Season › 2011-12 › News

Rodwell red card a total travesty

Everton 0 - 2 Liverpool

Match Summary

Despite the similar disparities to last week in terms of the gulf in financial and playing resources in relation to Liverpool, as with City, no-one imagined that David Moyes could possibly repeat the same negative bus-parking anti-football in front of a fervent Goodison Crowd. After all, a part of the rationale was that Everton weren't at the Etihad to provide entertainment for a partisan City crowd...

Well, the imperative could not be more different with hopefully the first full house of the season keen to see the nasty neighbours put to the sword. Thankfully he elected to tart with a recognized striker in Louis Saha upfront, with Hibbert preferred over captain Neville and Osman set to assist Baines with the set-pieces.

It started with a hoof upfield that was returned and Hibbert fouled Downing. ut The Blues won an early corner off a weak deflected Fellaini shot.

It was the usual high intensity game of attrition from there on, A dreadful messed up clearance by Jagielka that Kuyt rescued and gave Suarez a golden headed chance he could only bumble into Howard with the goal gapping. At the other end, a good deep cross produced a trademark header that Cahill tried to power over Reina but he tipped it over the bar and Everton threatened from the ensuing corner, Distin controlling the ball superbly but firing over.

Saha tried to curl one in with power that screwed just wide as Everton looked to a structure some attack when they had possession, Baines and Osman winning a succession of corners, Coleman's shot easily blocked.

The game through exploded with another astounding red card when Rodwell clipped the ball past Suraez who ran on to his foot and cartwheeled over, referee Atkinson incredibly showed him a straight red, and it was not even a foul!!! The Goodison crowd were rightly apoplectic but at least it injected a much needed fire into Everton bellies.

Cahill was then booked for going in hard on Carragher with his foot high, and the determination was evident in every blue touch, determined to seek retribution for a heinous piece of refereeing. But Liverpool started to dominate possession and craft their attacks, with Everton having to be more defensive.

Fellaini gave away a dangerous free-kick but Adam could only power it into the wall. Everton did get forward but Hibbert's cross was hopeless. A poor challenge by Adam on Osman was greeted by loud screams for a card which were of course ignored by Atkinson.

Incredibly, a ridiculous challenge by Jagielka on Suarez in the corner of the area gave a way a totally unnecessary penalty to Liverpool that Kyut powered toward the corner but Howard leapt across and pushed it brilliantly around the post for Liverpool's first corner, much to the delight of an elated Goodison crowd, and upping the intensity of the game and the incredible atmosphere yet another three notches as half-time approached.

A superb snapshot by Adam from nothing flashed past Howard and off the underside of the bar and out as Atkinson ended the fractious half to a huge crescendo of boos and catcalls.

No changes at the half as Tim Howard was given a massive reception by the Gwladys Street. Saha was having trouble getting into the game but a foul on him by Lucas was finally awarded with a yellow card for Liverpool.

A great piece of play by Fellaini created a great chace for Saha but his shot was shockingly weak, off-target and dribbled past the post. But Saha redeemed himself with an excellent clearance of a Caroll header off the line. A succession of corners saw Liverpool almost score but for a simple but crucial save by Howard.

A quick free-kick went to Kuyt wide open but he powered it wide. Lucas then lashed one wide as Moyes decided to bring Drenthe on at the hour mark for Coleman, who was close to getting a card, the Dutchman immediately winning a good free-kick off Kyut that went to the back post where Fellaini was offside.

Saha was allowed to turn and fired a tremendous shot just wide of Reina's post. Fellaini went down with cramp and Dalglish brought on Gerrard and Bellamy in place of Adam and Downing with 25 mins left, which encouraged Moyes to switch the increasingly ineffective Osman with Captain Neville.

Some good work resulted in a cross to Saha that Carrahgher defended and from that, a sweeping move involving Bellamy's pace down the Everton right forced the Blues defence to backpedal alarmingly and Enrique beat Hibbert to set up Carroll for an easy goal. Cahill had a shot at the other end that was straight at Reina with Everton once again forced to change their approach to get anything from the game.

But Liverpool could now relax and Everton started to struggle, despite having possession, as they were unable to penetrate effectively. Moyes reacted by bringing Vellios on for the last 12 mins in place of Hibbert.

A dreadful mix-up between Distin and Baines getting in each others way after denying Suarez then gifted the Uruguayan with a simple shot for the second Liverpool goal as the spirits of Blue hearts visibly sagged. Baines resorted to shooting from distance.

Liverpool almost got a third with some silly defending from Everton, as Bellamy was pelted with objects while taking a corner that Gerrard almost scored from, but for a crucial deflection off Jagielka.

Drenthe had a pop from distance, right at Reina as the minutes ticked painfully away and Kuyt hit the post from a corner. A horrible end to a horrible, horrible game.

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Report Page

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