Match Preview: Liverpool vs Everton

A draw is my feeling too.

It occurs to me now though, in the context of a trip to Anfield which always held anxiety and even fear for Moyes, whether he may not be a little more buoyant about the prospect of getting one over on them at their place, especially in light of what it could mean to their confidence in the run-in.

Certainly, although the title seems a foregone conclusion, the pressure is all on Liverpool and there will be some nervous reds around on Thursday morning's news feeds if we manage to get a rare victory under Moyes at Anfield.

I hope to see the relaxed, plucky Moyes we've witnessed since his return, in this week's press conference and if he plants the seeds of doubt in Slot's and his men's minds with a well placed pointed remark, I for one will forgive him a moment's indiscretion.

We have nothing to fear.

I would love to see Ndiaye, and Alcaraz running at their defence, but the manager will judge as to whether it's worth rushing the Senegalese magician back too early.

As Newcastle and Plymouth have demonstrated, they can be taken if we get at them.

The only real thing at stake for us is league placings and the few million quid that goes with it, so it would be nice to get a point or three and help move us up the table.

He will know his record there is poor, he will know they expect us to sit back and invite pressure, he will know a win will secure our presence in the Premier League and take all the pressure off… so what has he got to lose? Nothing!

The other lot? Another loss to Everton, you lost the league playing us again...

Makes me want to say a few Hail Marys...

Over the years, when I've been able to attend, I've got a better derby record at Anfield than at Goodison. I've sat in or stood on three of the four sides of that ground.

The Kop, where you couldn't move until everyone else decided to and grown men just decided to give in and make streams of urine pass down the terracing.

Their old Main Stand in amongst them. The Anfield Road both in with them again, and in the away corner, when it used to be next to the Kemlyn Road Stand, later the Centenary Stand of now the Sir Whoever Stand.

This time out, I'm with the Evertonians and like most by the sounds of it, I'm looking forward to it.

The blue tide is rising, and they don't like it.

Better, not bitter.

I confess to only watching the derby in Anfield twice, I think we won 4-0 – must have been 1963 when we won the league, I was stood in the Kop and never saw a bloody thing! I must have only been about 7 or 8 sitting on a bar.

A few years later, I watched from Kemlyn Road — a draw. Always thought they were disgusting, seeing fans peeing in a rolled up newspaper rather than going the loo. I never went back.

Win this and I don't care about the rest of the season, just put the skids under them!

We beat Liverpool 4-0 in 1964, the season after the title, but you are correct about the toilet habits of those disgusting Kopites — animals.

Sadly, you are wrong again about All Souls, which was in Collinwood Street, the other side of Greaty, not Roscommon Street.

Anyway, Christine, have a lovely day today on Mother's Day.

Two Blues on the Kop…

“I'm desperate for a piss.”
“The bloke in front, pee in the hood on his coat.”
“Won't he notice?”
“Well, you didn't…”

Hopefully Mykolenko is fit and Ndiaye and McNeil on the bench, and Broja seems to be in good form as well.

So here's hoping we can get a result there, and sicken the whinging Van Dijk and Slot.

I'd absolutely love to see us go there on Wednesday night and beat them in front of their own fans, it's been too too long since we actually won in front of their lot, the 2021 was a great win but the whole lockdown season felt too surreal for me.

I want to beat them in front of a full house over there...

Can we do it?

Yes, we can, I don't think they are as good as they were a few months ago, they look jaded, they look a bit leggy, much like this time last year, it must be in their minds that they have basically pissed the league this season, nobody is getting near them so maybe, just maybe they have taken their foot off a bit.

That said, we've also looked a bit gone in the last few weeks, ideas look limited but some players are returning.

Let's just hope for a positive result here.

I am always very interested to read your reminiscences of Everton, the club and the area itself [ and those of Christine also ]. Your reference to All Souls Church on Roscommon Street rang a bell with me and brought back memories of my grandfather, who had a small business in the city which involved travelling to customers in that area.

I recall him once telling me that Henry Stanley, who later became relatively famous for tracing Dr Livingstone, the missing Scottish missionary and explorer In Africa, was believed to have lived for a short time in Roscommon Street or possibly Back Roscommon Street, before sailing to the United States in the 1870's in search of a better life.

It was there that, as a rather impoverished immigrant, by way of a tribute to the man who later became his benefactor, he changed his name from John Rowlands to Henry Stanley and which he later used in his career as a journalist. My apologies if you are already aware of this and for it being off topic but I thought it worth mentioning.

I don't think so. Despite the name, that area of Liverpool was mostly Protestant inhabitants.

Would be nice to shut them up and beat them in our first home, especially with it being the last season as there 'neighbours' from across the park.

Thanks for that information, Chris, but no, I didn't know anything about Henry Stanley possibly living in Roscommon Street or even in Liverpool.

No need for apologies it was well worth mentioning.

Stanley did indeed, live in Roscommon street for a short time, I remembered a small black plaque commemorating ir on a wall:: “The plaque mentioned was above the door of the old Homeopathy Hospital at the bottom of Roscommon Street, on the right hand side coming up from Great Homer Street.”

Interestingly, his name was John Rowlands but he changed it after coming out of the workhouse in Denbigh north Wales, lived up by the Castle there in a small house a hundred yards away from what would become my first home after getting married. It wasn't a joyous place! Long time ago when we was FAB.

That would be my assessment of what is at stake for Moyes in this game. He has to put in a showing.

Good Luck with the Hail Marys.

https://www.livpost.co.uk/the-strange-life-of-loyal-liverpool/

Fair enough, he got us some points towards safety but anyone could have done that following Dyche’s sacking.

Moyes is uninspiring as a manager. He's steady. Taking us forward is someone else's job.

Given the religious nature of this thread, I think the most appropriate is Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

I didn't realise there was an"old" Northern Irish flag. The Ulster Banner, more commonly referred to as the Red Hand of Ulster, is and always has been an unofficial flag to my knowledge. The only official flag of Northern Ireland is the Union Flag.

We got a framed woven piece of both our family coats of arms shortly after marriage. The O'Neill one depicts two lions holding the red hand, standing over a salmon, with the words "Larn Tears Eirin" scribed underneath. I've no idea what that means, so if there are any Irish Gaelic speakers out their, I would appreciate a rough translation. It's been on the wall for 33 years!! The wife side simply has "England" underneath it.

Neil, I'll catch up with you in the week. I'm travelling up Wednesday morning, dropping the dog off at my sisters, and will head into Lime Street at some point in the afternoon and then make my way over, probably to County Road, but I'm flexible.

Expect Gueye to be booked early doors for a nothing tackle to take him out of the game in fear of a second yellow, Slot will be in the ref’s ear a day or so before for sure, the old Fergie mind games.

My heart tells me we can get into these, if McNeil plays, Virgil cannot mark Tarkowski, O’Brien and Branthwaite from set pieces; my head tells me we will get mugged as per usual, once again by bent officials.

On to Saturday, on the 9th minute of the Arsenal game, both sets of fans will be singing super Kevin Campball.

As a kid in the ‘80s, we would go to Southport on the 12th July and meet the enemy (Mancs, pejorative term I know) at the speedway for a tear up. I had no idea of the history or what the lodge was about and it was almost a right of passage for us.

Being a Protestant was celebrated growing up in the South end.

No idea if this still goes on but hopefully it died along with Rubik cube and break dancing.

I guess Young will fill in at left back (though a small chance he plays Branthwaite here to counter Salah with Keane getting a game in the middle?) and I'm sure that Doucoure will start over Alcaraz for his superior experience and running. Would be great if Ndiaye were fit to start as he is the one who can get us up the pitch open up a team on the counter.

The team I expect Moyes will play:

Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Branthwaite Young
Lindstrom Garner Gueye Ndiaye or Harrison
Doucoure
Beto

With the likes of Alcaraz, McNeil, Broja etc on the bench hopefully we can stay in the mix till near the end and grab a winner or equaliser.

Seems you are related to the nine hostages, kings of Ireland in the middle ages! The crest is there too!

It’s not a given that Mykolenko will be out but, if he is, I think it will be a toss up for Seamus or Young.. (I think Seamus).

They utilise a high press so one-on-ones for Beto is a good bet, set pieces too. But either way, please don't just sit back and give up the middle of the park again.

Brian, are you going on Wednesday? And, anyone else too, for that matter!

But he's give us more moments where I've been breathless… for the wrong reasons. I don't think he'll start unless as makeshift left-back?

Neil, I'll be there before we march across. I keep saying it, but I'm looking forward to this one.

Keane to get a late winner. Doucoure to bait the Kop. Slot to throw a hissy fit. Can't wait!!

Love it, Danny, bring it on!

Which means “the red hand of Ireland”
The Murphy one is “Fortis et hospitalus”
Which translates as “Brave and hospitable”.

Which I am.

I don't know what they use the quadruple 2025 shirt for though.😁

Have fun on Wednesday.

I hope you don't suffer from cenosilicaphobia like me.

Branthwaite is our fastest defender and good on the ball too – which is why he could do a job on Salah at left-back – but I agree it's very unlikely.

In reality, my ancestors probably picked potatoes on the lands of the O'Neill kingdoms. Certainly, my dad's side trace back to arriving in Liverpool during the famine.

Well, back to the small matter of Wednesday. After the events at Goodison, the pre-match press interviews could be entertaining!! Seconds out, round 2!!

Censosilicaphobia, the fear of having an empty beer glass.

You can help alleviate sufferers anxieties with a few words: "It's my round!"

He is a bit of a unit but might not be quite enough of a mad dog.

Losing to Plymouth, Newcastle, PSG has put a real dent in them.

To end up with nothing would be catastrophic. Hilariously catastrophic.

Whereas we have nothing to lose. Go there and just test out how they're standing up to their recent disappointments. Put on some pressure and see how they react.

Hopefully they Jean van de Velde all over themselves.

Danny my own roots are more southern based but like yours looked to pastures new around the 1850s and found L5 where they have been ever since despite the wanderlust I inherited!

I somehow think if Beto is in the mood he will give Van Dijk a torrid time, together with Broja and Alcaraz behind them, I think they will struggle. Both big units and it's clear Van Dijk doesn't like two physical units he cannot intimidate.

Especially as we should be looking to beat Arsenal next weekend, as I hope we will.

Fuck the RS — beat them on Wednesday and their league title won't mean shit to me!

Has anyone else ever had the feeling that, whenever we have one of these bloody pointless international breaks, our first game after a break usually goes badly for us?

While I hope we can do a job on the other lot, I can't shake the feeling that we could sacrifice our unbeaten run on Wednesday.

Am I the only one who hates these bloody international breaks?

The priest I recall from All Souls was Father Quigley – a Geordie fan, I believe!

Now that you come to mention it, it's a rest period… some would say a holiday.

I actually hoped Everton would play Arsenal first.

No, you're not alone, Brian @59. They get in the way of Everton. I don't like them, especially when it's for a meaningless friendly.

I still don't understand why some Premier League games couldn't have taken place over the weekend. Maybe it was easier to just call anyone not involved in the FA Cup off too?

Mark, I'll message you to meet up before the Arsenal match. I hope to beat both of them, I too don't care about the title non-race. I'll leave that to Sky and their disciples. A bit of back and forward for me this week, but most of it will be in Liverpool.

If we can somehow win on Wednesday, we will have the bragging rights, only Forest have beaten them at their ground in the league this season, we could be the last team to beat them both home and away, with Liverpool's last away defeat in the league, coming at Goodison park, in a 2 nil Everton win.

A win on Wednesday and Everton will be the last team to defeat them both home and away, with Broja, Chermiti, McNeil and Ndiaye all in training, we could be going there with a full strength team, or the very least a very strong bench.

Nothing to lose for Everton, but how good would it be to get a victory there and shoving that unwanted record down their throats.

Danny - I've whatsapped you...

UTFT

There is a film, you will get it on YouTube, called Waterfront, from the 1940s or '50s, which shows All Souls playground which is in the street and the church was next to the school, not sure if the church is shown in the film.

The film is not too bad starring Robert Newton and Richard Burton but might show interesting views of the area.

I want you to rewrite my CV for me!

Yes, of course we have a shocking record against them. A record we have contributed to as much as they have. Yes, I know we have had some proper twat decisions go against us when we've played them, but we have also been guilty of giving referees the chance to get a red card out by making ridiculous challenges in this fixture.

I'm not one for blaming refs, usually, but I've been there enough times to know that they will get away with murder. That's a given… but you don't beat 12 men by going down to 10 yourselves.

This crew and the 50,000 gobshites who will be trying to referee the game are far from unbeatable, but give them a numerical advantage and you are right on the back foot. What I want to see from our boys (whoever plays) is discipline, discipline... and then some more discipline.

We can't stop them winning the league, but I don't know a single Evertonian who doesn't want to sicken them. And everyone who posts here knows that's exactly what a blues win will do.

I believe we have the tools. For fuck's sake, let's for once go and do the fucking job.

Silence the bastards

We are always terrible after any kind of layoff, putting in woeful performances. If we are built up to a win because "it's the right time" or "we have a good chance" etc, we then suck.

Against them, we always bottle it. We either go psycho and lose our heads, losing players to stupid red cards, or committing basic mistakes and errors which they capitalise on. Add in a totally inept ref, and biased VAR, then deep disappointment is the most likely outcome.

I have long since stopped being excited. I hate the derby because Everton frequently let us down. Or the referee.

Anything above deep disappointment has to be looked upon as a result.

The team talk would thus be simple.

"I don't care if you are sent off, I don't care if we are down to 9 men. Just win, that's all. I don't care how you do it, Just win and everyone of you is guaranteed another season."

It'd be a nice wind-up point if their League title is slightly tarnished by their failure to beat us, home or away – especially if Everton are the only team to remain unbeaten against them.

Cautious Moyes will not play McNeil or Ndiaye from the start.

Steve #79, I wouldn't consider that cautious. I would consider it intelligent and sensible.

The last away game in the league the Red Shite lost was last season at Goodison.

They are unbeaten away from home this season.

Nothing more annoying than those.

Keith Wyness.

That will do me.

Ndiaye was mentioned in the thread above by a poster as a possible starter. But there is zero chance Moyes would take that chance with a player returning from injury.

It's about as likely as him setting up the team with an attacking gameplan tomorrow night.

We know the Moyes attacking game plan is Ashley Young at 74 mins. The reds won't know what's hit them!

Nottm Forest beat them playing defensively and even PSG were a lot less attacking than when they'd been all over the RS at home (but lost).

I feel like I'm 13, not 53. Without sounding over-excited, we can do them. I'd love to see Ndiaye feature, but I doubt he will start. The prospect of him and Charly tying Virgil's laces in knots is mouth watering.

My imagination is running away with itself, so you'll have to excuse me.

Salah get's a second yellow and takes a walk for diving. Van Dijk sees red for doing his usual cynical foul. Slot loses the plot and gets sent to the stands for trying to remind to ref who's side he's supposed to be on after big Jake O'Brien outmuscles his captain to grab the winner. Surely it was a foul? Or handball, or out of sportsmanship, he should have had the decency to put the ball wide. It's just not fair.

The kop is silenced in it's own urine and 3,000 blues are belting out spirit on the Anfield Road. I hope the Winslow has Elton's song ready to go for after the match.

The old Northern Irish flag you referenced is most likely the Ulster flag covering the nine counties of Ulster before partition in 1922 but generally still in use. Just like the flags of Munster, Leinster and Connaught

https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ie-prov.html

As for the motto, can't help you there as that doesn't look like any Gaelic I have ever seen.

Sean 30

I hope you will be eating your words on Wednesday evening. You have the same mindset that you are accusing Moyes of having

Talking of flags and banners. Part of me would want us to hold a half Everton / half Juventus one up at Anfield in retaliation for that Bucharest stunt.

But we're better than that.

Not sure about the republican version but to the best of my knowledge the flag of the four provinces is used by the Irish rugby team when playing away from home because the team is an all island team.

I think the flag you mentioned is an Ulster flag and not a Northern Irish flag which is the cross of St Patrick with the red hand in the centre which is one of the three flags which makes up the Union Jack.

A bit like Scottish teams not playing in the English league unlike Wales where at least 4 do (Wrexham, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport).

And one team located in England plays in the Scottish league: Berwick.

Yeah, two separate associations, whereas golf, hockey amongst others are one.

Enjoy Wednesday, I'll be in the Algarve watching in a pub hopefully with some Evertonian and not like the Goodison derby where I was the only one in the pub who jumped off my seat when Tarkowski equalised.

At least for the last 45 minutes.

Pickford,Lindstrom, Gueye, Garner, Alcaraz, Harrison
Doucoure, Beto.

I don't think he will risk starting Ndiaye or McNeil but he might bring them on late on.

He has also got in addition to those two, a half decent bench:- Iroegbunam, Chermeti, Broja, Young, Coleman, Patterson, Keane.

No reason we can't get a result here.

Up the Blues!!!

Laurie, I wouldn't risk me either!! Maybe stick McNeil on the bench instead!!

For me, Garner and Harrison should play as wing-backs, with Gueye, Iroegbunam and Doucoure playing midfield and Alcaraz and Beto as our forwards.

Pickford
O'Brien Tarkowski Branthwaite
Garner Iroegbunam Gueye Doucoure Harrison
Alcaraz
Beto

Subs: Broja, Chermiti, Lindstrom, Young, Ndiaye, McNeil

Those sort of mistakes are just a slip of the tongue, an age thing.

Regarding Mykolenko, if Danny was in his twenties I'd play him instead of Myko who does nothing for me going forward or defending but gives me palpitations on my ticker.

He has to be replaced next season if we are to make steady progress in the league, mind you, according to one fan, he had a super game against Salah and Liverpool in the drby at Goodison.

The question is, has Moyes got it in his locker to play that system. Then again, who else have we got that could play left back – Young or Seamus?

I will be really interested to see his starting line up for this one.

A few fans have said they've seen an improvement in Mykolenko under Moyes so it might just be me.

If he doesn't play, it would mean a few changes just to get someone to play there. I'd put O'Brien left-back and Garner at right-back although I much prefer James as a centre midfielder, then use Tim, Gana and Doucoure in midfield with Charly upfront with Beto at the start.

Also starting Harrison and Lindstrom on the wings as there is nobody else with Ndiaye and McNeil replacing them later on with Young, Patterson, or even Seamus being utilised depending on how the game is going.

I think you are right — he certainly won't play O'Neill (!)

There is also undoubtably a huge gulf in quality between the two sides. On form, I think only Pickford would stand a chance of getting in their First XI.

So there isn't really a magic formation or set of tactics particularly that can level the playing field. Whatever side / formation etc we pick will have a few weak links and people out of position.

The important things are concentration, organisation, team spirit and hard work. Refereeing decisions and a bit of luck will also help.

I'd be very pleased for Moyes (and all Blues) if he could pull off a long-overdue win at their place.

With the next five games against the Top 5, it would be quite a yardstick to see how much improvement has been gained.

The derby match will be of more importance to RS than the Blues but the Everton squad are all out to secure their places for next season and should be battling as usual.

We know there will be many changes to the roster in the Summer and we all have our opinions as to who will go.

Moyes has done a good job so far and has some time to chop and change to see what he really has.

I loved Danny's post at #85 but there's no way that Van Dijk would get shown a red card, especially at their place.

Bloody hate derbies, particularly over there.

Always fun to work en masse to Anfield.

I played right-back and left-back, having been forceable and self-taught to use both feet when I was young. I ended up being as comfortable as both.

I also played in a back three for several seasons with success. It works if you have the right players and everyone is switched on. Especially your wing-backs and holding midfielder, to cover if possession gets turned around quickly. Otherwise, you can get exposed on the flanks.

By 8 am tomorrow morning, I'll be on the train with my dog. She's not going the match, I'm dropping her off at my sister's and doing some family stuff before I head in to make the walk across.

Anything can happen in a derby, so I'm feeling good and confident. As always, I don't care who walks across that line tomorrow. They'll all be in blue shirts and wherever we are, we'll be right behind them.

Abit of good news, nothing against Young, but wouldn't fancy him against Salah. I'd say Ndiaye will make the bench also.

It was meant as a compliment, you can use both feet for a start, you'd let your opponent know you were there by giving him some hard but fair tackles in the first few minutes.

I'd hope you could take a good throw-in– you couldn't be worse than Mykolenko at them, you'd be giving your teammates plenty of vocal encouragement or stick if they needed it.

If I'd have been your coach, Danny, you'd have been a regular for Everton and England!

I was also two footed and self taught. I had no problem using either foot. Played mostly striker and could play any position but keeper, and had an engine that I could play two games one after the other and sometimes did.

It sticks out like a sore thumb, the so-called professionals who can't and won't use either feet, even when the pass is a simple one, they will use the outside of the stronger boot.

I just question whether he's had time to train our guys up on that.

Is this the new version of knife to a gun fight?

I wouldn't want to hear that from my manager but it is true.

Although this isn't a vintage RS team, it is likely to win the league with a bit to spare – and our players are mostly crap by comparison with theirs.

That's not to say we can't win or shouldn't give them a hell of a game – but player for player there is a huge gulf.

"We might be further away from Liverpool than we have ever been at the moment.

"When we left here, we were much closer to Liverpool, we were competitive, competing around the same areas in the league. At the moment, it is probably the biggest gulf between the two clubs."

It's taking us back to his old trick of playing down expectation. Not for me. Everton expects. I hope behind closed doors, he is bigging up our chances to the players.

I'm not going to that place to be beaten before a ball is kicked. Neither should they.

Gulf? Despite recent years, my lowest derby moment still remains the 5-0 drubbing they dished out to us in 1982 at Goodison. I was only 11 and wondered how we would ever catch them. Well, two or three seasons later, we did!

Believe ,Everton. They are not invincible.

Hopefully he's using some more inspirational stuff with the players but it sets the wrong tone in my view.

There's a time and a place for realistic analysis. The day before a derby at Castle Greyskull is not one of them.

I was 10.

If not for Moyes, we could literally be worrying about the shite sending us down tomorrow night.

But that doesn't fit some people's agenda…

Just a strange choice of words imo and not exactly inspiring.

St Virginia and that horrible bastard Robertson will get right in the official's face and try to referee the game.

Slot will do the same off the sidelines, his calm and placid demeanour is starting to slip; strong officiating – especially around the box where Salah will throw himself around – will be needed.

A £400M wage bill vs a £160M wage bill tells you that.

But best the manager doesn't broadcast it before a derby.

Watch how many times they push, pull and run into players tomorrow and continually get away with it.

That can come later after we beat them.

I think that's underestimating our chances, I can see us playing well and getting a fighting draw.

Let's hope the ref's not a homer.

He also said he was looking forward to playing against the top five, and was quietly confident, especially with nearly all the players back from injury.

As for the comments themselves, I don't see where Moyes is saying Everton can't get a result here.

Vintage Moyes though... I thought he was supposed to have changed.

The BBC had a list of the managers with worst records at a particular ground and Moyes featured twice in the list of 15 with his overall records at Liverpool and Man Utd (as an away manager obviously).

That being said, he was not alone. Redknapp was on the list twice for Old Trafford and Goodison Park, Hodgson twice for Stamford Bridge and Goodison Park.

Allardyce surprisingly considering was only on the list once for Arsenal away games.

It shows why Moyes never made it as a top manager (manager: the person who manages expectations, motivates and inspires, gets the best from what he has, etc..) Classic Moyes… exactly what you don't want to hear, the truth.

There is a time and place for pragmatism, even honesty, we know he is right but we don't need to hear it from the one leading us on the eve of a battle. Damm poor show.

In many respects, it reminds me of why I only wanted his return as a short-term solution. Win or lose, there is a time and place for pragmatism and truth… but not today. No, not today..

Today is – or should be – a call to arms for his players and fans; not pragmatism… keep that to yourself, a time and place. This wasn't it.

They'll target Pickford and, since the recent derby, probably some others like Doucoure. If we can play and press with energy and speed, the gaps will open up and we always have a chance at a set piece.

It's not impossible, we can get something with the right attitude.

We are going there to win, nothing less.

Some people commenting didn't even watch what he said and what questions he was asked.

Bobby Robson also never won at Anfield. I suppose he wasn't a top manager either.

Get in. Loud and proud blues.

No fear. UTFT!

Paul doesn't think we can beat them. He's predicting a 3-1 defeat.

Graeme Sharp's wondergoal at Anfield!

Two players who can cause them problems. Put them on the back foot and have the quality to pick the right pass for Beto getting behind their defenders.

I don't want to see us camped on the edge of our box waiting for the inevitable..

10 seems more likely.

The question is: Will Moyes of learnt anything since his short time here?

I think not!

The other 3, whoever they are place more emphasis on attacking, although clearly they have to work back when possession is conceded.

Wafer thin squad with a bunch of injuries. 9 games unbeaten with that at his disposal and some are still criticising him for his choices!

I'd love to see the players have a good go, even if it means that we come away losing. UTFT

Nicely chilled in the wee small hours over here, lovely dry white, great book, mellow jazz. Couldn't be better. Feeling George's cosmic grooves. Alarm set for 10:30.

I’ve got my derby days rituals to follow to see us through. No clothing with even a hint of red, including undies. No swearing, no predicting the score and be a good catholic boy and leave yourself alone…

COYB and UTFT

I'm about to set off. Pit stop at my sisters to drop the dog off. She always gets made a fuss of on the train, mainly by females. It would be a great "in" if I was looking, but they never seem to want to talk about Everton and football.

See those of us meeting at the Royal Oak before heading dark side.

What have you learnt that Moyes hasn't?

I did not beome a priest.

Or, string vest with gravy stains and y-fronts.

Enjoy the wine – what time does the game start in your time zone?

Sleep the sleep of the innocent and untroubled with dreams of a Kevin Campbell, Richarlison and Graeme Sharp moment and hopes for a new hero tonight!

2 pm, Mark mate. Have a fucking fabulous day mate. Give Danny a big hug from me.

Thinking of you all.

COYB

Moyes has never won a game at Mordor so I'm predicting he will break his duck and we'll win 2-0.

I think the first 20 minutes are crucial: if we don't concede, I think we could get something from the game. I am afraid I am not brave enough to predict a win for us.

Ralph is telling us Moyes hasnt learned. Fair enough, but I think its fair to ask him what he has learned that Moyes hasn't ?

I for one, am interested in his answer.

I don't think some of our fans have learned a thing. We wont be "Going in". We most definitely WONT be "marching across". This is not not a "free hit". They will most definitely Not field the team that lost to Plymouth and they wont specifically target Pickford (He's our keeper FFS).

The wind and piss bravado spouted by Evertonians before our games with them reeks of brittle confidence. It generally evaporates shortly after the kick off and It gets on my fucking nerves.

We need to do the basic's. Stay disciplined. play with a plan. Stop them playing. Win the majority of personal battles on the pitch. Silence the Orks. Frustrate them. Make them desperate.

The game that was won in a pre-match press conference hasnt been played yet. What Moyes says in public wont matter a fuck tonight.

Fuck the grandstanding and bravado. There will be plenty of time for that when we've turned them over.

I want to see the usual shite replaced by a discipline. a steely determination and a quiet inner believe that we will expose their hysterical screams of self entitlement for what they are.

I don't want us going as Naseem Hamed tonight. I want us going as Joe Calzaghe.

I'd take a repeat of every away performance under Moyes so far. KiTaP1.

Well said. Shame you aren't Moyes's boss. I don't watch press conferences because it's all bulldshit and waffle. No hard questions allowed. The manager should be there promoting his players and team. Good to know he did the opposite.

Perhaps he believes it is a kind of reverse psychology.
With a squad as bulky as thin ice, no known goalscorer (still!!!) and our propensity to be shite after a lay-off, we will need the spirit and energy of popeye on crystalmeth spinach.
I will be watching (from behind the couch, blanket over my head).

Utterly braindead people in this world

I don't think for one minute the players will be influenced one jot by what he says in press conferences. Nor should the fans be imo.

This might also prepare them for life without Salah next season lol! Battle strategy — take out their strongest weapons first!

Better to have a subdued Moyes than a croaking Dyche, who, as well as making me want to cough every time he spoke, never talked like he was part of the club.

My only request for tonight is that we go out and give our best for 90 minutes. After all, it really isn't our ‘cup final', is it?!

Do these RS managers all pass through the same criteria-based selection model? One criterion involves claiming injustice when results go against you.

It started with Shankly and his, "travesty of justice" (after Alan Ball's cup-winning goal — one for older readers).

Dead-from-the-neck-up observations for dead-from-the-neck-up supporters.

Nothing wrong with going into a match believing we can win. I always do and did so as a player.

Ryan. Brain dead? Who?

John, you put me wise, in a most courteous way, about the origins of Rangers, Celtic etc, recently. I voted to investigate further and am now reading "The Making of Hibernian" by Alan Lugton. Really interesting... thanks, buddy!

You're probably in the land of nod already, Paul, but I'd need fucking long arms to hug him this time. He's got a ticket but I haven't… so I'm watching from West Sussex.

He'll get a nod from me on Saturday at the Arsenal game which will likely be my last ever Goodison game unless I can get one from a friend of mine who follows Southampton home and away.

I'll join you on the Live Forum tonight until the negativity kicks in after 5 minutes if we're not 1 up…d oes my head in that!
Hope we're all celebrating tonight!

Getting to the platform amongst them was nauseating enough. Sat with them for over 2 hours is painful. I think I'll prefer the Gooners on Saturday.

We won one by rattling, bullying, battering them to a defeat and a well deserved draw which could have gone either way but no matter we showed no fear, didn’t go over the top with stupid tackles but played hard and fair and got a referee who showed no fear in giving us a fair and proper share of the fouls.

We can get something out of this game the only fear I have has been voiced already—is how the ref. on the field and those in the studio make their decisions.

For once we are going over there without suspensions, without loads of injuries in key areas, if Mykolenko is fit, he normally keeps Salah quiet for most of the game, take that threat away and they are not better than us, regardless of league placings one man team for sure.

We get our set pieces right, O,Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite and Beto will be a big threat in the air, Virgil can only mark one of them, get the right through balls and we see how Virgil struggles having to turn and chase.

With Chermiti and Broja on the bench and possibly Ndiaye and Alcaraz, the longer we can keep in the game, the bigger the threat we pose for once off the bench.

We need to make sure we are squeaky clean and make perfect tackles, do not give away soft yellow cards, if we can do that, if those players do their job, Then I think we have more than a chance tonight.

Already seen Southampton take the lead there and many others, they are slow starters for sure, we have to get at them from the off try and get that goal, then be ready for the second half where they normally raise the game, make the right changes at the right time, knock them out of their rhythm, but take the ball to their end, none of this sitting back, turn them round and attack them. That game is there for the taking tonight, as long as the players do not freeze, we have to hope and prey we have a fair ref, a strong one who will not fold under the atmosphere.

We can do it Blues, not have a better chance than this.

Up the Toffees.

The hundreds of decisions that have gone for them (usually given by cowardly refs, particularly at Anfield) are forgotten and the only decisions remembered (nb: with bitterness and a loud sense of injustice) are the very occasional ones that the don't go their way.

At Goodison a few weeks ago I watched Liverpool (once they were 2-1 up) waste time 3/4 different ways.

They then adopted the 'moral' (?) high-ground and became outraged when the ref had the nerve to take their time-wasting into consideration and add time on (he even pointed to his watch twice to tell them so).

Their sense of entitlement is (and has been for most of my life) off the scale.

I once (right in front of me) saw Dirk Kuyt deliver a two footed Kung Fu kick on Phil Neville.

No sending off.

Same game, Carragher (nb: right in front of Clattenburg!) wrestles Lescott to the deck.

No pen, no punishment.

Think it was the same game Stevie Me told the ref he should send Hibbert off (and he did)

Some say it all works out over a season, but their penalty count (ie: 9, most in Europe this season) compared to our 1, says that may not be the case.

Er...anyway...Up The Toffees!

Is there a limit on season tickets because the PL insist on a certain percentage of tickets being available for games to non season ticket holders?

Moyes 2.0 is a very different beast to what we had before though.”

UTFT

https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2025/april/02/fans-snap-up-season-tickets-ahead-of-everton-stadium-move/

Mark, not sure if I've misunderstood your post but it doesn't ring true to me.

My understanding is that all ST holders were able to renew for BMD and also those at the top of tier 1of the waiting list could apply between March 15th and 31st.

There may be thousands of "seats" left but they are left to be sold on a match by match basis.

The capacity HAS been increased by circa 14k but that full circa 14k was never going to be available as season tickets.

Referee: Sam Barrott. Assistants: Lee Betts, Timothy Wood. Fourth official: Darren Bond. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Adam Nunn. My god, if anyone is going to bottle it then it’s that lot!

Oh, and you can add virgin Van shite and Robertson to that list.

He also repeatedly stated that we are going there to win, and that he's looking forward to playing the top five in the next five games to see what the players can do.

I'm not sure what all the moaning on here is about to be honest.

We're safe from relegation. On our day, we're a match for anyone. Time for the players to show what they can do and show how much they want to be at the club next season.

Realistically a win may be tough given our offensive weaknesses but we can get a result if we can curb their scoring especially Salah.

If Young plays then his experience may come into play knowing that Salah always wants to come inside on his left foot.

They probably have the league sewn up but it would be nice to hold them again.

I'll pay half his wages myself.

At least any gulf will have been lessening week after week with our slowly returning casualties and their recent confidence impacting losses.

The players need to have self belief and they need to be ready to go toe to toe from the off, but I hope they are not too pumped up. Frustrate them and let the mounting pressure get to them but don’t give the officials any excuse to judge us as over-stepping the mark. Just beating them tonight will be ‘heroic’ enough for me.

Tom (193), knowing what Salah wants to do and stopping him from doing it are two different things.

If Ashley Young is given the job of shackling Salah then our left flank will not have an ounce of ‘go forwards’ about it.

Come on you gulf-leaping Blues!!!

Everyone watching the game new he was a cheat, and you have Dermot Gallagher constantly praising him on the ref watch, and another cheat Graham Poll who admitted he never blew the full-time whistle before the ball went into the net off Hutchinson”s back.

I'm expecting the ref to turn a blind eye to the redshite dirty tactics tonight, where we'll have Daley Salah and Daley Jota performing.

But if, as Rob says, there are only 3,000 tickets left for match by match basis, and we give 3,000 to the away fans, then back of a fag math's tell me there's 47,000 season ticket holders?

Or are there other tickets available on a match by match basis in other stands?

I was in tier one of the waiting list and have missed out, it would seem, so either the ratio of Season tickets to general sales has decreased or we have sold 14,000 more season tickets?

Does anyone have a definitive figure on the general sales availability? If that's increased significantly I don't mind missing out. Tbh – its spares me a very awkward conversation with the wife who already thinks I love Everton more than her on the back of the few matches Ive managed to go this season... (she didn't find the auld joke about even loving Liverpool more than her, at all funny, by the way).

I'll renew my membership and hope it works better next season.

If people in tier one of the waiting list missed out that would tend to suggest that there weren't "that" many new season tickets issued.

I've heard the figure but am waiting on confirmation rather than giving out bum information.

When I say season tickets, by the way, I'm referring to a single seat, not any of the corporate or lounge packages.

At least it means I'm nearer the top than I was, as I think it was 5 years/seasons or more that was guaranteed, and I was on 4.

It's really weird that years ago, when football wasn't as expensive and Everton were a regular top half side (Moyes's first reign) you could just go on the website or to Goodison and buy one.

And now it costs a fortune, and we are not far off dreadful, there's a waiting list. It might be due to the new stadium but I know quite a few clubs are in the same position.

I hope you have not just waved the superior optimist card at me. I think we have a real chance of winning this and have even had a punt at 6/1.

There is a huge difference between inner confidence and brittle bravado. One will win you matches. The other will get you found out before the players break into a sweat.

Shame he couldn't find a "clever" accountant eh?

That's what I want to see in a few hours, that's all I can ask for and if we take that approach, if we get a fair shake from officials, then I will be proud of my team.

"I got a feeling, a feeling deep inside, oh yeah.." I'm going into this game not with trepidation but a smile because I know we can do it.

So "Rise up, put your hands in the air, rise up,
Show me the dreams they said I'd never find,
I'll show you that miracles can happen, yeah."

(Apologies to Heather Small)

Make me proud blues, make today a good day, make today special, lay down a marker for future generations to look back on and point to as the beginning of a new era, the beginning of the end of darkness, the day we started putting the world to rights. Make me proud blues, make me proud...

Subtle difference

Unfortunately, my issue is that it is not how confident or proud we fans are before these games, it's which Everton decide to turn up on the pitch.

If Everton turn up, show them no respect, do not give them silly free kicks and make stupid mistakes and contest every ball then we'll have a chance.

If, as has happened too often, we go there with a hope of just getting the 90 minutes over with then we'll get spanked. I wish these games were decided on pride or justice because we'd win every derby game we took part in.

COYB

We had just over 31,000 season ticket holders at Goodison and I think it was around 5,000 from the waiting list got season tickets, my daughter was around 10,000 on the waiting list but was unsuccessful so I would say the very max from waiting list is around just under 10,000 which would come to the 31,000 or so Goodison season ticket holders, plus those from waiting list, so sounds about right 42,000, but like I say I am assuming anyone who chose that halfway option, would have been season ticket holders anyway.

things may have changed, but that was the original figures for season tickets.

I am Tier 1 with 4 years tenure, but never known where I was on the list till this afternoon. The club have updated my account to show I'm the position band 3501-4000. At least I now know where I stand.