Royal Blue Mersey - Everton vs Liverpool: 233rd Merseyside Derby MatchdayIt's a grand old team to supporthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52544/royal_fav.png2019-03-05T12:00:00+00:00http://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/rss/stream/180116292019-03-05T12:00:00+00:002019-03-05T12:00:00+00:00Everton vs Liverpool: Tactical Analysis | Draw speaks to Silva’s strengths and weaknesses
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<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/67NA1SHZFY2ZB8vyed94V2rn62g=/0x0:2604x1736/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63177582/1133400572.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The derby result was unarguably positive, but the dearth of such results this season makes success all the more frustrating</p> <p id="ZicLo7">If <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> misses out on the title by a point — their current deficit behind <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> — you better believe I’m going to remember Sunday’s result for a very long time.</p>
<p id="XR5GG8">It’s another year without an <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> victory over the Reds, and that definitely still stings. But given the gap in talent and in form between the two clubs, a 0-0 draw is a positive result — and I don’t think there’s any shame in admitting that.</p>
<p id="PocyrX">It isn’t the first such result that Everton supporters have celebrated this season either. The Toffees’ away draw against <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> — at a time during which Maurizio Sarri wasn’t benching goalkeepers for insubordination — was met with similar cheers from Everton supporters.</p>
<p id="MEc1Gu">Sunday’s performance was really a continuation of a trend we’ve seen for most of this season. Everton has actually played pretty well in most of its matches against top-six clubs.</p>
<p id="U3zXwc">The Toffees would have taken a point from Liverpool at Anfield had <span>Jordan Pickford</span> managed to not fumble a ball off his own crossbar. Everton’s 2-0 loss at home against Manchester City was tight the whole way, with City only notching a second goal as the Toffees pushed for an equalizer in added time. A solid performance at Old Trafford nearly earned Everton a point against <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> as well.</p>
<aside id="HeqpW4"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton veteran’s plea to Board to give Silva more time, his own players","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18249994/marco-silva-everton-future-seamus-coleman-comments-derby-draw-liverpool-title-race-matt-doherty"},{"title":"‘We’ve got our Goodison back’ - Everton restore bond with the fans after gutsy performance against Liverpool","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18249684/everton-liverpool-premier-league-latest-goodison-park-marco-silva-jurgen-klopp-blames-wind"}]}'></div></aside><p id="WWmPaJ">So yes, it’s largely a story of “almost” and “maybe”, but you wouldn’t expect a team that has lost to <a href="https://fosseposse.sbnation.com/">Leicester City</a>, <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a>, Millwall, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/football-league-championship/teams/wolverhampton">Wolverhampton</a>, and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/watford-fc">Watford FC</a> since January 1 to even consistently attain “almost” status.</p>
<p id="DayZdn">Then, what’s the difference? What can Everton do against opponents like Liverpool that it struggles to do against clubs like Leicester?</p>
<p id="jWtYI3">To put it simply, Marco Silva only knows one way to play — and it’s a way that works against top clubs, but significantly less so against most of the league. </p>
<p id="J1Qqry">Silva-ball, more or less, consists of winning the ball in midfield through anywhere from mild midfield pressure to a suicide high press, then funneling it out wide to allow the wingers and full-backs to do the creative work of getting the ball into shooting areas.</p>
<p id="SRNK1N">That’s not to say that there aren’t portions of matches against top-six opponents that consist of deep-lying defensive lines — it isn’t realistic to expect Everton to maintain even moderate midfield pressure for 90 minutes against the Manchester City and Liverpools of the world. But Silva sure isn’t playing Allardyce-ball either.</p>
<p id="J3kOW2">Take a look at the possession breakdown, courtesy of <a href="http://EvertonFC.com">EvertonFC.com</a>, from Sunday’s match as an example.</p>
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<p id="adTgJ4">Liverpool easily had the better of possession, basically at 58-42. But more of the match was spent in Liverpool’s defensive third than Everton’s, a pretty clear indication that Silva instructed his players to do more than simply set up shop in front of Jordan Pickford and hope for the best.</p>
<p id="4Msrrg">The team’s defensive actions map backs up this conclusion.</p>
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<p id="uZbXoZ">There are obviously plenty of defensive plays made in the defensive third, but there are also quite a few ball recoveries (orange) in the central third as well. </p>
<p id="6dxJJN">Once the ball is won, the holding midfielders — Idrissa Gueye and <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> on Sunday — ping the ball out wide to rely on the wide players to progress the ball up the field. Take a look at Gana and Schneiderlin’s combined passmaps from Sunday.</p>
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<p id="5pBXXu">It’s primarily backpasses and balls out to the wingers or full-backs. Everything is low risk — and against a team that can break you on the counter like Liverpool, that’s the right play.</p>
<p id="K1m9xd">Not only is it the safe play from a defensive perspective — it’s also a pretty standard way to attack teams that flying at you with attacking numbers. As the full-backs (in Liverpool’s case, <span>Andrew Robertson</span> and Trent Alexander-Arnold) stride forward to join the attack, a quick through ball into the wide areas after winning the ball back can create a numerical advantage going forward.</p>
<p id="gqoMgV">It almost went against the Blues in the first half when Schneiderlin was dispossessed and with Digne too far up Salah got a clear run at goal. It didn’t lead to a goal on Sunday (more on that later), but it helped to manage the overall flow of the match and keep Liverpool honest in attack.</p>
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<p id="jnjyyq">That has more or less been the strategy against top-six clubs, who tend to look to exert their attacking influence on the match. So, what happens against the rest of the Premier League, which tends to sit a little bit deeper against the Toffees?</p>
<p id="6RKSlJ">Well, Marco pretty much tries to do the exact same thing — or at least he has for most of the season.</p>
<p id="jRdM8b">Generally speaking, Silva has continued to build almost exclusively through the wide areas, also relying on wide players to carry the creative burden in the final third. Generally speaking, that’s made the Toffees predictable going forward, allowing teams with anything resembling defensive stability to predict and react to Everton’s attack.</p>
<p id="RL1WUq">Without the ability to pick on advanced opposing full-backs, the plan usually falls on its face.</p>
<p id="X5AzWK">This isn’t a new issue for the Blues — even as far back as <span>Roberto Martinez</span>’s first season, Everton struggled to break down deep-lying opposition. The problem carried over well into <span>Ronald Koeman</span>’s tenure, and of course into the short reign of <span>Sam Allardyce</span> (though with him, the issue was primarily that Everton never had the license to go forward anyway).</p>
<p id="ymEmqa">Of course, I’m in no way suggesting that this is a problem that Silva should just be able to snap his fingers and fix. The inability to break down defensive-minded opponents is a common struggle even for teams with more attacking talent than the Toffees.</p>
<p id="ZXuaY7">In fact, you don’t even need to look farther than across Stanley Park for such a club. But the difference between Liverpool and Everton in this discussion (other than the obvious gap in talent) is that Jurgen Klopp has at least <em>tried</em> to correct his team’s issues against a low block.</p>
<p id="WATcxt">After his team dropped points at home against <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/burnley-fc">Burnley</a>, Everton, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/west-bromwich-albion">West Bromwich Albion</a>, and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city">Stoke City</a> last season, Klopp entered this season with a new tactical wrinkle. In several matches, he dropped <span>Roberto Firmino</span> into an advanced midfield role, slid <span>Mohamed Salah</span> into the striker position, and put another attacking player (usually <span>Xherdan Shaqiri</span>) in at right wing.</p>
<p id="VdFkuw">The result? His team only dropped six points from a possible 60 in the 2018 portion of this season. The wheels have started to come off a bit for Liverpool in 2019 (which has caused no small celebration at RBM), and he may need to make a change — but Klopp at least recognized that something had to change after last season if Liverpool was to reach the end of the grind of the Premier League season on top.</p>
<p id="ptg2vN">Under Silva, we’ve seen no such adjustments.</p>
<p id="YmbgNo">A good place for the manager to start is out wide, where his personnel selection has often been questionable. He should be playing Ademola Lookman much more frequently than he is, but the best starting point is even simpler than that.</p>
<p id="dXOePz"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/2/7/18215449/everton-tactical-analysis-marco-silva-pep-guardiola-richarlison-lookman-bernard-walcott-wingers-why">I’ve discussed it before</a>, but Silva must set up his side with one goalscoring winger (Richarlison <em>or</em> <span>Theo Walcott</span>) <strong>and</strong> one playmaking winger (Bernard <em>or</em> Lookman). He did it against Liverpool Sunday — and lo and behold, his team managed to pull out a draw and largely keep itself out of dangerous defensive situations.</p>
<p id="EY6fB8">All of Everton’s best matches against the top six came with similar configurations — at Anfield and Stamford Bridge, Silva also started Bernard and Walcott, with his team earning what should have been a draw in each match.</p>
<p id="gF8uKP">Against less talented opponents, Silva needs to find ways to use the central channel as well, but tweaking his winger usage is a good first step toward determining how to make Everton’s performance against mid-table and lower clubs as encouraging as those we’ve seen against the Premier League’s best.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/5/18250082/everton-tactical-analysis-liverpool-merseyside-derby-marco-silva-jurgen-klopp-sigurdsson-wingersAdam.Braun2019-03-05T10:00:00+00:002019-03-05T10:00:00+00:00Opinion: Everton’s acid test was never last weekend’s Merseyside Derby
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<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5FLTWvM2a3pAz-6UGwKzxmkq_24=/0x29:4150x2796/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63176502/1133413382.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>The Blues took a point off their title-chasing neighbours at Goodison Park on Sunday | Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Blues have had an excellent week; the next step is maintaining these performance levels in each of their remaining nine fixtures</p> <p id="gJ3YOL">The acid test, in reality, was never this weekend’s Merseyside Derby. It was never how a toiling <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> would fare against <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>’s treacherous triumvirate, or if the weight of pressure of contesting a ‘<a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a> final’ would prove too heavy to withstand.</p>
<p id="Gl371x">No; in many ways, the prelude to Sunday’s main event, the Blues’ trip to lowly Cardiff City, provided a fascinating, and arguably more accurate insight into where Marco Silva and his side currently find themselves.</p>
<p id="prjKad">Because, easy as it is to become enveloped in the feral, exhilarating atmosphere synonymous with derby day, these games often take care of themselves. Ultimately, if a professional footballer cannot find himself suitably enthused to take on his club’s fiercest rivals, then for which games can he?</p>
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<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WVqNh_8spIsx3sRkialMnGbV9i4=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/15327910/1133397960.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Marco Silva and Everton seem to have turned a corner</figcaption>
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<p id="kqeXcY">Cardiff away, on the other hand, is no such game. Certainly not on a Tuesday night in February. Certainly not against wily Neil Warnock’s band of burly brothers, fighting to save their top-flight skins.</p>
<p id="Ebv4z4">It is churlish, and downright wrong, to argue it is a harder fixture than Liverpool at home; in that respect, the two are poles apart. </p>
<p id="q3WDmR">But it is the sort of fixture which has repeatedly crippled Everton’s progress; last season, for instance, they recorded a paltry two away wins at those who finished in the bottom half of the table. The year before, just three. The year before that, the same. It is a squad belying its genuine ability and potential with a fundamental mental block.</p>
<aside id="8lOViQ"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Silva commends ‘fantastic’ Everton home support","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248838/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-silva-klopp-windy-comments-ballboy-merseyside-derby"},{"title":"5 Telling Stats from Everton’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18248845/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-merseyside-derby-reaction-stats-setpieces-walcott-pickford-gueye-latest"}]}'></div></aside><p id="CDRHVn">We have seen the same old sorry story too often under Silva, too, not least in the gutless, and pointless, post-Christmas debacles at Brighton & Hove Albion, <a href="https://stmarysmusings.sbnation.com/">Southampton</a> and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/watford-fc">Watford FC</a>. On paper, anyway, the trip to South Wales bore all the hallmarks of a fourth chapter to the Blues’ tale of away woe.</p>
<p id="BYaWIn">After showing shoots of encouragement in the 2-0 home defeat to <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a>, Silva’s proclivity for reverting to type, which has beset Everton time and again this term, reared its ugly head in that defeat to the Hornets. </p>
<p id="Lu5MqR">To change his approach against the Bluebirds was admirable, even if bringing back the exiled pair of <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> and <span>Phil Jagielka</span>, as well as a hopelessly out-of-form duo in Gylfi Sigurðsson and <span>Seamus Coleman</span>, had few blue pulses racing.</p>
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<img alt="Cardiff City v Everton FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ScCVdNoVul7oCJo3LCf30-pYAJc=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/15328075/1127629517.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Sigurðsson scored twice in the 3-0 win at Cardiff</figcaption>
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<p id="H5ic8n">Yet his game plan nullified Cardiff perfectly. Jagielka, barring one early faux pas, led by example at the heart of defence, Schneiderlin provided his typically calming, no-nonsense qualities as the midfield metronome, and <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/2/18246910/everton-goal-of-the-month-january-2019-gylfi-sigurdsson-calvert-lewin-andre-gomes-cardiff-wolves">he, Coleman and Sigurðsson combined expertly for the Blues’ opener</a>, in one of the best moves Silva’s men have fashioned all season.</p>
<p id="RCdTtv">It would not extend to the Roberto Martínez realms of hyperbole to suggest that the 3-0 win over Cardiff was one of Everton’s most significant results of the season. A side that laboured wearily in that Vicarage Road defeat 17 days earlier looked revitalised, with a far clearer idea of their manager’s blueprint, and how to implement it.</p>
<aside id="DXQCLM"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"‘We’ve got our Goodison back’ - Everton restore bond with the fans after gutsy performance against Liverpool","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18249684/everton-liverpool-premier-league-latest-goodison-park-marco-silva-jurgen-klopp-blames-wind"},{"title":"Everton veteran’s plea to Board to give Silva more time, his own players","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18249994/marco-silva-everton-future-seamus-coleman-comments-derby-draw-liverpool-title-race-matt-doherty"}]}'></div></aside><p id="kNzeqm">And unlike after the heartening City defeat, the momentum carried this time. Liverpool’s quality was always going to tell, but the Blues, roared on by 39,000 Evertonians bellowing their unwavering support for their players, some of which have let them down far too often this season, showed an unprecedented level of resilience to keep them, for the most part, at arm’s length. Ultimately, a goalless draw was just reward.</p>
<p id="0BslHh">There is no doubt the atmosphere worked enormously to Everton’s advantage, either. Goodison Park, for far too long, has been making a slow, arduous gait to the grave, but yesterday, the life support machine was plugged back in. It might be unrealistic to expect that level of volume for every home game, but Silva was spot on when saying even 70 per cent of that noise does almost half the job for his side.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> | That noise... COYB! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DerbyDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DerbyDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/swImrMMb2a">pic.twitter.com/swImrMMb2a</a></p>— Everton (@Everton) <a href="https://twitter.com/Everton/status/1102244418868916224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p id="V6dX8M">Much has been made of the Toffees’ daunting home fixture list, with <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>, <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> and <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> next up at Goodison, but with an amalgam of yesterday’s vociferous, relentless support, and a side playing with such heart, there is little reason to expect anything another than a repeat of yesterday, at the absolute minimum. When fan base, players and staff are all in unison, the Blues are invariably at their best.</p>
<p id="eS3CvT">Silva cut a beleaguered, downcast figure away at Watford last month, as the fans of his former club revelled in beating a manager who left them in the lurch last campaign. In reality, he probably needed at least the four points he earned from the two games since.</p>
<p id="OQOuQ6">But in ridding himself of the naïve, hard-nosed approach which has scuppered Everton’s season, and in being intelligent enough to plan accordingly for the threats posed by both Warnock’s and Jurgen Klopp’s sides, he warrants as much credit for these results as anyone else.</p>
<p id="WsOcs2">For the manager, the squad, and the fans, the bar has been set in this last week. Now for the tricky bit, the real test of character - not falling meekly below it again, starting on Saturday away at <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a>. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/5/18249654/everton-reaction-liverpool-draw-cardiff-city-victory-merseyside-derby-marco-silvamatthew.chandler2019-03-04T18:00:00+00:002019-03-04T18:00:00+00:00Everton veteran’s plea to Board to give Silva more time, his own players
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<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U7Wpz3NjuQ26kv0bfUIsPbAKbVA=/0x0:4192x2795/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63169101/1133409145.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Seamus Coleman spoke up after the Derby stalemate yesterday</p> <p id="ADTeh6">Roared on by a rejuvenated Goodison Park crowd, <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> slowed down cross-town rivals <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> in their title race in a 0-0 draw yesterday. </p>
<p id="fW1pL6">While the Blues were limited going forward, an issue that is not new this season, they showed a defensive resilience that has sadly been lacking for long periods this season. </p>
<p id="9Y1ybp">Speaking after the game, captain on the day <span>Seamus Coleman</span> insisted that manager Marco Silva was doing all the right things despite the Blues recent slump, and that the Club’s ownership should give him more time to implement his system and get players to suit that in the door. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="Qw1eEP">“I think managers need time and the manager here is working very hard. It’s not going to happen overnight or one season.</p>
<p id="i25SNc">“He needs to get his own players in, implement his own style of play. That goes for all around the league, I think owners need to be a bit more patient.</p>
<p id="ubARny">“I think there’s a lot of emphasis on teams doing badly. It’s something that I don’t agree with.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="aJdfSH">Often this season it’s the players that have looked disinterested, especially with the woes the Blues have had with zonal marking at defending setpieces. The <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/teams/republic-of-ireland">Republic of Ireland</a> captain did not shirk the role the players play in this responsibility as well.</p>
<blockquote><p id="7ak2kk">“It’s one of the things I don’t like about modern-day football. It always seems to go on the manager’s toes and us players seem to get away with murder a little bit.”</p></blockquote>
<p id="fu9LO0">When questioned if he was happy to have slowed down Liverpool’s title attempt, Coleman was more focused on his own side than what the Reds were doing. </p>
<blockquote><p id="0j4LHn">“I’m more pleased with the performance and more disappointed we haven’t got the win as I thought they were there for us and we didn’t happen to get the job done,”</p></blockquote>
<p id="ii4UUB">After a less-than-inspiring season for the Blues, Coleman’s own position in the Irish national side is under question with how well <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/football-league-championship/teams/wolverhampton">Wolverhampton</a> Wanderers’ Matt Doherty has been playing. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="RSMSxL">“Matt’s having a brilliant season in a right wing back position which is something I haven’t played as much as Matt. </p>
<p id="6IyvwH">”For me, it’s me against me at all time - it’s not me against anyone else. I want to see every Irish player doing, because the more we have doing well, the better chance we have of succeeding at this minute.</p>
<p id="YiXlG6">“We’ve got lads doing well at the moment who are in form (referencing Portsmouth’s Ronan Curtis and Preston’s Alan Browne).”</p>
</blockquote>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18249994/marco-silva-everton-future-seamus-coleman-comments-derby-draw-liverpool-title-race-matt-dohertyCalvin2019-03-04T16:00:00+00:002019-03-04T16:00:00+00:00‘We’ve got our Goodison back’ - Everton restore bond with the fans after gutsy performance against Liverpool
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<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0iTod8IQskwZjPMfA4tvQ2ZYMug=/59x0:3116x2038/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63168451/1133410094.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The wait for a win goes on, but there is still plenty of encouragement to take from the 223rd Merseyside derby</p> <p id="0qTnBZ"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a>’s long wait for a derby victory goes on, but they can take pride from a battling performance that restored the bond between players and supporters, with Goodison Park as rowdy and raucous as we have seen in a long time.</p>
<p id="AS3AaB">Merseyside derbies are always special occasions, but there was definitely an edge to this latest encounter. The chance to halt <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>’s title challenge is the obvious factor, but much was riding on this for Everton too, and Marco Silva in particular.</p>
<p id="sr9d41">The Toffees boss has been under intense pressure since the turn of the year as performances slumped and he knew going into last week that two defeats would put his position in severe jeopardy.</p>
<aside id="KzCDGD"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Silva commends ‘fantastic’ Everton home support","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248838/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-silva-klopp-windy-comments-ballboy-merseyside-derby"}]}'></div></aside><p id="NjHwYp">As it is, four points from six games and two encouraging performances should give him some valuable breathing space between now and the end of the season.</p>
<p id="LrrMLx">The team, too, worked their way back into the affections of the supporters by giving their all. There has been an obvious disconnect between the players and fans in recent months which has contributed to the edgy atmosphere at Goodison. But all that was put aside on Sunday as the fans gave the players a rousing reception as they entered the field. </p>
<p id="VuLqpB">The dark, brooding sky caused by the passing of Storm Freya added to the febrile atmosphere as we edged closer to kick off. The introduction of an air-raid siren prior to Z-Cars – inspired by Tony Bellew’s ring walk – pushed things to a crescendo as the players entered the field.</p>
<p id="EKHdgH">It was a clear signal to the team that, despite all the disappointments this season, the fans were right behind them once more. They responded to that olive branch by going toe-to-toe with Liverpool, helping to sustain the atmosphere, the best I have witnessed at the Old Lady in a long, long time. It felt like we had finally got our Goodison back and a pertinent reminder of how much we will miss her when we leave and how crucial it is to take some of that L4 magic down to Bramley Moore.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/a0dnZVzsFHu1GCmtPFCHSfK0SkM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/15267585/1133421112.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="agvSBi">It also threw down the gauntlet to the fans. Evertonians demonstrated how their support can boost the home side and intimidate the opposition. It is up to us now to sustain that in every home match going forward. To quote Silva after the game: “70 or 80 per cent of it, every match, then 30 or 40 per cent of our job is done.”</p>
<p id="v1hzlN">On the pitch, <span>Jordan Pickford</span> made up for his Anfield nightmare with a crucial stop to deny <span>Mohamed Salah</span>. The defence was excellent too, particularly Michael Keane, who made a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Salah late in the second half.</p>
<p id="imn7H9"><span>Seamus Coleman</span> showed glimpses of his old self, linking up well with substitute Richarlison as Everton grew in confidence in the closing stages. On the opposite flank, Bernard arguably had his best performance in a blue shirt as he continues to adapt to the Premier League.</p>
<aside id="ZSwD8u"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton 0-0 Liverpool: Three Thoughts | Energy, defence and aggression","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18249061/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap"},{"title":"5 Telling Stats from Everton’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18248845/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-merseyside-derby-reaction-stats-setpieces-walcott-pickford-gueye-latest"}]}'></div></aside><p id="DbcJC9">Idrissa Gueye was superb in midfield once more and even the much-maligned <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> followed up his display at Cardiff with another solid 90 minutes that suggests he may have a future at the club after all.</p>
<p id="mhLniI">It wasn’t all perfect of course, with Everton’s blunt attack once again letting them down.</p>
<p id="g3H2Iq">That’s not a slight on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who I thought worked incredibly hard, but he did not get a tune out of Virgil van Dijk. There’s no disgrace in that either of course, even the most Blue-eyed Toffees fan cannot fail to acknowledge the excellent performance of the Dutchman, who is certainly a contender for Premier League Player of the Year.</p>
<p id="4N3nbk">But for all Everton’s effort and application, they failed to truly test Alisson in the Liverpool goal. I’m sure Marcel Brands doesn’t need telling that a striker needs to be high on his shopping list this summer.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tXxmRsEYcdCxJWx4TII1x4EuChk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/15152445/1133410633.jpg.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="14Bb34">The only major disappointment was <span>Theo Walcott</span>, who looked completely bereft of ideas and confidence. Richarlison was much more threatening when he came on and you’d expect him to start next weekend’s game at <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/">Newcastle</a> as a result.</p>
<p id="iQdJTt">But that is a minor gripe when you look at the performance as a whole and compare it to what we have witnessed over the past three months, even if the wait for a derby victory extends into a ninth season.</p>
<p id="O3zBcc">The fact the draw kept Liverpool off the top of the table ensured the cheers at the final whistle were given added gusto, tinged of course with relief that we had not witnessed a repeat of the stoppage-time heartache endured at Anfield. But it was also recognition of a gutsy performance that suggests a corner may finally have been turned.</p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18249684/everton-liverpool-premier-league-latest-goodison-park-marco-silva-jurgen-klopp-blames-windTom Mallows2019-03-04T13:00:00+00:002019-03-04T13:00:00+00:00Everton 0-0 Liverpool: Three Thoughts | Energy, defence and aggression
<figure>
<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tnkvsn_7y0bEDg5eKj3ZA_Vi9M4=/0x0:3762x2508/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63166223/1133421071.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Three Thoughts from Everton’s draw against Liverpool</p> <h1 id="6szYvN">
<a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> kept up the energy</h1>
<p id="ww7ii5">The Merseyside Derby always provides an electric atmosphere both on and off the pitch. Everton, despite their struggles this season, came out ready to play against an opponent with only one loss this season. With a solid first half in the books there were some concerns that Everton would be hard-pressed to keep up the pressure against <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>. </p>
<p id="4OfPZP">The second half came and went and Everton played surprisingly well against a very difficult opponent. The players really seemed to show up for this match and the performance reflected that effort. In so many matches this season, the players on this team seem at times like they can’t be bothered to try. If the team can keep up this effort through the last half of the season, there may be hope yet.</p>
<h1 id="u0WKUN">Very solid defensive performance. </h1>
<p id="2fvbW0">Defense has been one of Everton’s biggest weaknesses for the past few seasons. It seems as though no matter what players or manager they bring in, they leak goals frequently. But against an offensively potent Liverpool squad, the defense held their own. </p>
<p id="SUn1QW">Michael Keane in particular was incredibly impressive in this match. Keane has been inconsistent in his time with Everton. He often follows up a world-class performance with an absolute stinker the next week. But against Liverpool Keane was one of the biggest reasons his team held a clean sheet. His last minute tackles saved Everton on more than one occasion. </p>
<p id="kkXlOU">Lucas Digne, <span>Jordan Pickford</span> and Idrissa Gueye also played well and the defensive unit as a whole did an excellent job cleaning up the mistakes of Morgan Schneiderlin. The defensive midfielder was the clearest weak link in the Everton defensive unit and seemed completely off the pace. </p>
<aside id="DycdGA"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Silva commends ‘fantastic’ Everton home support","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248838/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-silva-klopp-windy-comments-ballboy-merseyside-derby"},{"title":"Everton vs Liverpool: Players & Manager Grades Poll ","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248828/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-derby-ratings"}]}'></div></aside><h1 id="vH7Iyl">Silva went for the win</h1>
<p id="GCbner">For all the criticism Marco Silva has earned himself this season, it is difficult to fault him for how he handled this particular match. It was by no means a flawless tactical match, but he has to be given credit for not bunkering down in the second half. </p>
<p id="U6FCeW">It feels like past managers would have brought on a 5th defender in the last half hour and prayed that Liverpool didn’t break through. But to Silva’s credit he made three offensive substitutions and really tried to steal a win from Liverpool. </p>
<p id="9ybC3E">There is certainly an argument to be made that Richarlison and Andre Gomes should have been playing from the start of the match. But the late game subs certainly made for an exciting second half that had many on the edges of their seats. </p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18249061/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recapmralbaugh2019-03-04T10:00:00+00:002019-03-04T10:00:00+00:005 Telling Stats from Everton’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool
<figure>
<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5M9qofHB8vYZigse3i02NRVaLf0=/0x0:2964x1976/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63166190/1133410031.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>What did the numbers tell us about the Blues’ performance?</p> <p id="v7ajVl">Goodison was on form as <a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> looked to damage <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>’s title hopes. </p>
<p id="Z4w65k">It was undoubtedly (and unsurprisingly) a gritty performance and one that lived up to Everton’s old ‘Dogs of War’ reputation, but what did the numbers reveal to us?</p>
<h2 id="Vop0Fq">Set Pieces… Sorted?</h2>
<p id="6kmVGT"><em><strong>Two clean sheets on the bounce</strong></em></p>
<p id="0cloW6">For the second game in a row, Everton faced a team with real prowess from set pieces… and kept a clean sheet. The big issue with the zonal set up that Marco Silva has been implementing has been players taking a lack of responsibility for attacking the ball. Fortunately, that certainly wasn’t the case at Goodison with every player seemingly happy to put their body on the line.</p>
<h2 id="v8n3mE">Low Quality on Ball</h2>
<p id="A0qllf"><em><strong>Blues completed just 62% of passes</strong></em></p>
<p id="OcK1uQ">This was a game of very low quality on the ball, with loose passes exasperated by a welcome return of the Goodison cauldron. Everton completed just 62% of their passes (season average 76.9%), while Liverpool fared little better with a 75% success rate (season average 84.5%).</p>
<p id="TT60y5">While it was understandable to go with a more defensive choice in <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> to start, the Blues could probably have done with Andre Gomes on the pitch with more time to go to see if you could seize control of the game and create more openings.</p>
<aside id="8o1g34"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Silva commends ‘fantastic’ Everton home support","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248838/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-silva-klopp-windy-comments-ballboy-merseyside-derby"},{"title":"Everton vs Liverpool: Players & Manager Grades Poll ","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248828/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-derby-ratings"}]}'></div></aside><h2 id="4VJi2l">Not Enough From Walcott</h2>
<p id="0GTVDZ"><em><strong>Touched the ball just 20 times</strong></em></p>
<p id="wui4AX">Despite early signs of promise with a couple of headers won and even a yellow card received, <span>Theo Walcott</span> once again drifted into anonymity at Goodison. Walcott touched the ball just 20 times in his hour long cameo, with even his replacement, Richarlison, touching the ball considerably more time (27) despite only coming on for the last half an hour.</p>
<p id="GMa4Gc">Walcott lacks aggression, a good first touch and any kind of final ball. There’s no way he should be starting ahead of Ademola Lookman, Bernard or Richarlison in any of the wide positions.</p>
<h2 id="LPofaQ">Pickford Distribution</h2>
<p id="WJM8zn"><em><strong>Keeper completed just 26.1% of passes</strong></em></p>
<p id="iCwmAQ">Pickford’s distribution was uncharacteristically poor against Liverpool, with seemingly every long ball from him finding the head of Virgil van Dijk - especially in the first half. </p>
<p id="Dertmp">It was no surprise that the Dutchman was dominant in the air, but one would hope that Pickford would have enough nous to mix up his play and aim for the wider positions from time to time. Such a tactic was well used in the Martinez era, with <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> going out wide when Tim Howard received the ball, with <span>Steven Naismith</span> instead moving inside and feeding off any second balls. It’s a move that Everton should look to replicate.</p>
<h2 id="pdBskQ">Gueye Flying</h2>
<p id="92aIsx"><em><strong>Was Everton’s best passer</strong></em></p>
<p id="hCLFL8">While Idrissa Gueye has long been a force at winning the ball back for Everton, the Senegalese midfielder looks more confident than ever on the ball following January interest from PSG.</p>
<p id="EAB7nl">Indeed, he completed more passes (80.4%) than any other player in Blue and looked incredibly comfortable moving forward with the ball and looking to thread passes into the attacking players – something he also thrived at against Cardiff in midweek.</p>
<p id="9f3Hww">More performances like this and we can expect to see plenty of suitors for him in the summer.</p>
<p id="yXzMbp"></p>
<p id="M0yQJQ"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18248845/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-merseyside-derby-reaction-stats-setpieces-walcott-pickford-gueye-latestPete Reynolds2019-03-04T07:00:00+00:002019-03-04T07:00:00+00:00Everton news recap: Derby fallout, Silva comments, Klopp’s reaction and more
<figure>
<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bI3mU7nZ8quJFlb323RrhxoIkDw=/40x0:3000x1973/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63166116/1133410201.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><em>Recapping all the Everton news from the weekend</em> </p> <p id="6HR76w"><em><strong>Your daily dose of </strong></em><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/"><em><strong>Everton</strong></em></a><em><strong> news and rumours</strong></em></p>
<p id="k1ORTT">Everton were unable to take all three points in yesterday’s ‘<a href="https://www.sbnation.com/fifa-world-cup">World Cup</a> Final’, but will be happy with the hard-fought draw. <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> subsequently fell to second place in the league while <a href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a> now sit top by one point. The Toffees played with a new-found confidence and supporters were out in full force. Is yesterday’s performance a sign of things to come?</p>
<p id="oJd2su">Everton battle it out in 0-0 draw. Here’s how it happened. [<a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248801/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-instant-reaction-recap-merseyside-derby-silva-klopp"><strong>RBM</strong></a>]</p>
<p id="ODoFoI">Click the following link to grade the players (and manager) in yesterday’s match. [<a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248828/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-derby-ratings"><strong>RBM</strong></a>]</p>
<p id="BrtpFL">Our fans were fantastic, says Marco Silva, and reactions from both him and Jurgen Klopp. [<a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248838/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-silva-klopp-windy-comments-ballboy-merseyside-derby"><strong>RBM</strong></a>] </p>
<p id="d62UBR">Klopp meanwhile is getting widely panned for his claims about the wind, and confronting a ballboy after the game. [<a href="http://www.squawka.com/en/news/jurgen-klopp-trolled-for-ball-boy-spat-and-citing-wind-as-a-factor-in-everton-0-0-liverpool/1084901#QTYgWfLfpI085BgQ.97"><strong>Squawka</strong></a>]</p>
<p id="t5nXz3">Reds defender Virgil van Dijk was unhappy about the raucous home support. [<a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/virgil-van-dijk-criticises-everton-14082664"><strong>Mirror</strong></a>]</p>
<p id="uTwNGb">Watch the highlights from yesterday.</p>
<div id="rawRRG"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OYPSa8dswiQ?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="t2qDHJ">Liverpool defender <span>Andrew Robertson</span> praises Marco Silva after their time together at <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/hull-city">Hull City</a>. [<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1095027/Liverpool-Andy-Robertson-Everton-Marco-Silva-Jurgen-Klopp"><strong>Express</strong></a>]</p>
<p id="NbblWo">Backstage at Cardiff, preparing for the Derby, and more in this week’s edition of Everton Unseen.</p>
<div id="MdiP2F"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9hP8KB1NU2s?rel=0&start=1" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="a4oekd">We pick Everton’s goal of the month for February. [<a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/2/18246910/everton-goal-of-the-month-january-2019-gylfi-sigurdsson-calvert-lewin-andre-gomes-cardiff-wolves"><strong>RBM</strong></a>]</p>
<p id="zGXXtb">Defender Michael Keane speaks about his recovery after a scary collision in August left him sidelined for a month. [<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Ffootball%2F2019%2F03%2F02%2Feverton-defender-michael-keane-interview-could-not-move-without%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Froyalbluemersey.sbnation.com%2F2019%2F3%2F4%2F18248739%2Feverton-news-recap-merseyside-derby-reaction-marco-silva-jurgen-klopp-comments" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Telegraph</strong></a>]</p>
<p id="HN4LVm">Watch the highlights from Everton U18s 4-3 loss to West Brom in the quarterfinals of the FA Youth Cup. [<a href="http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2019/02/27/youth-cup-highlights"><strong>EFC</strong></a>]</p>
<h1 id="SQXWRD">What To Watch</h1>
<p id="7SYSun"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/football-league-championship/teams/sheffield-wednesday">Sheffield Wednesday</a> play Sheffield United in the Steel City Derby with Kieran Dowell set to play for the Blades, while Leganés face <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/levante">Levante</a> in La Liga action.</p>
<p id="1NVrKJ">Full schedule of games <a href="https://www.livesoccertv.com/schedules/2019-03-04/"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>
<h1 id="cm3gF0">Follow Us</h1>
<p id="084HQc"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/rbmersey"><strong>Twitter</strong></a> | <a href="http://www.instagram.com/rbmersey"><strong>Instagram</strong></a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rbmersey"><strong>Facebook</strong></a></p>
<p id="fPqJgo"></p>
https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/4/18248739/everton-news-recap-merseyside-derby-reaction-marco-silva-jurgen-klopp-commentsPat Mariboe2019-03-03T19:12:34+00:002019-03-03T19:12:34+00:00Silva commends ‘fantastic’ Everton home support
<figure>
<img alt="Everton FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NoLkn6raU-hSKP621kSmKlCogfU=/0x0:2295x1530/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63164570/1133410510.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Manager’s comments after 0-0 derby stalemate</p> <p id="MsuTTu"><a href="https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/">Everton</a> drew 0-0 against <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> in the 200th time the two sides have faced each other in top flight action in the league. It was mostly a cagey affair with the Blues creating little on their own and the visitors mostly misfiring. </p>
<p id="3dqEFt">After the game, manager Marco Silva spoke about the game to the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/47435602">BBC</a>. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="Y6yfd6">“I’m proud of my players and the desire they showed, and everything we did to try and win the match. </p>
<p id="fp3VbK">“It felt amazing in our stadium. Our fans were fantastic, amazing, and they pushed the team from the first minute. And the team didn’t give them the three points, but we tried everything that we could to achieve that.</p>
<p id="Q3NK7w">“The fans were the twelfth man on the pitch.”</p>
</blockquote>
<aside id="806LCA"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Everton vs Liverpool: Instant Reaction | Stalemate","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248801/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-instant-reaction-recap-merseyside-derby-silva-klopp"},{"title":"Everton vs Liverpool: Players & Manager Grades Poll ","url":"https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248828/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-player-grades-poll-man-of-the-match-manager-derby-ratings"}]}'></div></aside><blockquote>
<p id="3RTIXJ">“It was a tough match but a balanced match. We had some moments that were better, the first twenty minutes of the first half, the last thirty minutes of the second.</p>
<p id="HysJPE">“In that time we were better than them, controlling the game, but we had to always be careful of their counter attack.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p id="kVUNzR">Silva was also asked about his team selections that saw <span>Morgan Schneiderlin</span> stay in the squad, and Richarlison give way to Bernard. </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="xEE1K5">“We won the last game, and Morgan showed me in the previous fifteen days before the Cardiff game that he was ready to play. </p>
<p id="uLLhQH">“Of course Andre is a key player for us, having a fantastic season. What I want is put him at the same level as he has been at. The same is for Richarlison.” </p>
</blockquote>
<p id="mOVfzt">With the latest battling performance, will he take the approach that every upcoming game is a derby? </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="OpOguM">“I told them before the Cardiff game that every match has to be a final for us. Cardiff played like it was a final. </p>
<p id="xi7bxa">“There are many games to play and many points to win before the end of the season. Nothing is finished for us.</p>
<p id="n2pMYn">“It’s our obligation to keep going, to fight and to achieve points for us.”</p>
</blockquote>
<div id="zp8kM0">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This Everton ballboy sarcastically clapped Klopp as he was walking off the pitch. <a href="https://t.co/QJQEEMBmF0">pic.twitter.com/QJQEEMBmF0</a></p>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1102279205067345920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2019</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="25pvO5">The visitor’s manager Jurgen Klopp resorted to form when questioned after the draw - </p>
<blockquote>
<p id="9BcyIf">“[It was a] very difficult game for different reasons. I know people don’t like it when I say it, but the wind came from all different directions, the ball was in the air a lot.</p>
<p id="XiFjzj">“It’s not exactly what we wanted, but it’s easy to accept because it was a difficult game.”</p>
</blockquote>
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https://royalbluemersey.sbnation.com/2019/3/3/18248838/everton-liverpool-0-0-draw-recap-reaction-silva-klopp-windy-comments-ballboy-merseyside-derbyCalvin