As I'd mentioned in the pre-match preview, engineering works put paid to the train. Nothing departing Euston from Saturday until Tuesday. Strikes, engineering, or lack of drivers – it's been a testing season on the travels.

So a rarity for me meant I jumped in the car and left for Liverpool at 4 am. I went straight to Liverpool South Parkway to leave the car. Like a few Merseyrail stations, parking is free and they have 350 spaces. There are more options with trains too as there are 6 platforms and it's connected to the national rail network as well as Merseyrail. A direct train, first stop Lime Street, takes under 10 minutes.
 
I was minding my own business having had breakfast when I was approached by a character who I heard say "What's our name?" I was looking down at my phone, not realising it was intended for me. He repeated his question. I looked up on this occasion. It was Brian, who had made the short journey from Manchester, but that's another story. Nothing scandalous I hasten to add.
 
We discussed all things Everton, ranging from the club, the manager, who we both agreed, deserves next season. We spoke about the opportunities the new stadium and new owners present if we grasp it, right through to my blind optimism. Me and Brian are like chalk and cheese sometimes, but he's become a good friend like many I've met on here. I keep saying to him, "We're actually agreeing more than we disagree, we just have a different way of saying it!"
 
Tony kindly picked us up outside Lime Street, dropping us off on County Road. We wandered around before settling on the Wetherspoons on County Road, as it was still a bit early. We sat next to a fascinating Evertonian, who recognised me. He had some equally fascinating stories.
 
We moved on to The Harlech where Bill and Neil joined us, before John Mac Senior and his grandson arrived. It was great to talk to him. He can recount players and stories of Everton going way back. Educational and as always, a pleasure to be in his company. On to Goodison, feeling optimistic, but why wouldn't I? It's me!
 
It wasn't a great match, but we carved out chances and could have won that with a bit more luck and belief. City didn't have their usual ruthlessness, and for me, it was heading towards 0-0.
 
I did like how Kevin de Bruyne got applauded by the Evertonians as he came over to take corners. And he returned the compliment. Always good to see supporters of all clubs respecting a genuinely great footballer. I couldn't see that happening at Anfield though.
 
As usual, caveat the player assessments with it being my take. We all see it differently.
 
Pickford made three very good saves, including one which spared Michael Keane's embarrassment. 
 
Young Jake O'Brien was again very assured as our temporary right-back. That is now likely to change as he moves to his more natural position.
 
Branthwaite put in a very good performance again, including an instinctive header that stopped a nailed-on goal. A contender for Man of the Match.
 
Tarkowski hit the post and was his usual self, marshalling and encouraging the team. As soon as he went down, there was an "Oh shit" moment amongst the crowd. He rarely goes down, so when he instantly signalled to the bench, we knew what was coming. We had lost our captain and our only leader on the pitch. Someone is going to have to step up to the plate in his absence. It looks like it was a hamstring, so I would imagine that will be him out for the season. I'll talk about the substitutions separately.
 
Mykolenko put in another very good performance. He may have limitations that we are all aware of, but he is looking increasingly comfortable in a settled defence. My Man of the Match.
 
Gueye was also one of our best players until taken off, probably as he was running on empty. He put in a lovely weighted pass in the first half to release Harrison, but our unfortunate left-cum-right winger was easily dispossessed and had to chase the City player half the length of the pitch to no avail. Another contender for Man of the Match, had he not gone off. 
 
Garner put in a decent if not spectacular performance. He seems to enjoy playing alongside Idrissa and once again showed that he isn't shy of sticking a 50-50 in. He is deceiving in that respect and doesn't hide from the ball.
 
Ndiaye continues to be a player who is important to us, as he has been all season, when fit. One of the few players we have who excites the crowd when he's on the ball and works hard off it. But he need not be the only one. More on that one with the substitutions.
 
Harrison. Same old. I can't really say anymore that hasn't been said.
 
Doucoure forced another decent save from a tight angle after some good attacking of the City defence.
 
Broja looks to have ability but I'm not convinced about him being an out-and-out striker. Maybe not so much yesterday and he almost got on the end of a cross but the City player defended well. He was probably too much under the ball rather than running late to meet it.
 
So to the substitutions.
 
Keane for Tarkowski: Why? As soon as we saw what was happening, the groans rippled around me. Maybe the manager didn't want to change it too much so decided to go like for like, but that is a bit of an insult to our captain. Once again, guilty of watching the game, watching the ball float over his head rather than anticipating, by which time, he's out the game. With Coleman, Young and Patterson available on the bench, we were presuming it would be a full back on and put O'Brien alongside Branthwaite. Moyes definitely got that one wrong. I will always thank him for those 2 goals. The 90th-minute screamer against Tottenham that kept us alive and the one against Palace that pulled us back just as we were staring down the barrel. Time for both parties to move on.
 
Alcaraz for Ndiaye: Another Why? With the game still poised at 0-0, did the manager not want to disrupt his game plan? Does Moyes not fancy him, or want to trigger the purchase? I hope not the latter. With a bit more belief and those two on the pitch together, we could have had more of a go at City. Charly only got just over 10 minutes plus added, so not enough time to affect the game.
 
Beto for Broja: I can see that one. It was worth giving the City defence something else to think about, although it didn't quite work. Lots of huff and puff, not much end product.
 
Iroegbunam for Gueye. I'd rather Idrissa would have stayed on the pitch, but maybe the intent was to give Tim some game time. Like Alcaraz, he only got the last 10 minutes plus added time.
 
I wasn't sure if Pickford could have done much about their first, but watching it back, I think he maybe could have smothered and gathered the ball rather than going in with his feet.
 
For the second, clever play by the German veteran Gundogan to set up the goalscorer. Could Pickford have got there? He was a fingertip away, but I suppose we have to consider the flight and speed of the shot in real time. It looked like a good finish. I'll leave judgment to the Goalkeepers Union here.
 
It wasn't all bad, and we had our chances, but in fairness, it wasn't the greatest of games either.
 
I can only say it how I saw it and that will inevitably be through blue glasses. Did City pin us back? Or did we invite them on? I felt at the time, it was the latter. Forget City's "poor" season by their own recent standards – they still have quality players. If you sit too deep, you are inviting trouble and playing the law of averages game. And it cost us.
 
I don't know if it was the manager's instructions, the players tiring – because they were – or the substitutions, but, after going close and with a bit more ambition, we might have won that. Until they scored, it had been tight and heading towards a goalless draw.
 
We know change is coming in the summer but, until then, we have five fixtures with nothing to play for other than league position; give the supporters something to cheer about, and send off Goodison Park. So go and enjoy it and play with freedom, Everton. Moyes, with better players, has his chance to prove some of his doubters wrong, myself included. I hope he does.

Reader Comments (3)

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Mark Murphy
1 Posted 20/04/2025 at 17:31:56
Thanks for the report Danny, always a good, well balanced, read.
This was one of the very few games I’ve not managed to see even on a “dodgy” link as I was attending the annual charity game at my old vets team.
So can only comment on the MOTD highlights. We played some decent stuff at times and if O’Brien had been more alert when Tarkowski hit the post he might have smacked that in. Branthwaite could’ve perhaps done better with his header close in but he wasn’t to know where to keeper was.
I think you may have mixed up Branthwaite and O’Brien in your report. It was O’Brien who headed the goalbound shot wide.
My cunning plan for a Southampton ticket has been thwarted and I’m struggling for away tickets at the moment so I’m probably done now for live games this season. I WILL be outside Goodison for the end though so hopefully see you and other familiar faces before hand and then have a big son as I watch you all head off to the end game.
UTFT
Mark Murphy
2 Posted 20/04/2025 at 17:49:27
A big soB FFS!
David Bromwell
3 Posted 20/04/2025 at 18:09:43
Nice report and an interesting read as always Danny. Moyes certainly got his substitutions wrong, but I thought he was at least giving it a go. However, the skill gap between the City players and our own is enormous and with the likely loss of Tarkowski for the rest of the season I fear a number of tricky games.
I didn't anticipate seeing Calvert Lewin again but given how blunt our attacking players looked I am now hoping he might be fit enough to play before the seasons end.
Finally as you say, full marks to our supporters who applauded Kevin De Bruyne. On yesterday's showing he still looked a class act to me.

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