FA Carling Premier League, Saturday 18 November 1995
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Fowler 89;Kanchelskis 53, 69.
Andrei Kanchelskis repaid a large chunk of his £5 million transfer fee with a devastating double blast that earned Everton a victory to saviour at Anfield. Liverpool, without StanCollymore, had much of the possession but wing raiders Kanchelskis and Anders Limpar were always a threat on the break and the Ukrainian ace headed The Blues in front. A second strike put the match out of Pool's reach although Robbie Fowler did pull one goal back late in the proceedings.
Liverpool: (3-5-2) James, Jones, McAteer, Wright, Babb (Thomas 73), Rush, Barnes, Scales, McManaman, Harkness (Ruddock 80), Fowler. Subs Not Used: Warner. Booked: Scales.
Everton: (4-4-2) Southall, Watson, Ablett (Unsworth 23), Stuart, Rideout, Limpar, Ebbrell, Jackson, Kanchelskis, Parkinson, Short. Subs Not Used: Amokachi, Grant. Booked: Ebbrell, Parkinson.
Att: 40,818
Ref: G Ashby (Worcester).
Daily Mail Soccernet: Andrei Kanchelskis secured his place in the affections of the Everton faithful with a glorious double in his first Merseyside derby as Joe Royle's Indian sign over Roy Evans was extended at Anfield.
The Ukrainian winger has taken time settling in at Everton after his acrimonious £5 million move from Manchester United, a shoulder injury against his former club in September not helping matters.
But his time finally arrived. Kanchelskis, so successful in derby clashes when wearing United red, put the Everton fans into blue heaven when he created and finished the opener.
The Russian international broke from deep before spreading wide to Paul Rideout on the right flank. Phil Babb stood off as Rideout shaped to cross, and that allowed time for Kanchelskis to steal into the box and thunder a 12-yard header in off David James' left-hand post.
Royle had started his spell as Everton boss with a derby win last season and Kanchelskis made certain that he would mark the beginning of his second year in charge at Goodison with a similar triumph 21 minutes from time.
Anders Limpar found Kanchelskis on the right, with Babb again out of position, and when the winger struck low and true, James could only help the ball on its way.
The frustration of the Liverpool players, who had twice found the net only for offside flags to chalk the strikes off, was clear when a scramble in the Everton box turned into a skirmish.
But while they created plenty of chances, they could only find a way past Neville Southall a minute from time, Robbie Fowler shooting his 13th of the season, as Everton held on to hand the Reds their first home league defeat since April.
Yet Liverpool, with Jason McAteer in for the injured Jamie Redknapp in midfield, had made a start as vibrant as the Anfield atmosphere. Craig Short and John Ebbrell made desperate clearances before the home side appeared to have taken an eighth minute lead with an intricate move.
Steve McManaman's dummy allowed Rob Jones' pass to reach Robbie Fowler and the youngster jinked inside before unleashing a right-footer Southall could not hold, Ian Rush steaming in to slam home.
The skipper was still celebrating his record-extending 26th derby strike when the chorus of Kop boos alerted him to the linesman's flag. It was an escape Everton drew inspiration from, and after John Scales was booked for a foul on Graham Stuart, a quality link-up between Limpar and Kanchelskis ended with the Ukrainian firing in a shot which James failed to hold, Jones coming to the rescue.
Rush then had two opportunities, both set up by Fowler, in as many minutes, first being foiled by the diving Southall and then blazing wide, before David Unsworth replaced the limping Gary Ablett.
But while Liverpool had plenty of possession, Everton began to look the more likely scorers. James saved from Stuart and then Joe Parkinson headed over from Kanchelskis.
They were to go even closer. Matt Jackson's cross-field ball found Stuart, and when he spotted James off his line, the former Chelsea man's perfectly weighted curler dropped onto the post to bounce back off the unaware James and out for a corner.
Fowler had the ball in the Everton net four minutes after the restart, but the flag was already up against Steve Harkness, before Kanchelskis made his dramatic intervention.
The confidence flowing through the Everton ranks after the goal was exemplified when Limpar was inches away from crashing home from 35 yards.
But Liverpool were still passing the ball well, with Fowler and then McManaman both finding themselves with excellent shooting opportunities, only to provide Southall with the softest of catching practice.
Kanchelskis then struck the killer blow, his pace allowing him to race on to the Swede's ball before crashing in to consign Liverpool to their third successive defeat.
CarlingNet: A superb display by Ukrainian star Andrei Kanchelskis had Everton manager Joe Royle drooling with delight at his side's unlikely victory at Anfield.
A delighted Royle said after the game: ``Andrei was magnificent. He's had his problems since joining us from Manchester United but he's nearing full fitness now.''
And the Everton boss issued a warning to the rest of the Premiership: ``The best is yet to come!''
Kanchelskis is rapidly securing himself the reputation of a derby specialist after his two glorious strikes in this game. Last season for United he hammered four goals past neighbours City in a devastating performance.
The winger's first goals for his new club could not have been more spectacular or better received by Everton's army of supporters.
The first came on 53 minutes when Kanchelskis started and finished a smooth move. His pinpoint pass found Paul Rideout in space and the Everton striker repaid the compliment with a great cross into the box.
The Ukrainian made no mistake with a powerful header past the despairing dive of David James in the Liverpool goal.
And it didn't take long for Kanchelskis to double the lead and put the game beyond Roy Evans' men.
Anders Limpar on the opposite wing spurted decisively up the pitch before his pass found his team-mate in full flow and with enough space to find the time to send a thunderbolt into the net from his right boot.
Liverpool must have realised early on that it wasn't to be their day when Ian Rush's celebrations having put the ball past Neville Southall were cut short by the linesman's flag.
Following this incident the expected pressure from Liverpool's potent forward line didn't materialise and after the interval it looked just a matter of time before Everton would break the deadlock.
Kanchelskis said of his performance: ``With every game I play I feel better and better. This is my greatest day since joining Everton. I am so happy. The team played well, I scored twice and we have won - what more can I ask?''
Robbie Fowler smashed a goal in the final minute of the game that somehow found its way through a crowded penalty area.
But it was not enough and in no way spoiled the Everton celebrations after securing a well-deserved three points.
The only worry for Royle was the knee ligament injury sustained by veteran defender Gary Ablett who was carried off after a clash with Ian Rush in the 22nd minute.
By Derick Allsop, Electronic Telegraph
JOE ROYLE pursued the services of Andrei Kanchelskis all summer in the belief the winger would bring a new dimension to Everton's game. Yesterday, before a disenchanted Anfield gallery, the Russian international entered his own chapter in the annals of the Merseyside derby.
His maiden goals for the club inflicted Liverpool's first home League defeat of the season and their first by Everton in any competition here for eight years.
Two characteristically devastating raids by Kanchelskis in the second half put the points beyond reach, confirming the transformation of the match and Liverpool's capitulation.
Other ingredients were required, of course, not least a little good fortune in the face of Liverpool's inevitable early onslaught. But Everton dug in, and with Graham Stuart in a more withdrawn role, gradually stifled their neighbours' usually fluid midfield.
That deployment meant Everton were reliant on the counter-attacks of their talismen, Kanchelskis and Anders Limpar on the wings, with the ever-willing Paul Rideout foraging down the middle. Rideout supplied the cross for Kanchelskis' first goal, an unlikely header, and Limpar paved the way for his second, a more familiar near-post blast.
Stuart's arrival from deep might have plundered the opener for Everton just before half-time, and he should have given his team a more substantial margin of success after Robbie Fowler salvaged an 88th minute goal for Liverpool.
Twelve months into Royle's reign, however, 2-1 was more than satisfactory. "It's a great feeling," he said. "We had a game plan and it worked. I felt we were unfortunate not to be leading at half-time.
"There are big game players but not so many in the British game. Andrei is one. It's not just his pace, he's a terrific finisher, and he's not at his sharpest yet."
It fell to Kanchelskis to fulfil Everton's promise
This is where Royle came in, and made an instant difference last year, his team beating Liverpool 2-0 at Goodison Park. Eventually Everton staved off relegation and at the dawn of this season the ambition was success, not mere salvation. Alas, the blue side of this city has again had to glare across a gaping Premiership divide to the red.
But this, a second successive win, has revived optimism. The portents were scarcely encouraging in the opening phase as Liverpool generated the regulation passion of the occasion with the sheer vitality of their play.
Jason McAteer, relishing his chance in midfield as replacement for the injured Jamie Redknapp, struck an immediate rapport with another member of England's new order, Steve McManaman, and the England under-21 striker, Fowler. These three burgeoning talents seemingly mesmerised Everton and Craig Short was relieved McManaman and Fowler could not capitalise on his lapse of concentration.
Another move instigated by the young lions tore away Everton's resistance. Neville Southall managed to push out Fowler's shot only for Ian Rush, reaching the landmark of a 35th Merseyside derby, to plant the ball in the net. To Liverpool's despair, a linesman indicated Rush had strayed off-side. Fowler created two further opportunities for Rush. His first shot was saved by Southall, the second thrashed wide.
It fell to Kanchelskis to fulfil Everton's promise. He released Rideout on the right and charged on to meet the centre, his header going in off a post to register his first goal for the club after 52 minutes. In the 68th, his fierce shot proved the decisive contribution.
Liverpool, their shape and inspiration now lost in the desperation of their plight, brought on Neil Ruddock as an emergency centre forward and Fowler somehow forced his shot through the mass of bodies. But Everton were not to be denied their richly deserved victory.
Liverpool's manager, Roy Evans, said: "We didn't do ourselves justice today. Maybe the internationals affected us because we've not won on other Saturdays after international matches. But you can't afford to go through these spells when you're going for the championship. That's the worst we've played."
Electronic Telegraph is a Registered Service Mark of The Telegraph plc
Dave Shepherd: No ticket? No problem! Just go along to the old Jumbotron screening at Goodison, and join in the fun of watching the Joe's Blues pile on the agony for our lovable Red neighbours!
No question - you feel a bit high in the 'Gullible Prat Stakes' sitting in the Paddock in freezing cold, wind and icy rain sweeping under the roof just to watch a 700" TV with resolution so poor it's like watching Match of the Day with a stocking over your head ... but as soon as the game kicks off and you are sharing your gnawing anxiety with several thousand other viewing blues, you know you've made a great decision in coming.
There is even a perfect quota of scattered Rednoses about - not too many to ruin the Blue atmosphere, but again not too few that it's not great fun to have a laugh at their disallowed goals, futile appeals for penalties, and their exodus with 20 minutes still to go..
The start was promising, with Everton pushing forward and having possession, but this seemed to evaporate after 10-15 minutes, and the red team went into the same mode - apparently only tactical mode they know - as in their TV appearances against Brondby, Saints. It involves some nice passing in midfield, not much on the left wing and none on the right, and relies on Rush & Fowler to conjure goals from straw. (Sound familiar?).
Meanwhile the blues response was looking a lot worse. Possession seemed to consist of short, pointless and often poor or bad-idea passes, then a clog downfield hoping to find Andrei. This did release Andrei once or twice, but the near post block by James of his shot, and the run of the ball to safety was a sure sign of the same old bad Anfield news.
It was almost inevitable that Liverpool would score, and sure enough they did. Worse still it was the derby-goal messiah Rush who tapped in Southall's parry. That old familiar black cloud was descending when fate and the linemen decreed that Everton would live a little longer by flagging for Rush offside when the initial strike was made - a correct call since he tapped it in, but maybe not IF the first shot had scored..?
This chance to have a laugh at celebrating Reds lifted the spirits, if not the quality of the blues play. Although the Red advances seemed to dry up in the last 15 minutes, there was no more promise of blue ideas, until a little flurry at the end and a chip from Stuart which hit the far angle, then bounced down and off James on the floor for a corner. Still, 0-0 looked at half time the most likely full time result.
At half time a bloke asked me for a light. I told him a typical Evertonian's derby day story - I'd bought a lighter before the game from a newsagent. It was red. 50 yards down the road it dawned on me what a dangerous thing it was to take anything red into a derby match, and threw it away.
The second half seemed even more surreal at Goodison, because darkness fell but the lights did not come on. It is VERY strange to sit in GP with a crowd watching a match in the dark.
There seemed to be very little change in the pattern of play, and almost no chances until a break down the right, a cross, a header and a near post save. No, wait a minute it's in! So wait for the offside flag. No flag! Everton have scored! It's Andrei Kanchelskis!! From a Paul Rideout cross!!! Well, strange, and not exactly deserved from the blues play so far, but what the heck!
Time crawled by. The next 4 minutes stretched like hours as Liverpool tried to strike back and won a few corners. Luckily though every shot they sent in from any range seemed to go straight into Southall's chest.
After this the blues' play improved slightly with the lift of the lead. The long balls seemed to stop, and LFC's control of midfield started to meet with more of the spoiling tackles we expected from the Dogs of War in a derby.
It was one of these tackles by Unsworth that created the second goal. Want the ball, be there first to pick up the loose ball. Win the midfield - - win the game! (Well unless you're playing at Anfield..) Limpar picked it up in the centre circle all alone, and scooped a perfect pass to Kanchelskis' wing. Chased but unchallenged, he raced into the box and smashed a shot at James' low near post. The keeper got enough on it to deflect the ball 90 degrees, but into the ground, and it bounced up into the roof of the net.
The blues danced about like lottery winners. 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go - after so many bad red derbies, THIS one was going to be a win! Several reds fans got up and left, much to the additional joy of the blue viewers.
Liverpool did put the ball in the net again from a cross which had already passed a yard behind the dead ball line. If anything this made their already unhappy mood worse. More mouths started flapping at decisions, and when a scramble developed from a half-gathered Southall save, Watson got annoyed at Rush's kicking Southall + ball and ended up in a nasty looking shoving match in which he landed a punch on Rush, Babb aimed a punch at a blue, and hard man McBananaman looked very keen to go give Watson a sorting out.
Their frustration made the last 20 minutes pass in relative comfort for the blue team and supporters. Even more so because by now it was glaringly clear that the Reds have no idea how to be inventive, they just keep pounding away at the same old predictable formula and hope for providence to give them points.
Then one of the last desperate efforts needed a one-handed save which bounced out to Fowler on the edge of the box. Steadying himself (but never bothering to look up - a bit like Giggs' crosses - he hit one (finally on target) and the ball incredibly evaded three sliding blue defenders and Southall' s left hand to go in. You would have sworn only an ice hockey puck could have gone in from there.
This was like having the icing stolen off your birthday cake, but never mind, it's too late for another.. Or is it? Time sailed happily by and the ref shows no signs of worrying that there have been no injuries except for 2 minutes of Rush getting Parki's boot out of his knee. One attack. Two. Three. No whistle. Even the lack of desperate long boots seemed to be a sign that the Reds knew the ref would not blow.
Then at last. At long last. It's over and it's true, the Blues have won at Anfield for the first time since 1986! Younger blues rushed out with plans to heard over the park looking for red scarves to laugh at. Older blues headed for the pubs to sing a lot and listen with reverence to Big Joe's interviews.
Overall, the strange experience of watching the derby from the 'wrong ground' was matched by having watched one in which for a change it was the red team that passed more and had more possession, but the blue team which grabbed opportunities and broke away to score more goals. Derby veteran Rush was quick to point out Reds' superiority in his interview. I don't remember him mentioning anything about superior Blue possession in Blue defeats in the majority of derbies he's been in... the 1986 Cup final being a prime example..
Southall 8 Nothing very special needed, but there's nothing like a
dropper at the other end to remind you Nev is 24c gold.
Jackson 7 Jackson's wing was the one the unimaginative Red machine
preferred. He could have done better closing it down, but again is an asset
going forward.
Ablett (w) 6 Looked uncomfortable from the start even before going
off with an injury predicted to last a few weeks.
Unsworth (s) 7 Good job as substitute left-back. No charges today.
Watson 7 Credit must be given for the way his defence fought to break
down a lot of incisive red buildup into a lot of tame taps and long range
hail Mary's. Right hook needs work.
Short 7 Continues to have the gift of being a 'crucial challenge'
man. His Everton career has started somewhat brighter than Dave Watson's
did.
Ebbrell 7 } A bit disappointing in that they did not dominate midfield
Parkinson 7 } especially in the first half, but did enough scrapping
} to chew the hearts out of the Reds once we were ahead.
Limpar 7 Disappointingly few runs today, but laudably often the first
to charge in for a midfield tackle, and always looking to release others;
created second goal.
Kanchelskis 9 Great men rise to great occasions. Andrei the Great looked
dangerous every time he got the ball, and scored two great goals in the Kop
net where even the greatest blues have struggled to turn industry into luck.
Rideout 7 Almost a spectator - the game plan was fast-break, there
cannot have been more than 2 high set piece balls, even Nev's kicks avoided
him. Yet instead of being there to head in an AK bullet, he swapped places
and crossed to him.
Stuart 7 Beginning to rival Barlow at having great chances and missing
them. His style suited the plan for the day, but ...
Team Performance 7 The poorest derby performance for a long time. Pedestrian midfield in the first half, long ball rubbish and leaking chances at the back. Slight 2nd half improvement as score lifted the mood, and a good job of concentration to keep out the late desperation.
Ref: G Ashby Has he read the Ref's Anfield handbook yet? He went with his linesmen to disallow two goals, didn't give a penalty at the kop end, and only played 5 minutes unnecessary injury time. Also he didn't send off any of those animals in blue who savaged the red legends. Poor Rushie Rush got kicked upside the kneecap and punched upside the head with no sign of a red card. Boo hoo hoo!!
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