Points even but the Hoodoo remains

No place for Lookman on the bench.

Walcott.

Gawd almighty.

Will we never learn???

Training is nothing like a derby game

Anyway, COYB — it's long overdue!

Richarlison was hopeless against Cardiff and Bernard looked very sharp when he came on. A good call for me.

Zouma for Jagielka a no-brainier.

Fearing the worst and not, in truth, even mildly optimistic, but, as a True Blue, I know that very occasionally things go our way.

Hope I am as wrong as I was with the Cardiff selection.

A good result against a rock bottom Cardiff may have been a light at the end of the tunnel but this is Everton so forget it.

"I like these kind of games and we came here for three points and did not get them. It is time to recover and be ready for the next game.

"We focus on our next game, everyone wants to be top of the league and we cannot change the situation at the moment."

We were the better team over that 45 minutes.

I am so, so pleased for city Blues.

Yep! Still not beaten them, but it certainly makes going to work in the morning or meeting your red neighbours a hulluva lot easier. They won't be so lippy now.

Just a few short games ago, they were 10 points clear of Man City. Now they are one point behind.

Some fight and some decent joined-up football from the Blues.

Bernard, Calvert-Lewin, Gana, Sigurdsson played well. The 4 defenders decent but a few mad moments from Digne.

We need to practice defending and attacking set-pieces. Why bunch up in the middle all the time? Ever heard of a back post?

Tbh, I'm happy after that starting line up but Schneiderlin does nothing. 3 forward passes all game. Gave the ball away in dangerous situations 3 times. Game over for him. Pull his plug and dump in the summer!

Who is going to beat them? Man City have defeats in them so we were the last challenge they had left.

Someone sign the ballboy!!! He gets it!

Come on, Man City!

We played very well today. There were never going to be a ton of chances.

I'm not having a go at Bernard - I thought he played relatively well – but I think it's indicative of a wider problem.

A) You couldn't beat us, and
B) We knocked you off the top!

Suck it up, you twat!

Everton are building, and need time and patience from all connected to become a top team once again. Well done, Blue Boys.

We didn't knock them off the top; Man City knocked them off the top.

We limped to a scoreless draw against Liverpool in what might have been their worst performance of the season.

Good team performance although we need to get the confidence back to string more than two passes together.

Hopefully this will kick start our season again and give the players a boost until the end of the season.
COYB

We played fairly well and the players were up for it, which bodes well for rest of the season. I am not happy with a draw, continuing our wretched run, but it does damage their title hopes somewhat, which is nice.

Schneiderlin & Walcott, as I predicted, haven't the belly for this type of game. Schneiderlin's game summed up by his dive to the ground having missed one of a number of tackles. He's not good enough & neither is Walcott but Silva, for whatever reason, doesn't see this.

Still 27 points on the board for the taking.

We must use this as a positive thing to get the positive ball rolling again.

The bottom line is this. If our manager had any type of idea when it comes to attacking effectively, we would be a much more dangerous outfit.

We are not great, have weaknesses but today we cared.

Crowd did their job.

Man City?

Ha ha ha ha Ha ha ha ha

I'm caught right in between Micheal Kenrick's view of the game and praising them for a draw. We've spent £250m — we should have murdered them in cold blood.

You have to have attackers to attack.

The crowd were superb.

I enjoy Michael's reports but feel he was unduly harsh today – I acknowledge the right to one's own opinion but I thought we did really well and we can build on this. Richarlison gave us more threat and Calvert-Lewin did very well on his own up front. Last-ditch tackles from Keane and Digne were to play notch defending.

Can we play better? Too right we can... but, taking into account recent form, the occasion and the quality of the opposition, I am proud of our players tonight.

Fair enough, MK, but though we want to win it all, this is fun to piss them off.

Everton could have won today.

Liverpool are higher in the table than they are capable of. Klopp has a glass ceiling just like Moyes – it's just slightly higher up the table, but it Is still there.

The Prancing Clown will never win the Premier League.

I was glad to see the level of commitment out there – for the whole game. Back four and keeper were superb. We need that in every game.

That amount of effort from the players is a must for every game. The new standard has now been set.

Spot, spot on. Well said.

Okay, it's just a draw but I always feel a sense of relief when we draw a derby. Inferiority complex? Absolutely. This club has beaten it into me my whole adult life!

Something to work off there.

Special mention for the much-derided Calvert-Lewin. Tough job against Van Dijk but he scrapped like hell, held the ball up when given the opportunity. I thought he did a good job in a tough role.

Leicester proves that one, I think I'm just a bit tired of all these false dawns, like many.

We've spend a bundle and I built my hopes this time, I'll be as good as new for next season, I'm like a fucking emotional yoyo with this club.

I wonder if they will find their stride again? We have certainly set them back following their Watford game.

A few things came to mind:

(This really over the length of the season) Walcott's #1 fault is lack of vision. A lot has to happen around him for him to have an impact.

Their 3 subs and ours were about equal in talent and ours had a bigger effect on the game. We really do have good players.

For me, Bernard is now officially up to speed as a 90-minutes Premier League player.

With everything to think about him, I never realized just how slow Schneiderlin is. Slow-footed with zero pace.

Gomes. I think 2 years of hardly playing, then recovering from a bad injury, and then be pushed in as a 90-minutes man in a new, fast, physical league finally caught up to him and we saw the drop-off in performance. Today, he looked like the fine mid-fielder we saw earlier.

9 games to go and no glory left to shoot for, we need to have a great run-in to finish on a positive note.

Most of us had doubted that passion for much of this season. So let's keep on making progress. With the attitude shown today, a lot can be achieved. Well done, boys!

It took 75 minutes for Silva to rectify his selection mistakes. 75 minutes... I don't know how anybody can be happy with that.

I'm happy with the fact that we salvaged some pride in the second half... Am I happy with the performance overall... ?? Not in the slightest.

Silva is making too many fundamental mistakes for my liking.

First game ever at Goodison for my eldest son (21) who has been a fan since he was born – you all made it a memory he will never forget.

Second half: much quieter.

Now Brands and Moshiri need to evaluate Silva and make the call: Is he really the man to take us forward?

All that said, we have put a dent in their season and, if the truth be known, that's what most of us wanted. It'll just about do for today, but we need more... we need a lot more.

God @TheTweetofGod

Sorry about the wind Liverpool! #MyBad

Now's not the time to be critical surely, we know we are a middle-of-the-table team, quality-wise but at least they cared about the result.

I would have taken a draw before the game all day long.

I couldn't make it to Goodison tonight but I am with them – a good night.

Mane and Salah gave us problems (neither play centre-forward); Van Dijk looked comfortable because no-one ran off him to make him think. Matip is average, as is Robertson. We got at Robertson but we only had one up against Van Dijk and Matip. This has been our problem since Richarlison got to play centre-forward.

Marco, please give Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison a go in a 3-5-2 next game. Our season is over now, we won't go down and 7th is looking a bit beyond us. Barring some miraculous business in the summer (can't see it, myself) we have to tinker with what we have.

I thought it was a positive, improved performance that we can build on. The team played for each other, were looking to win the game, had some flashes of quality as well as some sloppy play. I think Liverpool were the same. So, basically, we went pretty much toe-to-toe with a team challenging for the title. Nobody is saying that a draw with Liverpool means all is rosy, but I come out of that game feeling good about the team.

For all I hate them, for the health of football in general I actually hope they do win the league. Better Liverpool than a City team based on an (even in today's environment) unbalancing degree of near unlimited wealth, built from human-rights abusing UAE government oil fund.

Lots of work to do, I am still unconvinced about Silva but today he sent out a motivated team – albeit one which few of us agreed with – and they showed effort and guts against a team with just one defeat all season. Credit where it's due.

I believe that something special is happening at the club and that we must be patient and be like that wonderful crowd that was at Goodison today. I hope that Liverpool win the league rather than Man City btw.

The cheering at the end wasn't so much about getting a draw but more to do with the fact that those fuckers will be pig sick. If you can piss them off royally that's gotta be worth a cheer.

Now with regard to the game overall, they are a much better team than us with much, much better players. We, at the moment are a mid-table team with mid- to upper mid-table players so a bit of perspective is required.

Anyone expect us to play em off the park and win 3-0? Anyone expect the opposite? The opposite was always the more likely outcome but it didn't happen. We battled well and outfought them in the second half. At the moment, bearing in mind we lack top quality in attacking areas, that is probably as much as we can expect.

Sean Dyche made a statement some time ago and it's one I use regularly. "Minimum requirement is maximum effort." I think we had that today and with, hopefully, quality additions in the summer we'll do better.

Yeh we'd have loved to win and do to them what they regularly do to us but that wasn't very likely was it?We are where we are, and we are what we are. Sometimes teams beat others who have much better players but today wasn't one of those occasions.

Am I totally happy with a point? No. Am I happy those twats didn't win? You bet I am. I hope that's the result that means they finish with fuck all again.

We now need to concentrate on 100% effort for every remaining game and continue rebuilding in the summer. Over to you, Mr Brands.

I wanted to win but I'll take 0-0 all day to put a dent in the mutants title bid.

We have sat and watched better Everton teams lose to worse Liverpool teams so as far as I'm concerned we've held them again at Goodison and if you can't win then don't lose and we didn't.

If they didn't have Van Dijk I'm not sure they would even be in the top two.

Proud of the atmosphere there today, that was what Goodison can be like every week and it SHOULD be.

The players lack quality going forward no arguments about that but they left everything out there today on the pitch, that's all I've asked for all season.

Official LFC
@OfficialLFC
STATEMENT: LFC is aware of an incident in which a 12 year old ball boy appeared to be sarcastically applauding Jurgen Klopp. We have this evening notified Everton FC, Merseyside Police, UEFA and FIFA.

Walcott hasn't looked to me that he wants to be here for months, chickened out of two or three tackles today. I was happy with the rest of them, couldn't fault them, apart from Pickford's distribution, terrible.

We know we are two or three men short of being a top six team but we went toe to toe with them today. Did they look miles ahead of Everton today? Not by along chalk, they were kept together by a world class centre-back. There is only a point between them and Man City, but the difference in class is a lot wider... erm, on and off the field.

Well done, Blues, I hope this gives us some confidence for the rest of the season.

Didn't he appear to threaten to give the boy the back of his hand?

If we just struggle on as before with a series of uninspiring performances, then there can be little reason for optimism next season but maybe good reason for a new man at the helm.

Well done today Everton! Although we didn’t win, we played well, as we did at Anfield, but we didn’t gift them a win! Brilliant.

Just watched the video and even when Klopp approaches him, the kid doesn't back down. Klopp thinks twice and jogs on, after all, the ballboy is in his own house, Klopp should not have made anything of it but, if LFC do, it just shows what a bunch of mealy-mouthed victims they are.

Only 5 days ago ToffeeWeb was stuffed with people forecasting two defeats and a relegation dogfight. Progress people, progress....

I thought we were a lot better when Gomes and Richarlison came on, Schneiderlin looked slow and pedestrian, his touch was poor, and it nearly cost us, and how Walcott gets a starting place is beyond me.

Klopp is a fairy dust arse hole and, as far as I'm concerned, he can moan or complain about whatever he likes — it means we've got under his skin.

Everton need to show the same level of commitment and work ethic in every remaining game as we did today, it makes the no-shows at the likes of Southampton and Brighton all the more galling.

Nobody, and I mean nobody should out-battle us.

For further amusement go to BBC Football and read the post game reactions. I got tired of reading them after about fifty posts. All were pro Everton, and not because we were gallant fighters but because 99% of them despise Liverpool and their support from Norway etc etc etc.

I did not want us to win or draw just to help Man City. I always want to win because I have supported Everton since my first game in 1947. However, if we did help City that is also a plus. What is ingrained in my soul and in my heart is that I dislike Liverpool almost as much as I love Everton. nb: I did say "almost"... COYB

In my opinion, Silva should have ensured McCarthy had enough game time under his belt since December, when he declared him fit, so as he would be an option for this game, which is perfectly suited to his style of play.

We were soft through the middle at times. I'd like to see Macca getting a chance before he ends up replacing Scott Brown at Celtic. Gomes will be gone in May I think!

The team showed guts today and done a very good job. The referee in my opinion and regardless of his previous dire displays in our games mainriabed his consistency and was harsher on Everton than the RS.

All said and done a great result and spikes their aspirations for the title. Disappointed if honest in Walcott, I seriously see that he’s pretending to be interested and he’s not.

Schneids done ok, he crapped out of a few fifty fifty’s and a few poor controls and passes put them in, but very pleased today, and the fanatical bear pit atmosphere returned at last to GP.

This is Everton, and aim not gonna get carried away as the mist could descend again this Saturday with the Barcodes, but imagine playing to this atmosphere every home game.

Goodison has been Collesuem arena, we’re away teams dreaded to visit.

Today the self acclaimed champions elect by many RS fans, showed their metal. From the off VVD, looked stressed and I saw their team playing guns ho. Yes they had chances but the RS body language today said a lot.

Long way to go, but hopefully by the end of May 2019, this will be a vital result.

Looking forward, DCL, in my view had his best game, but Everton, can’t wait for ever for a top class, goal scorer.

Crazy season, as if the Game at our old ground had been a draw, then over two games, we have been equal to the RS.

Finally Mr Ed, shows his true self. What a lack of class, all week, compelled by his total lack of character, and experience, after the game with the spat with an EFC, ball boy.

The AH of the season, can’t take the strain. I hope the the FA ban him to the stands.

Happy night Evertonians, be proud and we didn’t loose. There’s a lot to be happy about tonight, for a change. Lucky cats, Moggies are all welcome at GP.

Bar ćodes, next and we move on.

Anyway, I thought we did well. It was hardly champagne football, but it was job done. 4 points from 6 since the break, and a platform to build on. We can better, and we are getting better. Let's see if we can finish the season on form by clawing back those 6 points to 7th.

Best atmosphere since Martinez' first season was Watford. City 4-0 was close but it lacked that real fighting atmosphere that raises the roof. Watford was the one where the roof came off, it was like a game from the '90s.

We still lack, of course, the players we need to make a serious challenge but I will take the ugly things first, the sort of stuff we were pretending to ourselves last season that we didn't need.

It was enough to disrupt that arsehole's band of bottlers, and their godawful fans, and that will do for now.

Just back home from the game. I was listening to BBC Merseyside on the way back and an interview with Jordan Pickford. He said the crowd made a big difference to the team and particularly immediately before kick off. Whoever had the idea to use the “Tony Bellew entering the ring siren” before Z Cars pulled a masterstroke - it really fired the crowd up who were amazing all game. Very few teams will take 3points from GP when it is on that sort of form.

I thought we played very well defensively. The whole team gave 100% but Schneiderlin was off the pace I thought. Wallcott was better than he was on Tuesday but still looks not good enough. There was an opportunity in the first half where we outnumbered the RS defence but he chose to shoot rather than cross. I would drop him and play Richie and Bernard through to the close season.

Pickford played very well other than his distribution which is erratic even when taking the wind into account. If he can get that sorted out it will make a big difference.

Michael Keane was immense, his best game since joining us.

Surprised not to see Lookman on the bench, is he injured?

Overall, I would have taken 0-0 before kick off and although I am little disappointed not to win the effort shown was beyond question. As others state, we need that quality in the final third to move forward.

With two wingers who don't contribute assists or goals, two midfielders who don't pass forwards, and centre-forwards who don't score often, we were always going to need a lucky break, and we didn't get one today.

But the defence was good enough to keep a clean sheet so with a bit better recruitment in the summer, there are hopeful signs for the future.

I respect your view, interest and knowledge on all matters EFC.

Great to have such commitment and passion, and let's hope for the same commitment from the squad for the rest of this season.

If Marco Silva has a job to do, then, it's a huge challenge, and for me a couple of natural strikers, who can finish is needed.

Open to all views and feedback, but until we get such players, we ain't gonna win too many games.

There must be some bargain basement potential in the UK, Europe and South America.

Hopefully Marcel Brands has his scouts doing overtime to find some genuine first-class strikers.

It doesn't bother him one jot that he gets subbed off just about every game he starts. And his pathetic "hand tapping" applause for the fans as he departs the pitch each week sickens me.

Still he gets his nice fat pay cheque each week eh, so what's to worry him? A fraudster but yet, mind numbingly, Silva keeps picking him. Surely that must be the last time we see him start a game? But as I said earlier, it won't bother him at all.

As for the match, overall our quality was still lacking but at least the team had a go second half and put in the level of effort that should be shown every game, not just in the derby. Whine on all you RS. COYB!!!

Now the actual footy.

As usual a game of 2 contradicting halves. First half was poor. Some of our passing, tackling, failure to win second balls was piss-poor. Some have moaned about hoof all and zombie football, well here it all was in the first half.

Second half much improved and the midfield actually turned up .

Pluses. The defence were excellent and up top Calvert-Lewin ploughed a lone furrow brilliantly from the first minute.

Negatives. Poor midfield especially Schneiderlin and Walcott.
Pickford's distribution erratic to put it kindly and why the fuck he can't command his 6-yard box is unbelievable.

A good result we have to build on and hopefully a little bit more of a confidence booster.

We’ve big games to come, welcome back Ross, Big Head, Arsenal, so, erring with all due caution,as we all know, it would be great to see the sample focus shown, in the second half today, in all our remaining games.

We are all human, and we need some hope for next season.

For me today is the best result of this season, in context of what happens in May.

All have a Ball tonight, and well earned.

The near miss from Richarlison's cross showed again why we need a proper striker. That has happened a lot this season, near-misses that would have been goals with a finisher.

It will make a world of difference when we get such a player. We will find out shortly if Mr Brands is the talent spotter we all hope he is.

For the first time in ages we appeared to put in 100% effort and desire. We defended generally well aside from a few lapses

2nd half we carried the fight to them.

Yes, we didn't create many clear-cut chances but we all know we haven't got an established striker (and most on here didn't want to buy one this January) – so what do you expect? BTW, I thought Calvert-Lewin put in a great shift against them and helped push us forward in the first half when many went missing (especially Walcott – what has happened to him?!)

So, given our awful run recently, we've picked both up 4 points including against the Red Shite who we always lose to. And we played reasonably well – surely grounds to be positive?

I did, however, think we gave it everything with what is a limited squad -– lack of clear cut chances and no cutting edge cost us. Sigurdsson wasted great free kick opportunity and VVD was the main difference for me. I hope I'm wrong but think their run in will tip it in their favour.

Really pleased with the commitment today so on to Newcastle. This game is just as important as a defeat there will undo so much good work. Hope Silva can keep them motivated and picking up points

ps: the ballboy was my MotM.

Maybe I missed a load when watching it but some of our passing and movement in the first half was dreadful. Apologies if I'm wrong but, if you took the crowd out of it and just looked at the footy, that first half was a non-event.

Second half we improved for sure and didn't hoof it as much. Yes, a point against our cousins for our sakes and City's was not to be scoffed at but we are still well short, I'm afraid.

Let's finish the season strong and look ahead. Not back.

They didn't register a shot on target late game at all.

I don't know the numbers, and it might just be me, but it seemed we had a ridiculous number of shots blocked? Everyone was throwing their bodies in front of shots today.

When you re-watch, please post your take on it.

Mine was we played very well first half, but saw two horrific giveaways / personal-mental errors almost burn us. Take those out of the equation, and the first half was a good one.

That's my recollection and take on it. I think some are being very harsh with their analysis. I'd be curious what you saw.

Comment of the thread – John # 108 (after a comment that Klopp is suffering from the clap) "If he doesn't win the league he's a gonna ere".

A battling performance from us. We restricted them to few chances; we made chances of our own; great atmosphere; let's take that into the remaining games of the season.

The defensive shape required Schneiderlin. Silva's tactic to push higher and put in Gomes was masterful. Also, Richarlison in for Theo was brilliant.

There may be players in the squad who are beyond being motivated and they should have no future with us but Silva may be able to get the rest of them fired up. The next few games will tell.

But today we showed real spirit, determination and we didn't throw it away in the last minute.

We can build from this and finish strongly, 7th place gets us European football and that's something we desperately need if we are ever going to make that leap into the 'Big 6'.

Learning how to juggle numerous games, learning how to handle continental opposition and developing the right mentality that more games equals more success.

I for one will bear in mind as knowing the pain, when this happens, my dad passed the night before Chelsea 2015, and life is not the same. But, EFC, was his journey.

I'm sure he ghosted the Chelsea hotel the night before and Goodison Park, on the day.

So all in all a great day and some hope and understanding, for the future of EFC, and perhaps, cut some reasonable slack for Morgan Schneiderlin. He wasn't our worst player today, nowhere close.

All the Best and a good week to all Evertonians

When we lost the last one in the 96th minute, they did not exactly celebrate in a quiet and respectful way in acknowledgement that the goal was a fluke and we'd matched or bettered them for large parts of the game and should have got something from it.

Just imagine last game of the season if we'd have been relegated and they came 2nd, does anyone think they wouldn't take that as consolation?

The result was fair but could have been better if the manager picked players on form rather than past performance with previous clubs.

Just talking now to Silva, even then they had to get Carragher talking about Everton. Our sum total of reporting, 2 minutes!!

League betting now is :- 1/3 Manchester City 9/4 Liverpool.

You obviously don't live in the city. We all hate the red shite bastards and if you can't get to sense that... then... well...

Best atmosphere at Goodison for donkeys, since we beat Man Utd in opening game on a Monday night. None of which was contributed by reds. I left the ground with a spring in my step.

We have decried quality, and commitment since the Anfield match, and when the team finally show effort and commitment, they get berated on here by a good number of posters. Are these posters the ones that attend the games? I am proud of my team tonight, as virtually all at Goodison today appeared to be.

I will go to bed happy; thank you, EFC; thank you, Marco – I am willing to wait and see what you can do till the end of the season. Fair play!

I also think Silva deserves credit for 2 clean sheets in a row and having the bottle to change things, ie, Schneiderlin (who had a decent game at Cardiff) when under extreme pressure.

Is there no bottom point that club can reach?

Those 17 days could be the longest Kevin Brock Moment in history.

I've said before that given the teams poor performance since the Pickford Derby and with the lack of a credible replacement candidate, Silva has been, in effect, his own caretaker manager... and results (like at united) will go a long way to deciding if the caretaker keeps his job.

Every game is an examination for Silva... must try harder and keep trying harder all the way to the end of the season.

All with the added bonus that the title is out of their hands again.

Nice one Blues.

Am I right in saying Richarlison plays wide right for Brazil?

Anyway, I thought just about everyone on the pitch acquitted themselves well, with the exception of Walcott (not terrible, just didn't offer anything) and Schneiderlin (at best anonymous, at worst poor). It's time to end this little mini-experiment and restore Gomes, who looked very sharp off the bench.

Just watched MotD, and seen the crap chat from Mr Ed about the fecken wind. Surely this sauerkraut is a broken record?

Same weather for both teams, the RS and Teutonic Dumpkopfs, are well and truly deluded.

It's Sunday 03/03/2019, the RS, spawny twats, got a draw at Goodison Park, and were lucky.

Love it! EFC, in my heart and soul.

I thought this was a much improved effort, with us getting stronger and more threatening in the second half. Bernard and Tosun very nearly played in for goals that wouldn't have flattered us following good attacking play.

Coleman, Bernard, Richarlison and Gomes looked up for it and capable but we need them to now sustain for the rest of the season. A lot of praise has to go to the supporters who made a real difference today. The atmosphere really came across on the live broadcast but appeared to have been severely muted for MotD.

I think the logic behind Schneiderlin playing ahead of Gomes, aside from Gomes being a little out of form before the break, is that Schneiderlin is either part of Everton's future or the club needs to put him in the shop window to sell him. Gomes is still a Barca player and whether or not he stays is anyone's guess – I'd lean towards him returning to his parent club.

Either way, I don't think Schneiderlin has been as awful as people are claiming, but he certainly does have a way to go to get back to the player Everton thought they bought. There's a player in there.

Calvert-Lewin played really well considering he was up against one of the best centre-halves in the world. Still a long way to go for him, but a couple of encouraging matches in short space is good.

Richarlison looked a lot better on the right than he ever did on the left, so it would be good to see him and Bernard both starting the next match. It may sound silly, but I think when you have two players from the same foreign country playing together, especially Brazilians, you can get some better performances out of them.

Set piece defending seems to be improving too, which is a massive relief. I think Pickford has as much to do with that as anyone. He is playing with a lot more confidence these last two matches; just needs to sort out his kicking.

Last but not least, huge cheer for the Goodison crowd today. I've been critical of the atmosphere for some time, but today they sounded excellent.

There were faults. We were not particularly creative. Walcott was very poor. I don't think Schneiderlin was as bad as some are saying, his positional discipline allowed Gana to have an excellent game, as he did in mid-week.

But there were some fine performances from Coleman, Keane, and Digne. The latter two each made superb last-ditch tackles. Bernard played well, giving everything.

I was desperate for us to score in the last five minutes, because Goodison would have absolutely erupted. We didn't, so I have a degree of disappointment. But I am mighty happy we have pissed off the Red Shite.

The crowd were fantastic and it felt like ‘Everton' again.

The ballboy was fantastic and showed Klopp up as a ‘give it but can't take it' ‘twat.

We are years away from getting rid of very expensive deadwood and making any significant steps forward.

We have the worst strikers in the top two leagues; we really are that bad. The Allardyce winter window was a major setback.

I was actually proud of Everton for the first time in a long time.

As much as it pains me to say this about the manager of Liverpool, Klopp is a very good manager with a pretty good head on his shoulders – and plenty of ToffeeWeb contributors were crying out for the club to bring him in when he was at Dortmund. He acts a clown a bit and makes the odd statement like his World Cup Final and wind comments around this match, but he's no fool.

I fail to see what that is and again presume his time away from the match day squad is because he has failed to bring the training ground promise to matchday performances.

I want him gone but it's not my call.

Just as concerning is Lookman's omission. I'm guessing Silva must be feeling the pressure to go back to the experienced players over youth and potential which I hope is reversed ASAP and we can now practice what next season may look like and give game time to Lookman and the like.

We have very little to play for this season and can afford to be a little more risky. I'm not saying all at once but Lookman, Kenny and the like need to be given game time this season.

We need to figure out what our loan signings are likely to do. I'd keep both Zouma and Gomes but if they are unlikely to stay bench them and hope Mina, Davies etc. Can play half the remaining games at least.

If not already started, next season's preparations start now so we can hit the ground running.

The most nuts I, my pals have been for a game this season supporting our boys... Great support which I want every feckin' game, lol.

Draw? ...we looked okie dokie second half for a win in several places.

Hope Sam Hoare enjoyed the first visit to Goodison man... it's electric on derby day son... good man yourself.

I'm offski to Erbil... can't say where obviously... see you all soon lads n lasses.

Think we're safe now... that's what I hear every day lol... no, but we are, rebuild for next season.

Hopefully be back to chat on the live feed... COYB's

ps: Fuck you Red Shite! ;)

The whole match was played at a frenetic pace. Consequently passes went astray but both teams suffered from that.

The weather was nowhere near as bad as forecast and certainly did not affect the flow of the game.

The test now for our team is to maintain that level of effort in the coming weeks. If they do so, I can see us beating one of the three top six teams still to visit Goodison.

On the Live Forum (I think) someone suggested it was like 9 against 12 jokingly, they had the ref, and we had Schneiderlin and Walcott, but that was pretty much a true word spoken in jest. Maybe a bit harsh on Walcott, but he keeps getting picked.

There were a few players in Red who could easily have picked up Yellows early doors, but no, although he must have been embarrassed later and did book a couple.

Good point. Should have had more in my opinion. I keep hearing commentators saying how they are off their A-game but they fail to credit us enough. Of course those wayward passes doe't help. Hopefully we can build from this result.

You have it right. There is no controversy.

It felt like derbies from the '90s when we were shit, like Kendall MK 3 and Royle when he first took the job; We would be struggling in the league but we always gave them a game.

The feeling I've had in both derby games under Silva is that we could score and beat them. It's not yet happened, but we've nullified their attacking play in the most part.

It would have been amazing if we'd have beaten them, but drawing with them has put a big dent in their chances of winning the Premier League.

Today, with confidence fragile and a huge sense of occasion we battled for a well-earned point. I think because of the paper-thin confidence Silva's instructions were don't play out from the back.. take no chances and play it long out of trouble. It's a sensible tactic when confidence is low against the high press.

It became increasingly obvious that Liverpool's genuine weakness is creativity from midfield. In short, we did a number on them and exposed their weakness to the nation. We don't want to see this football every week but we demand the application and commitment.

I hope the players have the desire to fight and scrap without the ball for the rest of the season and add a touch of style. Come on, Toffees – finish the season strongly and redeem this poor run of form.

As far as misplaced passes there were more than enough from both teams. Somebody was saying to me it is because he is French (centuries of conflict with England???) but I cleared this up with confirmation that Zouma and Digne are also French and they don't get even 10% of the criticism that Schneiderlin gets.

Possibly its because of his performance (or not) last season and some T webbers are unforgiving. Some I discuss the games with reckon that the team looks more balanced when he is playing. Me, I just reckon his last two performances have been quite reasonable and the criticism as been somewhat OTT.

The performance in the second half was better than the first, but overall the performance was dogged rather than quality – this level won't be acceptable next season. But, we went into this derby in much worse form than the Anfield game and came away this time with a decent result.

Add 3-4 more quality players in the summer, get rid of the dross and retain the fighting spirit and we might have a half-decent team.

Walcott, on the other hand, has been rubbish and needs benching.

I refer my learned friend to posts 43 and 45!

(150 was sarky!)

Giving Schneiderlin a chance the last two games, and Schneids stepping up and playing very well over those games, despite one giveaway today that was admittedly atrocious.

Benching a sulking Richarlison, to motivate the boy during his substitute performance today.

Getting Gana to play like Messi at points, despite wanting a move away.

Keeping Calvert-Lewin and Cenk in the fold for striker duties. Each of them has worked very hard the last few weeks when called upon.

Motivating Gomes by not playing him, keeping his role as a substitute.

All these, and I'm sure there's a few more I'm missing, are creating competition for places. During our malaise, I seem to remember the same lineup being trotted out?

I'm normally a fan of sticking with 11 players. But these players seem to need a kick up the backside every now and again.

Keep lightly rotating the line up Marco, and keep everyone on their toes. Again, competition for places!

Playing for Everton is not a right, it's a privilege. I think a few players over the last few weeks have learned that. Well played Marco. When starting lineups are announced, I'm starting to question them less and less, and just "going with it". Marco has his reasons.

And to my eyes, the players are responding with a new found attitude, effort, and vigor.

Two thumbs up. Credit where it's due.

Now get Lookman in there and Davies, and motivate anyone thinking they're an "auto-starter" into ratcheting up their game a bit more.

Walcott is the past, Lookman, Bernard and Richarlison the future for Everton. I'd rather see the black cat starting in place of Walcott who is more of a hindrance than an asset to the team. Why can't Silva, see what we can see and bench him and give Lookman a run of games to let him really bed in to the team?

Has Walcott done anything since Christmas to justify his constant selection? Not in my eyes, and, I think, many others.

Why can't Silva see it?

We were more balanced with Schneiderlin in there and the back four was undoubtedly better protected. We need a stronger, more physical version of Morgan, who can pass better. In this game, it was a good idea bringing Gomes on later when the game was stretched. I think they were wary of him, especially as we finished the game stronger.

I've been critical of Silva recently. He's got plenty right these last two games. The players have showed they're fighting for him. If he's wise enough, he'll use yesterday's atmosphere to create a closer relationship with the fans.

My overriding feeling is that this team, especially going forward, is like a jigsaw puzzle with some good pieces and some pieces missing.

Brands's brief for the summer has to be a strong, passing deep midfielder and at least two forward players with genuine scoring ability.

Totally agree with your comments about Sky.

You can add Jef Stelling and Paul Merson to the anti-Everton brigade.

Seamus Coleman was having a good game defensively but, with the change from Walcott to Richarlson, we've seen the old Seamus flying down the wing, threatening their defence, Richarlison physically getting stuck in up and down the right wing.

I have to credit the manager too in the last few games. seems like the break has done him and the players good. 4 points from 6 is decent and, although I am not his biggest fan, will be happy to change my mind if they carry on like this. finally showing some fight and will to compete. It does seem to have come about since Schnederlin has been back in the team. maybe him in there just gives us better balance even though he might not be the best player. Sort of like the Lee Carsley or Phil Neville effect.

If you cannot enjoy the draw, then just enjoy the moaning and whinging of their fans haha. They know this result has killed their title hopes. I love hearing Klopp trying to claim he prefers being in 2nd... haha! Not when you have blown a big lead to be there, you don't!

Credit to SIlva though as well, he's dug himself out a massive hole the past few weeks.

We had to go back to basics and stop conceding stupid goals and that is what we have done recently.

I can't really understand the criticism of that performance as we were never going to outplay them. Even my usual suspects such as Calvert-Lewin came out of that game with credit. I can't say the same about Walcott though. He needs to do a lot more for someone of his Premier League experience.

Van Dijk headed countless balls clear of the area with Calvert-Lewin nowhere near him. He never tries to dribble or turn defenders for a shot as he doesn't have that in his locker. A squad player only I am afraid.

And at least they didn't ruin my birthday. So, all-in-all, I'm happy.

Let's see how it goes. It's still a team short of pace, and goal threat for me. And with big question marks over a huge number of players at the club and out on loan. Hopefully we've hit bottom, and can build from here.

I don't think Schneiderlin is anywhere near the long-term answer to the position he plays, but in the two games he has played since being recalled he has not been out-and-out rank as some are portraying.

Yes, he clumsily lost the ball in the play which was quickly fed to Salah who you would have backed to score but for Pickford's save. But for me the poorest part of that play was a common systemic failure under Silva: Digne the full-back was pushed on far too much, ahead of where Schneiderlin lost the ball, meaning Liverpool's most dangerous player had a free run on goal. Not clever. Yet another example of what Tony Abrahams has been flagging up all season about us being too open at times. Digne was so far adrift of Salah he gave up chasing back.

I was also livid with Digne (and Sigurdsson) with the free kick on the corner of their penalty area in the dying minutes. From that side and that angle, it should have been the Ice Man's right-footed take, be it a direct shot on goal or a cross. Digne's cross was truly woeful. Opportunity lost to make an even bigger statement, for me.

Personally, I don't think we played as well as we did against them over the park in early December, but we prevented them from scoring, got a point, and were definitely the team looking more likely to win it in the final quarter of the game.

Now some match goers say the wind was not as big an issue on the day as was feared ahead of KO, but maybe they can tell us if it did play any part in Jordan's very, VERY wayward kicking.

In the main, I recognize and understand what Pickford attempts with his kicking and it can be spectacularly good. Yesterday, both from hand and dead ball, his kicking was spectacularly bad. Turning over the ball to the opposition so many times as he did by kicking directly into touch, or straight through to their 'keeper, could have cost us dearly on another day. I believe his pass completion rate was under 25%, and Walcott's wasn't much better.

Like others, it is mystifying how Walcott continues to be selected ahead of a number of alternatives. But I side with Clive @ 204. There must be something behind the scenes going on with Lookman we are not privy to if he can't retain his place, or even get on the bench, in what has been an out-of-form team for so many months.

That said, I would echo a number of points Jamie C makes @ 192. During the recent poor run, Silva very rarely changed the core starting XI. In recent games, he has.

Both Gomes and Richarlison were introduced at a timely stage of the game yesterday and both performed much better than they have in recent weeks. Sometimes it takes dropping a player, a kick up the backside, to galvanize them into performing again.

I would also agree with James Flynn @ 72. Increasingly for me, Bernard is showing signs he is more than capable of handling the Premier League. He doesn't have blistering pace to get and stay ahead of a defender, but he does have excellent control and quick feet to show a defender the ball but the ability to beat him at close quarters. He is also nicking the ball off the opposition and turning plays to our advantage.

I'd be interested to hear from city-based Blues how t'other lot are reacting today to yesterday's result. A bit more subdued than might have been, I'm sure, if they had won.

As regards telling the Park End to calm down after another shit kick, well that was out of order. He gives us enough heart attacks not commanding his area without compounding this with nonsensical distribution.

It came and went and was coming from different directions during the game so it was hard to judge at times.

Pickford's gesture was reminiscent of John Stones's gesture at the same end some seasons ago and shows that players ARE aware of the mood of the crowd and their groans when seeing something they don't like.

To my mind, if the crowd voices their displeasure then it's a players right to react.

Let's not demonize any more players than we already have and ruin our relationship with them.

Pickford was directly responsible for us not conceding, a chance that Salah puts away with ease 99 times out of 100.

What did you think to the cameo of Richarlison and Seamus linking well together yesterday. Does Richarlison play wide right for Brazil?

It finally looks like he’s finding solutions to our recent problems. Long may that continue. My main frustrations up until Cardiff with him were that it seemed like he was oblivious to our constant errors or he wasn’t able to solve them. If we can go on a run now he will be fully backed come the summer I’m sure.

What an atmosphere by the way. Amazing. Like the Goodison of old. I really hope it’s like that for the rest of the season cos like Silva said half their jobs are done for them on that pitch if the crowd gets behind the team.

To finish, a shout out to the PA putting on Born Slippy before kick off. Up the snide bitter blues.

Jay @206, I'm with you on Digne pushing so far forward, especially when he's limited for pace and the ridiculous free kick at the end was incredibly stupid.

They are a horrible bunch, they love to give it but can't take it at all. Even the little friendly golf match on Sky between Tommy Fleetwood and Stubbsy and Dalglish and Redknapp. Dalglish had a dig saying how would you know you've hardly been in Europe! I just wished one of them had asked him, ‘And why was that, Kenny?'

We get on their backs and, before you know it, we're never off them and they just can't win.

You never heard the term "to demonize"?

"Because it's important for us here too, if they win the match, they would go back to the first place, and we did not want that."

He's getting the picture early.

So from now on we can only praise players regardless if they fuck up or not. No opinion so self thoughts just praise.

Well I' sure that'll make going to the match really enjoyable especially when we see an opponent stick it in the net and then clap him for scoring an excellent goal against us.

Outside the ground didn't seem too bad before the game. As mentioned IF Pickford was having trouble hoofing it out then don't do it but to continually do it and put us under unnecessary pressure is not on and as a match payer I, and others, have every right to voice an opinion.

Also as mentioned Pickford has and has had enough issues without adding to them. The last person in that squad to tell supporters to calm down is Pickford.

Demonize might be a bit strong for me maybe constructive criticism.
But then what do I know I'm no English language expert

No John, Richarlison plays more centrally for Brazil. To date, it has been him or Firmino in that role.

But don't confuse the central role he plays for Brazil with the thankless central role he has been asked to play for Everton.

As you would expect, there is more emphasis with Brazil on keeping it on the ground, good movement and sharp interchanging of passes.

I thought Seamus played well throughout and Richarlison played well when he came on.

If you are promoting the idea of pairing the two down the right in remaining games, with Bernard and Digne left (with the option for both 'wingers' to switch sides), I certainly wouldn't be vehemently against it.

If yesterday proved anything, it proved that the players react positively to the backing of the crowd.

I just don't feel that Pickford's reaction in the heat of a derby was either "out of order" or in need of "dropping the attitude".

On a different note, the infamous ballboy's dad has said his lad asked Klopp how he'd enjoyed his World Cup Final. 😁

Class!

http://www.kopspot.com/posts/game-over-again-trophyless-season-some-liverpool-fans-hit-out-at-klopp-over-decisions-at-everton

"On a different note the infamous ballboy's dad has said his lad asked Klopp how he'd enjoyed his world cup final."

A future Everton captain in the making! Balls and bite. (The kid, Brian, not you.)

The ballboy should be invited to one of the luvvies productions. Love that kid.

I draw this on the same lines of our Wimbledon last Day survival, a feel of loss and emptyness, then Vinnie Jones pipes up about Goodison not being a frightening place like Chelsea which seemed to fire up the Goodison crowd.

Klopp did the same with his World Cup comments and had the same effect yesterday, I said a few Days back, Klopp has done our team talk for us.

Goodison was rocking and the team put in a performance.

We only have a few years left before we kiss goodbye to the old lady.

A few more fans chants like that is the least we can do for the old Lady before we say farewell.

Correct team selection is the difference between winning, losing or drawing, and bad team selection, or bad substitutions, will inevitably mean dropping valuable points. Is it possible that Silva has some magical plan that will turn all our bad players into world-beaters?

I for one, cannot fathom what goes on in this man's head. If he does pick the team from names in a hat, then surely the laws of probability would suggest Walcott would be omitted for a few games. I'm baffled.

No Brent, he has yet to take up an out-and-out wide position, left or right, for 'a seleção.'

His position is more fluid than a traditional # 9 role, and whilst he takes up wide positions in game for Brazil, it is not his default starting position.

Listen to that awful dirge your lot sing before every home game.

"Walk on through the wind, Walk on through the rain" (frozen rain comes down as hail or snow)

Leicester evidently brought some with them, Man City got grass to grow in December (most gardeners give up mowing around the end of October), We made the wind blow.

What next? Are Spurs going to confuse your players by wearing white shirts? You are turning into Jose Mourinho.

I freely admit to googling the lyrics as listening to it turns my stomach.

Bitter and proud.

Carnival (which started for many 3-4 weeks ago) is just Brazil on steroids and then some, dressing up (or down, as the case may be, judging by some of the most scant costumes).

Made my day! How'd you like your World Cup Final? That kid is hilarious! Wonderful wit. Give it to 'em ball boy!

Jason @ 228 -

I'd never considered the words of "that" song and the irony of bitching about the wind.

"Walk on through the wind... Though your dreams be tossed and blown..."

Idiot. Too funny. What an asshat.

Excuses, excuses, excuses. It will never end. Poor soul, it was a little windy. Fuck off.

I would still put Richarlison there to link with Seamus instead though, as suggested. I just wonder if Silva prefers Walcott's greater Premier League experience for now, too.