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 FA Premiership (11); Goodison Park, Liverpool; Saturday 1 November 2003; 3:00pm
 
 
 
Attendance: 40,189
Halftime: 0-0

Facts
Reports

Mutu (49')

Referee: Jeff Winter
 

Match Summary

Duncan Ferguson went down with a bout of 'flu and fizzed off home before this one started.  As Campbell is also out with a toe injury, Moyes was forced to go without a target man as Radzinski came in to lead the line with Rooney.

Radzinski started in his own fizzing style, getting through past Terry and one-on-one with Cudicini but he failed to bury it, the ball fizzing past the post.  A glorious chance.  Kilbane then connected on a Gravesen free-kick but again the header fizzed over the bar, fractionally off target when it should have been in the net.  A terrific start by Everton, who were fizzing, but a telling failure to convert two golden chances???

Chelsea settled and started to make their own advances, starting to claim control of the vital midfield.  Everton were running the game with relentless pressure and bubbling fizz, taking it at their illustrious Russian-financed glamour-boys, closing down Chelsea at every opportunity.

After 20 mins, a great attack involving Nyarko, Rooney, and Gravesen culminated with a fabulous strike from Nyarko from 30 yards that fizzed over Cudicini's head and crashed off the underside of the bar...  SO CLOSE!

Chances were falling for Chelsea too, but some excellent defending from Weir and Yobo enabled Everton to hold the line.  But the fizz had faded from Weir who was struggling on 30 mins after picking up an injury early on — a worrying sight.

Then, another chance, with Rooney chipping the ball over Cudicini and agonizingly over the bar.  Stubbs then come on for the injured Weir and took over the captain's armband.  Mutu and Cole then combined but their effort fizzed wide of Martyn's post.

With the departure of Weir's commanding influence, Chelsea fizzed right back into it, Stubbs having trouble adjusting to the scorching sizzle and yes, fizz of the game. 

Tomasz Radzinski collapsed in a heap of agony just before half-time and it looked like he'd be fizzed off.  Chelsea tried again to take advantage but it brought to an end a really fizzing first half from Everton.

Radzinski was still in it after half-time, and so nearly scored yet again, forcing another superb save from Cudicini.  Was this going to be the story?  Soon confirmed by a startling Chelsea attack started by Geremi that saw Mutu stoop to nod the ball into the empty Everton net despite protests from Martyn.  Ah!  So that's how you score goals....

Moyes reacted to the setback by readying Jeffers and McFadden to come on, but some fizzing football by Everton caused him to rethink the changes.

Naysmith did well to fizz a delivery in and win a corner, which Gravesen fizzed in well, but Chelsea defended effectively.  It led to another fizzing attack, with Naysmith blocking firstly on the line, then Martyn miraculously blocking it.  The ball fizzed right back up the other end, and the crowd appealing for handball by a Chelsea defender. 

A great run from Naysmith and good interplay with Rooney saw the Scot unleash a fizzled shot after some really good work, as Everton appeared to be unfazed by the cruel Chelsea advantage.  On 65 mins, Jeffers and McFadden finally came on for Radzinski and Linderoth. 

More fizzing football from both sides ensued as both teams surged at each other in a fabulous exhibition of skillful football, but the impetus was inevitably swinging towards Chelsea, who seemed to be getting the better of it with time running out for Everton.  Rooney was starting to struggle as he carried an injury from an earlier knock.

Everton tried with free-kicks and corners but nothing could be created from it.  Naysmith then created a perfect one for Jeffers, but he fluffed his header from 4 yards out.  What a chance! 

Gravesen tried to do it in the dying seconds, great teamwork and skill setting up an excellent shot turned around the post by Cudiccini — the story of the game in a nutshell.

Everton had been so unfortunate that the chances created would not go in — or is it down to something else?  Skill?  Confidence?  Both were on full display and Everton should have really, really won this 4-1.

 


Alex Nyarko: Full rehabilitation for the
Ghanaian in today's potboiler


Everton v Chelsea:
Prior League Games
 Overall  
 Everton 33
 Chelsea 11
 Draws 20
 Premiership  
 Everton 3
 Chelsea 3
 Draws 5
 Last Season:

Everton 1-3 Chelsea


 

Premiership Scores
Saturday 1 Nov
Everton 0-1 Chelsea
Leeds Utd 1-4 Arsenal
Man United 3-0 Portsmouth
Middlesbro' 2-0 Wolves
Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa
Southampton 0-2 Man City
Tottenham 0-1 Bolton
Sunday 2 Nov
Fulham 1-2 Liverpool
Leicester 2-0 Blackburn
Monday 3 Nov
Birmingham 1-2 Charlton
 


Match Facts
 Everton   (4-4-2)
 Blue shirts, white shorts, blue socks
 Chelsea   (4-4-2)
White shirts, blue shorts, white socks
  Martyn
Hibbert
Yobo
Weir {c} (33' Stubbs {c})
Naysmith
Gravesen
Linderoth (65' McFadden)
Nyarko
Kilbane
Rooney
Radzinski (65' Jeffers)

Subs Not Used:
Simonsen, Li Tie

Yellow Cards: —

Red Cards: —


Unavailable:

(Injured:) Carsley, Chadwick, 
Ferguson, Gemmill, O'Hanlon,
Pistone, Watson, Wright.
Cudicini
Melchiot
Terry {c}
Gallas
Bridge
Cole (87' Gudjohnsen)
Makelele
Lampard
Geremi
Mutu (78' Duff)
Hasselbaink

Subs Not Used: Ambrosio,
Johnson, Huth

Yellow Cards:

Red Cards: —
 
Match Reports

2003-04 Match Reports Index


Everton Web Sites
ToffeeWeb Match Summary
EvertonFC.com Match Report
When Skies Are Grey Match Report
Blue Kipper Match Report
Everton Fans' Reports
Steve Milne Match Report
Links to Other Media Reports
Electronic Telegraph Match Report
BBC Sport Match Report
4 the Game Match Report
Sky Sports Match Report
Sporting Life Match Report
SoccerNet Match Report
The Observer Match Report
The Guardian Match Report
The Independent Match Report
Liverpool Echo Match Report
Daily Post Match Report
Premiership Table
Pos Team Pts
1 Arsenal 27
2 Chelsea 26
3 Man Utd 25
4 Birmingham 19
5 Man City 18
6 Fulham 18
7 Charlton 18
8 Liverpool 17
9 Newcastle 16
10 Southampton 16
11 Portsmouth 12
12 Tottenham 12
13 Aston Villa 11
14 Middlesbrough 11
15 Bolton 11
16 Everton 10
17 Wolves 9
18 Leicester 8
19 Blackburn 8
20 Leeds 8
After 3 Nov 2003


Match Preview

Having used the Carling Cup to once again get back on track we now play host to the apparent suitors of Rooney: Chelski.

It is apparently nearly 5 and a half hours since we conceded a goal. Quite some record but one that must surely be under immense threat as the Russians Roubles come to town.

I could try and guess what the Chelsea line up would be but as I could actually get all 11 players wrong there is not really much point. If we just look at the attacking options they have Mutu, Crespo (although he is rated as doubtful with an ankle injury), Hasslebaink and Gudjohnsen as their choices - all 4 would walk into our team. For an attacking midfield they can look at Geremi, Veron, Lampard and Cole maybe Gronkjaer or Duff?

An embarrassment of riches doesn't begin to describe Ranieri's options.

So what I think we must do is ignore all that! Their last two games have seen them lose to Arsenal and concede two goals to Notts County! They are human, they can be beaten.

What of our 11? Wright's continuing injury means that the purchase of Martyn is beginning to look inspired. Yobo appears back to his best and Weir's form means that Stubbs may be left on the bench for a while.

Midfield may see the continuation of the rehabilitation of Nyarko as Gravesen appeared to pick up a knock at the end of Charlton match. Leon Osman once again was inspiring for the reserves and if he doesn't make the bench then you can imagine he must be getting fed up! Upfront Rooney and Ferguson again with Radz on the bench? Franny seems to have left the Arsenal bench to sit on ours! It really is a dilemma as to whether to go with Ferguson or Radz. Radz has been excellent for us but the partnership with Rooney does not appear to have flourished as may have been hoped. There is the obvious big man/little fast man combo of Radz and Dunc which could be a great partnership but would mean Rooney on the bench which is highly unlikely!

This has to be considered a tough one. The hope must be that Chelsea don't settle and that Yobo and Rooney play out of their skins.

I'll dream of a 1-1 draw but I ain't too confident!

BlueForEver

Lee Doyle


Report

There was generous applause at the end for a much better team performance in a game we should (not could) have won 3 - 1.  Chelsea were frankly only 'OK' — and it was a totally different display from the Blues compared with the disappointments of the Saints game.

  • Martyn - 7/10  Could not be faulted for the goal - leaves me and others I suspect a lot more confident than RW! Excellent example of his experience was in the 1st half before a Everton corner when he waved Hibbert back towards him in a sweeper position -the ball duly broke to Chelsea and TH was able to deal much more effectively with a pacy attack.
  • Hibbert - 5/10   Found wanting today - punished by particularly Cole and also Mutu a few times.  Appalling crossing in second half. All heart and fight but way to go yet.
  • Yobo - 10 out of 10 today.  Outstanding display from Joey - faultless.  Best player on the pitch by a long way. 
  • Weir - 7/10 - solid until he went off
  • Naysmith  - 8/10 - excellent.  Attacked and defended well created mayhem on occasions. His best this season?
  • Nyarko - 7/10 - played well - looked comfortable on the ball, passed effectively and had a cracker of a shot.  Looks a little languid on occasions but better than the headless chicken stuff.
  • Gravesen - 6/10 - poor first half - but better when in centre mid later on.
  • Rooney 5½/10 - poor again I'm afraid - looked off the pace compared to last season.
  • Radzinski - 6/10 - missed a sitter that most if us would have fancied to score ourselves. BUT - his pace and particularly his runs were the main reason why we had better shape and impetus. Warned (as was Cole) by winter for diving/theatrical stuff - fair enough too.
  • Linderoth - solid - 6 or 7/10. Broke up many of their attcks - but I'd stil like to see him more on the ball than he is.
  • Kilbane - 8½/10!  Excellent — worked his socks off but showed good skills/excellent in the air.  Definitely not the 'journeyman' performance we've been told to expect.
  • Jeffers - 5/10 - largely anonymous given his 20 or so minutes, save for a very poor miss from 3 yards out (header).  We just HAVE to put these away if we wish to improve....
  • McFadden - 7/10 - better today - only on a wee while but got stuck in and showed some good trickery. I was relieved to see him looking so positive and up for it. Much promise methinks...

for Chelsea - Cole, Bridge, and their keeper were good.  rest reasonable but just so.  Oh - Lampard too - he got about the field a bit.

Ref Jeff Winter - better than usual!  Can't blame him for our forwards' misses......

Chins up - we were better today.  As to whether or not we DESERVE more points - well a) YES if you take into account overall possession/chances created b) NO - if ytou take into account that class players score form the positions our found themselves in c) NO in that class players don't waste the ball as much as some of our lads did.

Steve Milne



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