatingly medicore perfomances as an encore, failing to do much of note in splitting the points with their neighbors. Carragher, <span>Steven Gerrard</span>, and <span>Philippe Coutinho</span> were Liverpool's best on the day, while <span>Marouane Fellaini's</span> elbows and <span>Sylvain Distin's</span> disallowed goal ended as the major Everton talking points along with two crucial <span>Phil Jagielka</span> blocks.</p>
<p>There were a number of disappointing individual performances to go along with the result, as <span>Jose Enrique</span> stumbled badly after a good run of form and <span>Glen Johnson</span> continued his downward trend of the past few months. <span>Daniel Sturridge</span>, who looked so capable and confident leading the line against Newcastle, missed his first touch badly and couldn't do anything with the service provided by the eager Coutinho. Borini was all energy after coming on for <span>Jordan Henderson</span>, who'd been average but not at his best, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110728/martin-skrtel" class="sbn-auto-link">Martin Skrtel</a>--who replaced a slightly injured and largely ineffective <span>Stewart Downing</span>--had little to do in his appearance other than receive a Fellaini elbow to the face.</p>
<p>We'd hoped today could provide spark for a run-in that seemed destined to slog along, but in the end all that was provided was a reminder of how stagnant and sterile this Liverpool side can be. Capable of absolute magic one week and today's performance the next, there need to be improvements, plain and simple. Better players added, better approach, better management by those in charge, and just simply better overall.</p>
<p>Two left to go, and then a vital summer for Liverpool. Let's hope <a href="https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Fulham</a> and QPR offer more in the way of fun, because we know they'll offer little in terms of actual meaning.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/5/5/4302172/liverpool-0-everton-0-dire-derby-ends-in-draw-Ed-2013-05-05T10:00:04+01:002013-05-05T10:00:04+01:00Matchday: Liverpool v. Everton
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<figcaption>Michael Regan</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool host Everton at Anfield on Sunday afternoon in the Merseyside derby.</p> <p><b>K</b><b>ickoff:</b> 1:30PM GMT/8:30AM EST</p>
<p><b>Ways to Watch: </b>Sky Sports 1 in the UK and Fox Soccer Channel in the US</p>
<p><b>Preview: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2013/5/4/4291904/match-preview-liverpool-v-everton-team-news">Liverpool v. Everton</a><a href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2012/11/10/3627064/match-preview-chelsea-v-liverpool-11-11-12-premier-league-team-news" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><b>Comment:</b> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/account/setup?community_id=373" target="_blank">Join the conversation on the Liverpool Offside</a></p>
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<p><b>Liverpool:</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Reina<br>Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique<br>Gerrard Lucas<br>Downing Coutinho Henderson<br>Sturridge</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Jones, Skrtel, Shelvey, Borini, Assaidi, Coates, Suso</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Everton:</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Howard<br>Coleman Jagielka Distin Baines<br>Osman Gibson<br>Mirallas Fellaini Pienaar<br>Anichebe</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Mucha, Hibbert, Heitinga, Jelavic, Oviedo, Naismith, Duffy</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/5/5/4299034/matchday-liverpool-v-everton-team-news-lineups-watch-Ed-2013-05-05T04:00:03+01:002013-05-05T04:00:03+01:00Open Thread: Pre-Everton Overnight
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<figcaption>Alex Livesey</figcaption>
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<p>One question to reveal just how jealous of Everton you really are.</p> <p>I don't know that I've found myself pining for any players across Merseyside much over the past few seasons; <span>Marouane Fellaini</span> was interesting before I actually paid attention to his style of play, <span>Mikel Arteta</span> was classy but not overwhelming, and it was hard to actually appreciate <span>Tim Cahill's</span> influence because it seemed as though he so often managed to exert it against Liverpool.</p>
<p>Envy is certainly something we're all prone to, and maybe it's because I'm just supposed to not like anybody associated with them (even though this year it's not really possibly to dislike them too much given the tremendous support they've provided regarding Hillsborough), but rarely do I feel very strongly about anyone who's plying their trade on a regular basis at Goodison Park.</p>
<p>So for me that begs the question--<b>which current <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Everton</a> player would you like to have in <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool's</a> squad?</b></p>
<p>I'll go for <span>Leighton Baines</span>, which is probably the easy answer, as he'd provide quality and consistency at a position that's seen far too much turnover and far too little stability for nearly a decade. He keeps himself fit, is good at both ends of the pitch, and his delivery from set pieces would add an element to Liverpool's play that, <span>Luis Suarez</span> aside, hasn't been too overwhelming this season. <span>Jose Enrique</span> doesn't just get chucked overboard, especially with improved form in the latter half of the season, and the presence of another high quality fullback would provide healthy competition.</p>
<p>Who's yours?</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/5/5/4298994/liverpool-everton-player-swap-leighton-baines-Ed-2013-05-04T17:00:04+01:002013-05-04T17:00:04+01:00Preview: Liverpool v. Everton
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<figcaption>Chris Brunskill</figcaption>
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<p>The Merseyside derby serves as Liverpool's penultimate home match of the season, with Brendan Rodgers' squad in need of a victory to retain any sort of hopes of finishing above their Merseyside neighbors at season's end. </p> <p>The last two matches of the season will certainly mean something, in the same way that every match means <i>something</i>, but it's hard to shake the feeling that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool's</a> season ends in earnest--or at least emotionally--with tomorrow's Merseyside derby. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/">Fulham</a> away and QPR in the finale, even if the latter will be <span>Jamie Carragher's</span> last match in a Liverpool shirt, don't hold the same gusto as tomorrow's date with Everton.</p>
<p>Unfortunately lacking for meaning is a feeling that Liverpool have become accustomed to in the season's final months, making tomorrow all the more welcome. There's no going through the motions or pretending that it matters, it just does. It's Liverpool and Everton, and as nice as it's been to see the two communities join together to such great effect as the campaign for justice unfolded throughout the season, tomorrow promises to be the queasy, nervous, anxiety-ridden affair that it always is. And that's kind of nice. </p>
<p>Everton have kept themselves in the discussion for a spot in Europe, largely on the back of a recent stretch that's seen them lose only once since the start of March. The month of February looked to be a significant setback, with only one point from three, but they kicked on from there, running off a six-match unbeaten streak before falling 1-0 at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/">Sunderland</a> two weekends ago. They rebounded last weekend against Fulham despite not looking their best, and a three points tomorrow would keep them right on the heels of fifth-place Spurs.</p>
<p><span>David Moyes</span>' only fitness concern seems to be <span>Darron Gibson</span>, who might not be available after missing the match against Fulham. Tony Hibbert did return last weekend, though, and he could be in the mix to join a fairly settled and familiar eleven. <span>Tim Howard</span> will start in goal behind a back line of <span>Seamus Coleman</span> (or Hibbert), Phil Jagielkas, <span>Sylvain Distin</span>, and <span>Leighton Baines</span>, with <span>Marouane Fellaini</span>, Gibson, and <span>Leon Osman</span> through the midfield and some combination of <span>Kevin Mirallas</span> (who was terrific at Goodison but left injured), Nikica Jelavic, <span>Steven Pienaar</span>, and <span>Victor Anichebe</span> in attack.</p>
<p>For Liverpool:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Reina<br>Johnson Carragher Agger Enrique<br>Gerrard Lucas<br>Downing Coutinho Henderson<br>Sturridge</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">No new injuries to speak of, but we can subtract <span>Fabio Borini</span> from the weekly fitness check, which leaves only <span>Martin Kelly</span> and <span>Raheem Sterling</span> on the sidelines. Neither of them should be too far away from contention, though, and it's possible that one or both could feature again before the end of the season. <span>Luis Suarez</span> will serve the second of his ten-match ban.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The final Merseyside derby for Jamie Carragher has been the dominant storyline leading into Sunday, and I think we can probably expect--or at least hope for--the type of vintage display he produced against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> a few weeks back. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110848/pepe-reina">Pepe Reina's</a> continued his strong form in goal to finish the season, and while <span>Glen Johnson</span> wasn't back on top form against Newcastle, he was at least a bit better than he's been in weeks. And, away from the spotlight, <span>Jose Enrique's</span> putting together a nice stretch to wrap up the season as the final part of what's become a settled back five.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Last weekend was, for my money, as active and aggressive as <span>Steven Gerrard's</span> been playing alongside Lucas in quite awhile. His workrate was much improved, and it finally looked as though Lucas wasn't tasked with doing the holding and covering for himself defensively. Not sure how much or how little that had to do with Lucas' sparkling display, but it was encouraging to see Gerrard seemingly more committed in all parts of the game.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Like the setup at the opposite end of the pitch, the front four shouldn't hold too many surprises. <span>Stewart Downing</span> and <span>Jordan Henderson</span> were both very good at St. James' Park, <span>Philippe Coutinho</span> dazzled in a more central role, and <span>Daniel Sturridge</span> looked more than capable of leading the attack. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton's</a> defense likely won't be as feeble as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle's</a> was on Saturday, but if this unit manages to collaborate in a similar manner tomorrow, they can be might dangerous.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Kickoff is set for 1:30PM GMT/8:30AM EST, with Fox Soccer Channel airing the match live in the US and Sky Sports 1 televising it in the UK. Any other ways to watch or follow the match will be included in the matchday thread, which will have the team sheets when they're released an hour before things get underway. Hope you'll be around to join us here or over on Twitter, and that the end to the weekend is a pleasant one.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2013/5/4/4291904/match-preview-liverpool-v-everton-team-news-Ed-