It's Finally Over!

Brilliant.

The pics in this report are utterly brilliant.

My happiness for you, Michael, and all the TW born and bred Blues are off the charts.

I read TW every day but don't often comment. I'm made up for Pickford and every born or chosen blue in the world...

Let's hope we use this historic win to be the start of a long overdue road to success.

Like John Gorham @8, I'm an over 60 years Evertonian and it has been hard to swallow the results vs Liverpool, particularly during the past 20 years. But I will agree with John also about Pickford. He had a new 'presence' as John stated. Good way to put it. he made some excellent saves, too!

But my MotM was Keane followed very closely by Pickford and Godfrey. Great first goal through a fabulous pass from James and a cracking shot from Richarlison. Sigurdsson didn't disguise his penalty too well but it was pinpoint accurate.

I also liked the digital notification "Everton fans can play like it's 1999!". Good one, whoever wrote it.

Thanks Carlo. This will go a long way to truly making you an Everton favourite!

This is a wonderful blue world tonight and that's in great part due to Carlo. Thank you, captain. NSNO.

Excellent game plan by the manager that was executed professionally and comprehensively by the players. If they were missing at Fulham, not one of them hid last night.

We now have Liverpool, Leicester (both of whom we have taken 4 points from), as well as the Manchester clubs, out of the way. In the bigger scheme of things, the manager's season plan is working despite hitting the occasional speed bump or having to correct and wrong turn that is inevitable of a work in progress.

Very much in touch of where we want to be with what I would say is a favourable run in as we go into March and the business end of the season.

Good article by David Prentice on the BBC website, by the way.

I've just read Phil McNulty's report as well on the BBC website, a fabulously positive and uplifting write-up, fully recommend all to read it.

This is the kind of result that could turbo-charge our season. We have players coming back, a near fully-fit squad, strength in depth up front, Richarlison is finding top form, King is on hand to keep us strong.

The midfield is looking way stronger with Tom Davies really stepping up, and defensively we often look as good as any team. We are strong, we will have gained a bucket load of confidence and everything is still to play for.

He hasn't always got it right, but he gets it right a lot more than he gets it wrong. Hopefully, there will be no more silly comments about him not caring because he chose to celebrate the winner against Spurs by blowing his coffee.

He expects to win these games, given he has beaten Liverpool as manager of five different clubs. Another day at the office for him.

Losing with the same grace and elegance they apply to winning.

Jordan is a quirky fellow, prone to a bit of OCD or ADD and it is part of his make-up that he has lost concentration in some games. Nonetheless, he is capable of such gymnastic athleticism that he can make saves that the totem poles can only dream of.

He has suffered media scrutiny, death threats and has seen competition for his place. He has risen to the challenge and last night showed what a strong character he is.

Unforgettable performance from one and all.

An old skeptic like me sometimes believes these well-off footballers don't feel the same as we do. I suppose we can't complain about no boozers or proper celebrations because, let's be honest, we got of of jail last season in that we didn't have to look at them on a tour around the city and it was definitely diluted, even with Sky's phoney crowd noises.

So proud of the way we executed everything the manager asked them to do. Now more of the same week in week out no 90 pec cent foot off the gas games. We shall not be moved.

Above is a link of the players celebrating in the changing room

Great report Lyndon: as always

My goodness - it's been such a long and painful journey. The inferiority complex we've had for so many years has been tough to take.

Next step is to try to make Europe and ideally top 4...and ideally pushing THEM out of the reckoning!

The players played with belief and grit and determination - it made me proud to see

Carlo is moving us in the right direction. 3 pivotal stand out moments so far this season: win in extra time v Spurs, last min goal at Old Trafford to sneak the 3-3 and now going to Anfield to win

Carlo has tightened us up defensively, he improved the midfield (albeit there's still work to do there) and the next step is to get the attack purring that's what's needed to beat the likes of Newcastle/West Ham/Fulham etc. You win games by scoring goals and early part of the season we scored lots but conceded too many. Recently we've done okayish defensively but the lack of proper attacking play led to too much pressure on the defence and they couldn't resist

I think Carlo can get the balance right BUT whatever else happens I will always thank him for this moment

C'mon the Blues. Made us very very proud yesterday. Thank you!

Let's see the season out with more wins in the league to get us into the top four and beating city to reach the semi finals.

Got to cut out the Off days against FulhM and Newcastle now!

Will give the players great confidence, something that was lacking a bit against City.

The supporters deserved this result.

I don't think the lack of wins at Anfield since 1999 has ever been down to the teams or managers we have had, it was always down to mentality! We've always been too fucking nice.

Liverpool have had this type of mentality in buckets for years. We now need to take this massive uprise in mentality and finish the season with it. Stop dropping stupid points at home and see where it takes us.

COYBs .

Pickfords save from Salah in the 2nd half was great. It was mentioned by Carra about being "great " and "making himself big". The funny thing is that it was exactly the same motion as against Sir Van Dijk OBE etc etc? Shame how the media continue to mention it (it was in the 1st minute of this game!) but fail to talk through every other accidental collision ever made that resulted in an injury!!

DCL has done so well this season, but Richy makes those runs and is such a good finisher.

Special mentions for Davies who is (some people forget) one of our own and you can never see him doing a Barkley and becoming a Billy Big Bollocks thinking he's the bomb and asking for a whopping pay rise or forcing a move (please don't let me down Tom!). He seems to be joining DCL in becoming such a better player under Carlo. He not only broke things up but every time he got or won the ball he looked to transition into forward play rather than play the easy 5-yarder to the CB's.

Also Holgate, who I questioned on form and attitude recently, but he was excellent last night alongside the immense Keane.

I'm pleased they've got a break until the next game though, I think if had a midweek game they'd be shot after the effort and concentration they put in yesterday.

Same again, let's not get carried away, we need to make sure we finish above that shower. If that happens, I'll be ripping it for months.

Watched the highlights on MOTD and apart from the Salah chance which Pickford made a smashing save it didn't look like they caused us to many problems. Although I am sure there were anxious moments that the highlights didn't show. They said that it was mid November when Everton last lost an away game, just a pity our home form of late has been so poor therwise would be right up there with City.

I am ecstatic with what I saw before, during and after the game.
We are on the brink of something here.
A squad fully committed behind the coaching staff, fully committed to the badge.
Playing with pride and passion.

Grown men in my family crying last night with joy and in memory of family Blues no longer with us.

We are on the move

As you say, mad I know!!

I know it's academic, but If that had been given against us, say, to give them a draw, would we be screaming bias/favouritism/conspiracy etc etc? Every rs seem to be totally victimised this morning. Hilarious.

And to paraphrase Douglas Jardine when Harold Larwood 'bodylined' Don Bradman 'Well played, Jordan'.

You would think seeing I will be 73 in a couple of weeks I could adopt a more rational approach to watching a derby game, the crazy thing it seems to be getting worse the older I get.

Wading through various social media sites the graceless RS fans are still bleating on about the VVD injury!

Contrast that with Everton (and many other teams for that matter). All suffer injuries (some serious) to key players and just get on with it. That's what a big squad is for after all!

Heard Michael Owen comment that "Liverpool have had injuries to two central defensive positions. The other nine players are all fit and well. Their problem is in midfield and up front where they can't score"!

The sub headline to the article suggests the Shite's defeat was not ONLY due to their injuries ( suggesting he thinks it played a part though!) but then he goes on to drag VVD and Pickford's tackle into it, suggesting how galling it must have been for an elite player like VVD to sit in the stands and watch Pickford make great saves which ensured Liverpool got beaten.

Do these biased bastards really believe that Liverpool players have a God given right never to be injured. Should it really be the role of a sports journalist to always seek to explain why their Sky sweeties got beaten while totally ignoring that the non sweeties have injuries too? While totally ignoring the fact that Everton totally deserved to win the game in any case?

Maybe I shouldn't let it get to me because why should I care anyway but this arse licking of the Shite really gets on my fucking nerves!

But can't help but comme back to comment on what was a remarkable game yesterday.

I, like all blues, was bricking it all day. We knew we had a chance, but we are all too accostomed to the same old story repeating itself.

I too thought, we've scored too early. And in previous regimes, I feel that would have been proven correct, but when you look at how our players responded - how they put themselves accross, you could see there was a mentality shift.

We soaked up a lot of pressure, we never managed a true spell of possession, but on the whole, after the initial seige of the 20 minutes that followed the goal, we were in control.

A defensive masterclass. Keane sitting deeper, tasked with winning the headers and marshalling, reading the game, and organising. To his left Godfrey, fast becoming a legend, pace, aggression, energy. To his right, Holgate, recently our great hope, now seen as the weak link. Pace, composure and excellent anticipation. Anything Salah, Mane and Firmino could muster, these 3 could could match and more.

Then when something did break through, Pickford was quick, decisive and focussed. This limited Liverpool to longe range shots - Henderson, Wijnaldum, and Alexander-Arnold all made attempts that required top draw saves and Pickford was unbeatable.

Coleman, part full back, part right winger - our shape changed continously through the game, had a great performance and he and Holgate double-teamed to limit Robertson to a mere bystander for much of the game. Forcing Liverpool to focus their game down the right through Arnold, and making them more predictable in doing so.

Special mention to Davies in the middle. His best performance yet. This is the 3rd or 4th time we've said this recently, and it's testement to his continued development. His positioning was intelligent, he picked up loosed balls and made simple passes, he held the ball at moments we struggled to hold on to possession. And when needed, he had the necessary quality. Much overlooked, but for me the pass of the game was not James' pass that set up Richy, nor Richy's pass to DCL, it was Davies' pass that set Richy free. In seconds, the ball went from being in the box to Davies picking up the ball, turning and passing in one movement, inch perfect pass that set Richarlison free. It was a wonderful play from the lad and he's getting better and better. I look back and remember Pirlo coming up as an attacking mid/no10 and Ancelotti, to the surprise of everyone, converted him to a deep lying playmaker. The rest is history. Pirlo and Davies are poles apart, but there is a real similarity in how Ancelotti is managing him, how he is asking him to play. If he continues in this vein, then he'll become a very, very good player indeed.

Finally special word to Richarlison and DCL. Richarlison was excellent, his running and pace, his workrate, and excellent finishing when needed at the start. His run upon receiving Davies pass was excellent, and followed with a quality pass. An in form Richarlison, 4 in 4 now, gives us a real boost towards the end of the season. And when DCL came on, he was immense. His energy and pace gave us an outlet that we lacked, he's the best chester of a ball since Fellaini, his control and strength mean he can hold up the ball, he's got teh skill and movement too. He's much more than a goal poacher.

We need to build on this and not revel in it. But a corner has been turned.

But what a day, what a day.

The curse has lifted and that bogeyman has been firmly been laid to rest. Of course I'm elated, ecstatic, over the moon etc, but I'm also relieved, relived that the gobshites can take 99 out of their songsheet. Just need to win a trophy now. Easy after winning over at the khazi eh? 😉

Couple of things, Jimmy Carragher was very fair in his overall assessment of both teams and Graeme Souness (not really my cup of tea) climbed back into my good books by describing the "same" match as I watched for a change - Well that is what a pundit should do.

Loved the fact that Sky employ a "Klopp Cam" now. That man will have a heart attack the way he carries on, but good viewing though!! Finally, didn't realise that Tom Davies uncle is Alan Whittle, a favourite of mine in the early seventies and who I saw score a winning Derby goal at the Anfield Road end when I was with around a couple of thousand Evertonians perched around the Kop as that was the only ticket I could blag - Happy days, like yesterday and may they continue.

"If we continue to underachieve against the likes of Fulham and the barcodes then this is just a side show in an ultimately disappointing season."

To me, yesterday was the culmination (so far) of a thoroughly satisfying season which has included the extraordinary drama of the Spurs tie, the spectacular OT equalizer, the league wins at Spurs and Wolves and even the previous 2-2 derby.

To me, it's the Fulham/Barcodes/Saints failures that are the sideshow... the inevitable flops that come with having a team that is still too thin in talent, too inconsistent and too liable to play down to weaker competition.

Like you, I get immensely frustrated with those failures -- but I expected them, and they haven't at all reduced my enjoyment of this season. I see so much improvement in some areas and some players, and I've been so ecstatic so many times, that it makes those inevitable flops tolerable for me. Maybe not the day of, or the day after, but in retrospect.

This is the most excited I've been about our club in years. We're still a few players shy of being Top 4 contenders, but we are sure as hell on an upward swing.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4182135/how-var-decisions-affected-every-premier-league-club-in-2020-21

ESPN did an analysis of which clubs have benefitted from VAR and which have suffered. We're right at the top at +4. Guess who's at the bottom with a -6.

Love VAR. Love it.

Even the supposedly balanced articles, have those little sly undertones, words jumping out that make you see their hatred, or maybe I'm just paranoid and biased!

I can remember MOTD a few seasons ago when Jeffers and Andy Johnson apparent dives were discussed at length.

The comments on BBC from fans of other clubs is not really a surprise but what sticks in the throat is the abject cowardice of the likes of the BBC and Sky to say as it really is.

Liverpool prior to Xmas had a unbeaten run. So they have had a bad start to the year, so what, it happens in football. They did play well against Everton, but where tactically and technically out matched. In other words beaten by a better team on the day.

It is typical of the Prancing Clown that he would not acknowledge that, and say that he doesn't know what the problem is with Liverpool, . adding to the a Crisis thread. He hasn't the guts to admit that Everton where the better team and Ancelotti tactically outmanovered him. Ancelotti or Guadiola would have never come out with such crap, or have Liverpool players out in social media getting involved in the Crisis thread.

I hope we stuff them from now on and Everton keep building a team to be at the Top Table to get rid of some of the scum who think they have a right to be there. There really is a campaign against Teams that challenge the cosy top four arrangement, with Media bias, that has exists for too long in the Premiership.

'Stick with it' : The Toffees.

Sky and BBC where fair enough, though there was a slight play on Crisis. It was more the Newspaper coverage I have seen and reports of Facebook and Twitter , as you say.

Great gag. But the pedant in me has to point out that the east side of Hadrian's wall starts 65 miles south of Berwick. The name Wallsend is a bit of a giveaway!

Still can't understand how we have performed in some games this season – especially dropping 6 points against the awful Barcodes who could easily go down if Fulham keep up their revival.

It's really tightening up in the top echelon and, whilst Man City will win the title, teams like West Ham Utd and Leicester City are doing well and so Everton need to get on a good run to force their way into the mix.

Hopefully these Jekyll-and-Hyde performances are done with and we can finish the season well.

In the first 30 minutes, Doucouré was indeed awful. He was giving the ball away far too easily with poor passing. We were very much under siege from the 4th minute to the 30th, and both Doucouré and Gomes struggled.

However, after that initial struggle, I felt Doucouré grew into the game. His energy is amazing. One minute he'll be winning the ball in our area, the next he'll be making a lung-busting run on the counter and will be the furthest man forward.

His energy is something we've missed greatly, and he played the full set of games in our recent heavy schedule. He's clearly due a break and hopefully Allan's return will provide it.

Personally, I feel Doucouré has been an excellent acquisition.

And also, while Gomes was poor, he was tasked with essentially tracking Liverpool's prime attacking outlet in Alexander-Arnold. We all know Gomes's weakness is tackling. In the right team and set up he can be a good player. However, in saying that, he's the one midfielder I'd see replaced in the long term.

The worst player with a ball at his feet you have ever seen? When did you start watching football, Paul, let alone Everton?

John Senior, to put some perspective on this, Doucouré didn't have his best game for Everton. I called this on Michael's report. Particularly first half, he gave away silly possession that, had it been Tom Davies, many would have vilified in the past (myself included). As my brother tongue-in-cheek called it at half-time, Doucouré was arguably Liverpool's most creative midfielder at that point.

But that doesn't distract from a typically powerhouse performance from a player who has been one of our best this season. He was still a significant team contributor to a fantastic team performance. He just had an erratic period in the first half in particular. Maybe he has set such high standards that errors are now unexpected and stand out. That's how I saw it.

Doucouré also makes runs into the opposition penalty area, drawing away defenders and making space. He is prepared to mix it and put in the effort, Walcott always shied away from that.

He has been fantastic this season and was great again last night.

Now looking forward to him, Allan and Davies playing together – and I don't think I'd have said that at the beginning of the season.

Yesterday was wonderful, brilliant and I still haven't stopped smiling and totally agree with Graham, wish I had a job to go to in the morning. But I have seen more than one abject, totally unacceptable performance this season.

Fulham at home actually made me feel like giving up, the lack of effort, imagination, pride, ability to change tactics and unwillingness to change the team to take into account opposition's formation was inexplicable.

I know there were ghosts that needed to be laid to rest yesterday, and I rejoice as much as any long-standing blue, but the fact remains that had we lost yesterday but beaten Fulham, Barcodes, Leeds and West Ham all at home, as we should do, we would comfortably be in the top 4.

So, whilst I enjoyed yesterday so much, this season still leaves a lot to be desired. Ancelotti seems to put so much more planning into the 'big' teams than the lowly ones. Perhaps we need Moycelotti – someone who competes with and gets points from the teams we should but who takes a gun to a gunfight against the Sky 6.

Stephen, we all felt the same over Newcastle and when we thought that was as bad as it could get, we got Fulham.

It's a football season. We win games we didn't expect to, we lose ones we thought were a banker. Even when we've won titles that is the case.

Where we end up at the end of the season is what matters. We are nicely placed for a good run in. It's in our hands.

The performance was okay but the workrate was 100%. Some not-so-good performances but, overall, 3 points deserved. I think the early goal may have unnerved some players. Not in the script to score early perhaps.

Carlo knows March is a pivotal month for European aspirations for Everton. One thing is true: supporting Everton is never dull!

Testimony to the manager and the players he has brought in and also the effect and impact that is having on those who were already there that are still included in the team and squad.

The mentality has changed.

He's really poor on the ball and he has been all season. And he typically gets away with it on here, which mystifies me. In almost every game he plays a blind pass backwards. He'll cost us goals (actually he already has).

That doesn't mean I don't see the benefits he brings. He can really drive from midfield. He covers a lot of ground. He's very accountable in his positioning. He's the type of midfielder we need so, at present, he's in my selection every week.

But I'd replace him in a heartbeat if the right player was available without his significant passing frailties. That's football.

Allan has the same characteristics. Godfrey too, in spades. And now we see Holgate and Davies regularly showing the same qualities after years of comparative inertia.

Our squad might just have at last realised the power of team-work, all for one and one for all, that epitomises teams that win trophies. Top four is a valid ambition if we can continue our new-found endeavour.

I noticed in one press release that Klopp said that we were aided by a wind sent down by God. Well, of course we were as had it come up from down there then it would just have confirmed, as he seems to have, with whom they have a pact!

We all live in a blue and white palace, all together now, a blue and white...

I'm with Don. The thing about Doucouré is he runs around at 100 miles an hour, covering every blade of grass. Consequently, he gets balls no one else does but, at frenetic speed, it's harder to control.

So it's a bit like the Andy Cole conundrum. Andy has say six shots and one goal. Some focus on the goals-to-shots ratio and say he's shit. Others point out how he got himself into goalscoring positions more frequently than others and say he's good.

I'm in the pro camp for Doucoure. Case in point: he won a second ball header in minute two and lost possession. 30 seconds later, in an almost identical move, he won it again and knocked it on to James for the assist to the goal. No-one else would've had got either of those balls; one was pointless, one invaluable... so overall he's an asset IMHO

Damn good point. The best I've see Pickford play for us.

Now let's finish the season in style in the league and cup.

The top 4 is in our own hands; we need to win the game in hand then better the Liverpool and West Ham results. 5 points behind 4th with a game in hand and the hammers still to play, similarly with Chelsea.

But he's not a world beater - he's got a significant failing on the ball. He plays blind passes backwards. It wasn't just the first half against Liverpool, it's in practically every game.

If we could find a similar midfielder who didn't brainlessly pass the ball backwards without looking then I'd have them instead! For now, we don't.

Digne on the other hand, and Mina to a slightly lesser degree, have proved that Barca don't always get things right when allowing squad members to move, or they are more skint than they would have us believe. Still wish we had kept Geri!

What was really pleasing on Saturday was the performances of Pickford, Holgate and Davis, guys who have had their ups and downs over the past year but just like DCL they have shown character and hopefully they will now have an extended run of good form until the end of the season.

This day week we entertain the Southampton at Goodison and if we are to truly make a breakthrough this season then this is the kind of game we have to start winning.

With an almost fully fit squad and the confidence gained from Saturday night there is no reason why we can't have a strong finish to the season.

I have no doubt that the manager has identified what is needed to move things forward again next season and more recruits can be expected in the summer.

We are a work in progress and there will still be bumps along the way but we are moving in the right direction.

Who are these people?!

He also goes on to yet again mention VVD despite saying that apparently "Football moves on very quickly"...the irony is strong.

Then, elow Crooks takes to task a dive/simulation by a Northampton Town player who was penalised. The lad apologised to the club and supporters.

Hmmmmm, never see Crooks taking inSANE or no SALAH for their constant antics in any game seemingly!

Crooks Sucks!

I think firstly Ancelotti is a bit like Hannibal in the A-Team, the brains who has a solution with the tools at hand during each episode to work with what he has against what they are up against

Gomes is very intelligent, and I think the plan as mentioned on TW before was for Gomes to disrupt rhythm with some "dark arts" fouls higher up the pitch, which means more fouls but less likely to result in 2 yellow cards - not quite Heitinga sliding challenges but enough to stop a man, and we get to stop the game when they are looking dangerous. That stops the switch to Robinson and that rapid transition Liverpool can do. The second part of this plan was for Siggy to arrive in the 2nd half when the game slows down and his record at Anfield.

Thirdly, I think no Liverpool player mentioned VD or victims because we had DCL on the bench. A bit like two chess players sacraficing their queens. Ancelotti did not need to risk DCL early, and missing our top goal scorer is as bad a loss as your best defender who stops most goals. We were winning one nil based on a fair match in this respects in the first half, no VD vs DCL. As for Gomez, he's not their main defender but is a good complementary partner to the main defender, like Holgate is to Keane currently.

I'm guessing that's why Klopp says they already lost at one-nil in the first half, without fully admitting we are now a better squad. DCL coming on in the second half just destroyed everything they had.

If our percieved easier run-in puts us fourth above Chelsea, and Ancelotti gets in 2 or 3 top players this summer, we can wave bye-bye to Liverpool into the distance next year as well. Why? Because they need a rebuild of half their ageing team, and we are nearly built.

Go ahead Gary!

Seriously, there is no good (legal ?) reason for this. He is basically off work on the sick. He is not part of the match day squad is he ? In fact he's not even close actually as I'm sure you may have heard he is injured.

A very strange and antagonistic move by the devil's club to inspire god's lesser breed of men which, I'm glad to say, failed spectacularly.

In much more important news, how good were we ? The whole spine of our team in particular but a special mention for our much - maligned keeper.

I see that idiot manager of theirs failed to give us any credit either. Mind you, what does he know.

We were absolutely wonderful.

But on Saturday, he demonstrated a master class both in the selection of player's and match tactics. When I looked at the line-up before the game, I thought we would be in for a torrid afternoon to be honest.

The stifling of Robertson by Coleman was key, so much of Liverpool's goal threat come from down that side, similarly Holgate's 'man marking' of Mane, was genius. He was and is Liverpool's 'dangerman', but he was effectively nullified the whole game.

With 20 minutes left, our previous manager 'dour Davie' would have packed the team with another three centre back's and hoped to nick a win. Not Carlo, he went for the jugular against a makeshift centre half pairing and it paid off handsomely.

It's taken us 21 years to win there, partly down to some bad luck, inferior team etc, but a manager who has real player and game management skills in his portfolio.

We now have that.

For my own confirmation bias, I just checked the team sheets and the ages, and see half our team are less than 28. I've posted in case it's of interest to anyone else.

Everton squad ages

Liverpool squad ages

Of course, I'm sure their fans (RS) are now saying you'd think they'd won the CL the way they're acting and it has some merit but let's not downplay what it means, it is a huge barrier that we have surmounted and there is no doubt, we have and are improving under Carlo, the first real and sustained progress since Mosh arrived, just maybe the Iranian is learning and gets Everton.

Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last.

UTFT

The 'guilt' was wearing me down!

At last they know this brilliant feeling.

And now the hoodoo is broken, the mental barrier smashed, the inferiority complex crushed - we can kick on and make this a normal feeling.

Thank you Carlo, well done to all the lads.

Cloud 9 is Blue and I'm sat on it.

Talk about our celebration, I recall not too long ago Herr Klopp running the full length of the pitch before the game had finished to celebrate a goal they scored against us. I also recall their goalkeeper doing the same. Bit of kettles and pots I believe. I am still bitter over Emlyn Hughes in 1977!!!

Anyway, I cant watch the derby as for some reason I have a bizzare belief that if I watch then it will negatively impact the result!!

Saturday evening, wife told me the result at 7.30. Nett result a few beers in the house, MOTD, she went to bed, I opened the Jack Daniels, 3am crawled up the stairs as I couldnt stand, and fell over getting into bed.
What a night!!! At 57 yrs of age I should know better.
COYB

It shuts them up good and proper for a while and puts us in a great position to finish above them.

I was shocked when Richie scored after two minutes and thought we may have scored too early but then the whole team defended magnificently and I have to wonder why we haven't done this too often against lesser teams this season.

All too often they have failed to show this determination and intensity so let's hope it continues.

Don't know if anyone has seen that photo/screenshot from Saturday, of Godfrey and Digne chasing back, Salah is in between but a good distance apart, and he is going down (surprise, surprise Chuck). Would post it on here but don't know how to. Someone suggested he was praying, which I agree with.

Allah!

Its Salah!

Make it look like a Penno Allah?

Ta, Lah !

Case duly rested

https://theathletic.co.uk/2401485/2021/02/21/evertons-anfield-win-1am-hotel-alarm-and-the-player-who-slept-in-his-shirt/

That didn't go down well did it ? :-)

"Jordan Pickford: It is with some hesitation that I find myself selecting Jordan Pickford for my team of the week.

It was Pickford who put Virgil van Dijk out of the previous Merseyside derby with an awful challenge that went unpunished.

However, football moves on very quickly (But not the BBC or red biased Journos) and Pickford seemed intent on inflicting even more pain on Liverpool, this time, on his return to Anfield. The England goalkeeper made a number of first-class saves, not least from Jordan Henderson's volley.

I can't imagine the reception Pickford would have received had Liverpool fans been in the ground. Like on so many occasions, the absence of supporters has made such a huge difference"

Cock.

With regards to the penalty itself, every time I see it I still think the goalie is going to save it, as there just seemed to be no power at all in the shot. The look on Siggy's face tells us he thinks he got away with it!

Guess it's Wembley when those fortunate enough will be able to see the blues in person in May!

Liverpool 0 Everton 2 - Alternative Commentary

Scroll down the Twitter page to see this one:

"Shaquiri on the edge of the box, and here comes Ben Godfrey"

The notion that "Worst squad we've ever had" beat Liverpool 2-0 is true but not perhaps as the posters meant it. It was 1997, and at Goodison, a Ruddock own goal and one for Cadamarteri saw the likes of Earl Barrett, Danny Williamson and John Oster get the win. Granted, I say "worst ever" based on my lifetime but I should imagine there were perhaps even weaker squads back in the relegation eras of the 30s and 50s.

I think that is ridiculous and unfair. Looking at the present table and the fixtures on that day, one stands out: Fulham v Newcastle. They can't have 10,000 but can have 25 percent capacity so about 5,000 fans cheering them on in what could be a relegation decider. Leicester, WHU, Liverpool and Villa also will gave crowds to cheer them on in what could be key games for Europe. We benefited from have 2,000 a couple of times, I think it helped us and I didn't think it was fair at the time. I feel even more so about having larger crowds on the last day of the season.

From the Twitter feed:

"Speed Cameras set up on Childwall Valley Road. Hopefully Ben Godfrey isn't out for a light jog coz he might get another 3 points"

Got to love Scouse humour!

Cracker!

The problem as we all know is getting the right blend and the right consistency as well as the right frame of mind from the kick-off.

In some games Everton have just been so lethargic from the beginning culminating in that awful game against Fulham.

After this game on Sunday one hopes that getting at the opposition early will be uppermost in their minds more often instead of playing a robotic possession game in their own half.

I was unable to reply on the other thread because our WiFi was down for 2 days. Still buzzing after the derby win though!

I believe he is the leader of the group and that we will benefit a lot from his comeback. I also think the players have really missed him.

Pickford; Holgate, Keane, Godfrey, Digne; Coleman, Doucouré, Allan, Richarlison; James and Calvert-Lewin.

I believe merit-wise that is the best team we can play actually. Difficult selection anyway.