Blues waste golden chances, losing to an offside goal

Virginia
Young
Keane
Coleman
Patterson
Ireogbunam
Broja
Ndiaye
Chermiti

Alcaraz and Harrison either side of Doucoure behind Beto?

Or it could be narrower with 3 centre mids.

Strongest bench we've had in a while...

I ended up having to copy them out by hand off that stupid Twatter graphic they all use now!

Only one goalkeeper... Moyes taking a massive risk!!!

Link to the Live Forum has now been added above.

Beto has been great but is very close to a red card, tricky one whether to replace him soon as he's causing them problems.

Hope to see Ndiaye second half, he was playing so well the last time we had the joy of watching him.

Doucoure was a problem for us when we were trying to get hold of the ball, but as soon as the game opened up a bit you start to see what he can do, picking up loose balls and driving forward. Though his control and passing is still comically bad.

Mykolenko combined with Gana have done a great job on Salah.

On the other side O'Brien has done well but Harrison is the change I'd make. He's a non event in attack and he's got me nervous in defence. There's a penalty coming there. If Ndiaye has a half in him, that's the change I'd make.

Liverpool are panicking. Two big recent losses, we're under their manager, team and fans' skin from the last Derby, and they know a defeat here puts them under pressure. We've got to build on that... and not get the red card that Van Dijk seems to have based his entire game around.

COYB

Where do they get these bleedin' referees? Do they save them for us? He has given us hardly anything but bookings but kept his cards in his pocket for them and his whistle out of his mouth.

Come on you Blues you've got them crying like babies keep at the bastards!

Back to Leeds — Tonight, Please!!!

Not sure about that but I'll be happy if Broja proves me wrong.

Jack Harrison was terrible. I lost count of the number of promising breaks we had and he chose the wrong option.

The subs didn't have any effect but Harrison should have been taken off at half time.

I've seen a lot worse at their place but it could and should have been more.

Send him back now, he has had farrrrrrrr too many opportunities. Send him packing, absolutely trash.

We would have won this if we had two better players playing instead of Doucoure and Harrison.

Beto has to take that chance, although credit to him for creating it.

Didn't clear the lines well enough for Jota goal, although unlucky in playing the ball with Diaz offside. Not sure what advantage Tarkowski gets there when Diaz is a yard behind him...

Well, the run of draws comes to an end, and another defeat at Anfield.

Pickford kicks too much. He only throws the ball to defenders when their attackers are on top of us. He also slows the game down way too much.

Missed opportunity, I feel. A little more quality and we could have won it.

It has to be the end of these shit, useless, talentless, legless players like Harrison, Doucoure, and Young.

We also need to give Chermiti more than 5 minutes, how are we ever going to see if he has anything?

Not too arsed about the result, just need to close out the season and rebuild in readiness for next season.

We had another chance to beat them and should have but, at the vital moments, we lacked composure and muffed some really good opportunities.

At least now we show we are in matches right up to the last minute – which never happened in the last 3 years – just that lack of composure that really fucks us.

What was the thinking behind the Young substitution? We have to get players in who love the ball and are comfortable in possession.

St Virgil is terrible when you have a go at him, we didn't do enough of that in the 2nd half.

It looked like he thought one-nil wasn't a bad result — he never tried to win the game.

We didn't change tactics when we went one down, waited too long to make changes and tactically got it wrong when we went one down. We came here to nick a win, had chances in the first half, but ran out of steam and sat deeper and deeper.

I thought Moyes might have got it right in the first half, fair does, but he got it wrong tactically in the second. Did they deserve to win? No, they had more possession but did nothing with it. We were unfortunate but you cannot give them so much time and space without changing tactics or tired players.

I was disappointed with that.

But I wouldn't bet against the two of them playing on Saturday.

Doucoure runs a lot but can't control the ball and Harrison shouldn't start another game this season.

Listening to Carragher talking shite: Diaz was offside,

We had chances in the first half and should have been ahead… but please can someone tell me how Harrison and Doucoure earn mega money playing professional football???

What sort of moron thought these are footballers, alongside the ineffective James Garner, another fraud who brings fuck-all to the team.

Moyes will turn this around – of that I've no doubt – but by god, we need a massive clearout.

On a brighter note we do have the returning Ndiaye, McNeil and Chermiti to come back in… so hopefully he'll chase Harrison and Doucoure.

All that said, it's baffling how they are pissing the league, they're a very average side with a couple of very good players. Other than that, the worst Champions since Blackburn won the league.

Goodnight, boys and girls; I won't lose any sleep tonight because, in my mind, we were as good as them cheating cunts tonight.

Beto can go play rugby! Doucouré can go join Beto in the rugby team. Harrison can go play scrumhalf with Pickford the fly half.

I think with a few additions, this will be a very strong team. Up The Blues!!

Hope never to see Doucoure or Harrison start a game this season. Time to give Broja, Iroegbunam, Chermiti etc their chances for the rest of the season.

I am a 66-year-old heavily left-footed left-back who won the West Sussex vets league as Player Manager. I scored this Tuesday in a walking football game on grass for the first time this year.

I can head the ball like Dixie and take no prisoners. I can back up like a 30-year-old, and my recently tested blood pressure is good, considering.

I'm available this weekend to play (out of position) instead of Jack Harrison. Did I mention I'm from Lancashire and he's not? I promise you I can do better than him! Let me know!

ps: I know another lad who apparantly (shock) can use both feet and can play in a back three and is related to you. He can play instead of Doucoure if you really can't find any one better at Number 10?

(Doucoure - the worst Number 10 since Maggie Thatcher!!!)

Sleep well Blues - the result doesn't really matter apart from them cunts having the bragging rights. The “gulf” is absolutely not as wide as they think it is!

It's incredible how Harrison loses the ball, makes the wrong pass, doesn't get a tackle in time time after time, game after game. His name should be Sadim — everything he touches turns to shite.

Harrison and Doucoure were awful tonight: when we broke 4 on 3 was it, the final ball by Harrison was absolutely embarrassing — he didnt have a clue what he was doing.

We need to find some midfielders who are comfortable in possession, who can make the 5-yard passes our midfield seem to make a mess of.

Them red bastards were there for the taking on the break but too many times the final ball was overhit or misplaced.

Good effort first half, we should have gone in at the break at least one up but the second half was disappointing bar a couple of fleeting moments.

Tarkowski should definitely have been sent off and Pickford could have been as well.

Do we have that poor of a squad that we have no one better than Doucoure or Harrison? Or are they doing what the manager demands, so he allows their poor play?

They don't deserve to be first choice on their present standards — that shows it's a poor squad to choose from.

What is the problem with passing the ball to team mate on the grass and in space?
What happened to the simple give and go?
What happened to tackling the player with the ball instead of this running backwards and setting up banks of 4 and 5 players when defending?

Tactical nonsense!

I thought we were set up okay and definitely caused Liverpool problems so hopefully TFG can liberate us and we can find a few players with more nerve and more quality (Alkaraz, did as well as anyone else on the pitch IMO).

I agree with Mark M — I don't believe the gap is as big as it sometimes looks.

But the first person out of the door with immediate effect should be Charlie Adams: our corners and set pieces are awful since he came in.

Every corner is overhit to the back post, 3 big centre-halves, a centre-forward to all attack the ball and we waste every single corner.

Get the fraud out of our club.

Utter bullshit!

Liverpool are the worst title winners since Leicester City, they've won it because the English league is regressing with most of the sides that have challenged over the last 20 years disappearing this season up their own arses.

We should have hurt them tonight but our glaring lack of quality going forward (it feels like I say the same thing every year) cost us.

Beto should have scored, unlucky to hit the post but it should be getting smashed home that and he's making a habit now of missing when one-on-one… remind you of anyone?

All-in-all, it's another loss at Anfield, not really much I can say about it, we lose there most seasons and certainly rarely score.

We need a big summer; time to find out what these Yanks are all about.

He set out with the same plan in the second half, we did nothing. I suspect that was because the RS manager sussed what our plan was. The plan needed changing after 60 minutes, as what we were doing clearly wasn't working. That didn't happen for another 10-12 minutes.

From what I have read, the RS have been playing in a similar manner all season – the supporters have been uninspired, but content to take the win. It looks like it will win them the Premier League.

Meanwhile, we will have at least another season of pragmatism from August.

Tarkowski could have gone and I think we were a bit fortunate that Kelleher didn't make anything of Beto's high boot. Van Dijk could have easily convinced the referee to show a second yellow.

On that note, I don't know how he doesn't get carded for constantly appealing for cards. At one point, he was drawing the VAR screen with his hands. That's supposed to be a yellow card.

Overall, a limited bunch gave it a go. We were an inch from being in the lead. I've seen worse at Anfield.

I appreciate what he has done for the Blues, with the Bournemouth goal.

Sorry, lad, but you ain't a footballer. Big Frank got this one right.

He'll be off to Saudi this summer to earn £400k a week though, so hey ho.

The Hungarian never got touched and made a total meal of it on the halfway line, which resulted in the ref giving them a free kick, but you can bet your bottom dollar (minus 10%!) that they will be moaning about this tomorrow.

I wish Tarkowski had shown a little bit more composure and let the ball run through to the cheating little Colombian bastard, and although I'm not complaining, it would have been interesting if this had happened at the other end of the pitch because I'm sure Van Dijk would have somehow been able to get the goal disallowed.

With Everton safe, I just hope the club are working overtime on getting in a few quality players because it does look like the base is there…

Even 2/3 quality players would make a massive difference.

Alcaraz looks a silky footballer – if we had more like minded players around him, he will be a real find.

The Sky commentator was totally biased tonight – what's changed!

They didn't exactly pepper our goal. Garner got his pocket pinched for their goal and that was about it.

I will be amazed if we sign Harrison permanently. His decision-making is lacking and so is his heart.

Not sure what people want from Beto, the lad runs his bollocks off and gets zero service, the chances he gets he generally make himself.

Alcaraz needs to play attacking centre-mid mid and Doucoure either right wing or not at all.

Josh @48, It's not moaning, it's called having an opinion.
If you believe both of our players should have seen red, that's your opinion.

In a derby game, if I don't see my captain winning a 50/50 on the edge of our box, I am not happy.

The ref blew for a foul before Pickford kicked Nunez. The circus surrounding him rolling around off and on the pitch indicates to me a bit of playacting.

We were an inch offside and an inch off the post away from winning that tonight. Yeah, Moyes should have done better and earlier with his subs, but all told, we gave as good as we got. There's only one team in league with Satan… and it's not us.

"Total bollocks" describes the so-called "legitimacy" of their goal too. Their guy was blatantly involved and offside to create the chance.

And then there was the Nunez dive after Jordan challenged him. Was I seeing things when the ref seemed to book the diving sod and he, Nunez, kicked-off in response?

Yes, we were good for a point perhaps but the sodding present-day rules imposed on genuine fans of my vintage make it all largely, no pun intended, rather pointless.

Can you fucking believe it!?!? 😱

I have defended Harrison in the past but he was gash tonight.

And one day, their empire – much like Man Utd's – will finally crumble.

Tarkowski has been a great servant but next season I'd like to see O'Brien and Branthwaite in the middle with two new defenders on either side. Mykolenko was excellent tonight but he's too inconsistent for me.

Tarkowski's decision-making is becoming a concern. Perhaps he's too over-enthusiastic but lately I've seen him going for the same balls as fellow defenders which, to me, is a lack of communication. As a back-up, he could be invaluable… but not as a starter.

Defensively, we played well. Gave up very few chances. For me, the goal is offside, Diaz forces Tarkowski to make a stretched challenge and then immediately joins in the move. He interferes with play.

We have too few leaders on the pitch and we have a number not comfortable with the ball.

Changes needed and coming in the Summer.

Chances missed in the first half. Defended well in the second… but not enough guile going forward to win the game. Beto didn't do badly but could have scored and was a willing runner.

We know Doucoure will be gone at the end of the season, along with Harrison, who was awful and put the final nail in his Everton coffin.

Yes, we lost… but let's not forget: this is not a Moyes team, this is what he inherited. We also know that the team that starts next season will be an improvement and totally different from tonight's line-up.

The manager is learning more about his players with every game and I am sure he is forming a mental picture of who stays and who has to leave, along with what type of player needs to be brought in.

The future is very exciting and I expect us to get a lot closer to the "dark side" next season…

I admit to being worried when it went to VAR (especially considering who we were playing and where), but it's not like he went in Stevie Me style without getting near the ball.

He has taken a similar tactical approach to all those games, regardless of the quality of player at his disposal over the years.

Our setup is let down by Harrison and Doucoure although both do graft a lot.

I hate the way that shower try to get players booked or sent off and constantly pressure the officials.

I thought our system might be better served with 4-3-3 with Jimmy Garner, Gana Gueye, and Tim Ironbaugham in midfield, with a front three of Alcaraz, Beto and Ndiaye.

Beto knows where the net is but could do with some support and others to take on the goalscoring effort.

So basically yet another by the numbers derby loss… coulda, woulda, shoulda, etc.

Beto was 6 inches offside and 6 inches the wrong side of the post.

If a blue shirt 'scores' Jota's goal — though, to be honest, to me, Jota always looked the most likely... anyway, if it was say Alcaraz — it deffo gets looked at and probably disallowed. Jota scores, not a peep from upstairs, referee points to spot and that's it.

The fact that better teams than us will get worse results is scant consolation.

If I was Slot, I'd be worried how Beto was able to get through his backline so easily, though I hope he never solves that problem.

Did we sit a bit too deep? Did we really have a choice? Well, they reckon you always have a choice… trouble was, Beto got his choices 6 inches wrong.

If Ndaiye has no adverse reaction, Harrison goes to the bench.

We defended well and gave up very few chances. We had a few good counter-attacks and came close to scoring a few times.

The goal they scored, I think, as a referee myself, should've been waived off, but my guess is Tierney the VAR wasn't about to give us another close call after letting Tarkowski off the hook.

Whatever you think of whether that tackle should've been red, in today's day and age, I sure thought he was certainly done. I can tell you that we're told as referees nowadays that that should be red, and I'm guessing Howard Webb will say the same.

Enough has been said about Doucoure and Harrison, but with Lindstrom out, I'm not sure who we start out wide when Alcaraz is already playing out of position. I could see Iroegbunam for Doucoure, but my assumption is that he, like Alcaraz, is not fit enough to do the defensive work Doucoure does for 70-80 minutes — which is the only reason he keeps starting.

And as for Beto, he's quite limited but he earned his place replacing Calvert-Lewin, and he's a worthy back-up, even if we overpaid a bit for him.

So, in a perfect world, we have Alcaraz for Doucoure, McNeil and Ndiaye floating on the wings behind Chermiti, Beto, Calvert-Lewin or Broja (who I'd actually take on loan next season if we lose Calvert-Lewin and don't bring in a new striker).

With a new pacy winger, new fullback competition, and O'Brien partnering in the middle with Branthwaite, then we're a team that wins that match.

Also, I agree that Garner can go missing at times, but I think he benefits greatly with more quality around him. And needless to say, Harrison has to be as far away from Finch Farm as possible. Painful to watch him consistently make poor decisions.

A tough one to lose, but we're moving forward. Up the Toffees.

Beto is shite — he's missed 5 one-on-ones in a row.

And so is most of the team.

I disagree with Don. Red card for me. Tarkowski does this far too often. Embarrassing.

Beto is shite — he's missed 5 one-on-ones in a row.

Can you believe, Simon, that someone on the Live Forum said that (yet another) pitiful one-on-one was not a "miss"?

I saw Micah Richards's analysis of Harrison. It was more about his defensive role. Going forwards, he wasn't great.

Welcome to third world Australia.

When I did get the replay back, I thought there was an almost first class display of biased refereeing and it was obvious that Doucoure and Harrison need to be released at the end of the season, both were awful.

And can somebody explain what bringing Young on as a sub was meant to achieve or is that Mr Moyes's idea of improving the playing side or just paying homage to the almost Dychean performance?

He kept Tarkowski in the match, he had nothing to do with the offside call, the two yellow cards were warranted, and he certainly didn't do anything to cost us the match.

He generally didn't fall for guys going over too easily. Of all the things to complain about in that match, refereeing was not one of them — unless you count the non-offside call, which was a VAR determination, though he should've at least had the referee take a look at it on the monitor.

As for Young coming on, I assume it was fresh energy, calmness on the ball, the ability to play a decent cross — and most importantly, we didn't have anyone else to throw on in midfield… unless you want Patterson, which I do not over Young.

Jonathan, that's where the problem is with VAR.

The linesman knows he's in an offside position but they don't flag anymore. The referee probably wouldn't even know if he was offside from his angle looking straight down the pitch.

So VAR at it and their considered judgement is that the referee has determined Diaz to not have interfered with play from an offside position. Therefore VAR won't consider it a clear and obvious error. Because it isn't, it's a matter of judgement.

But did the ref judge it like that? I'm not convinced he would even know what they were checking.

If you showed that incident (minus any recognisable team attire) to 100 players, managers or fans, then the vast majority would say Diaz interferes. The ball is played to him, he moves towards the ball, and he's so close to Tarkowski that there is almost contact between them.

I completely get why that's not given as offside but it's a poor interpretation of the rule in my opinion.

Just to show I'm not biased. Yes, I thought Tarkowski could have been sent off. Maybe it's a modern interpretation but he knew what he was doing. We could all see what he was doing! That was an old fashioned "let them know you're there".

It wasn't the kind of deflating derby defeat that say the Origi one was in 2017 or one of the 4-0 hammerings.

At the end of the day, the important one this particular season was always going to be the Goodison derby, last ever one at Goodison and the way it ended, the overriding memory will always be an Everton goal and a Tarkowski wonder strike with Liverpool players on their knees — nothing takes that moment away.

A squad that was so low on confidence it was unbelievable, first defeat in 10, at Anfield. We were up for it and caused problems, first half especially. An uncomfortable match for (sadly) the best team in the league. I'm looking forward to us going back after Moyes has strengthened this summer, we need a few windows to build.

I think it probably was a red in this day and age but how many times have those pricks got away with murder during derbies? Obviously they are still touchy about Pickford on Virgil van Dickhead.

9/10 effort, 5/10 for quality. You get what you pay for and they've paid a lot for their title-winning team. As Robert constantly points out, our squad outlay influences our position but we are outperforming expectations based on outlay.

There is no way on earth that we, or anybody else, would be allowed to piss on their parade. We are going to have to suffer a media blitz not seen since VE Day in 1945.

I've booked a two-week holiday in the Qatarra Depression in May.

It's a tough April for us but hopefully Ndiaye and McNeil coming back will help and we can pick up a few points.

I think Moyes has set the team up well for both derbies.

I thought it was a magnificent challenge, but surprised it didn't go to VAR.

I think Moyes should bench him for the Arsenal game as he will have a target on his back.

Alcaraz would have been a lot more effective in the No 10 role and could Patterson have been any worse on the wing than Harrison? How many times did he lose possession?

Hopefully Moyes will start Broja, Ndiaye and McNeil on Saturday; Beto, Harrison and Doucoure are passengers.

Start with Broja and Chermiti, whilst easing Ndiaye back in.

Harrison and Doucoure should not be getting anymore than 15 minutes game time from here on.

It didn't go to VAR because the ref had blown up a few seconds earlier for a free kick near the halfway line.

Unlucky with the offside goal and the ball against the post but overall, playing with nine men from the start, we had little chance. I couldn't help but reflect in the second half as Harrison broke away, that if Elanga had been playing for us, we'd have scored. And with a better forward than Beto, we'd have certainly been leading.

We're actually not that far away. There's a reasonable base here to build on and a few quality signings would transform us. Harrison cannot start the next match, surely?

Every time Iroegbunam comes on, he impresses me. Why does he never start? Surely he's worth a gamble for Doucoure?

They have quality; we have waste.

He was crap in defence as well as attack.

Pickford could still have been red-carded even though a penalty could never have been given.

I hope for that too. It's a fairly tough run for the next 4 games so expect that Moyes will be pragmatic and rely on experience (rightly so).

But the final few games give us a chance to experiment a bit.

I ,agree Alcaraz has more quality than Doucoure in the No 10 role, he just has to up his work rate.

If Patterson is going to hang around, I can only see him playing right-midfield. Basic defensive work has been missed in his development.

I thought the ref had a half decent game. A new ref to the prem, his first derby and he wasn't too intimidated.

The playacting, endless moaning and gamesmanship from our neighbours and champions elect was shithousery of the highest order. A sad indictment of modern football.

I agree with Steve @73. Moyes – as good as he is – hits a glass ceiling when playing the supposed big teams.

It's no fluke his record is terrible. Even before a ball is kicked, he is taking about the gulf in class. I don't recall Joe Royle taking knives into gunfights with a pretty limited team.

There is respect and there is cowering down; Moyes to me will always cower down and lower expectations. I just hope TFG don't buy his bullshit.

The ref was generally okay, I thought, but he should have shown cards to more Liverpool players for exaggeration or simulation.

Ipswich and Southampton at Goodison have always been the games that were going to see us over the line to safety, and I think we could pick up a couple of points this month.

But, if Friedkin is determined to take us into the stratosphere, Moyes is not the man for that.

I do agree to some extent but I think Big Joe managed us in an era where football was probably less stage managed and predictable.

Liverpool, for all their top four finishes in the 1990s, were a bunch of rather meel Spice Boys and you could easily in those days kick lumps out of the likes of McManaman, Redknapp, and the like, and get away with it as the game was much less scrutinized and watered down than it is in 2025.

It's almost as though football now is designed not to allow the likes of Liverpool to lose in front of a baying circus of zany comical killer klown type supporters.

As for Moyes's record there, it is poor I agree, but there were times when we were robbed of wins there in his first spell. I remember the pathetically ruled out Distin goal in May 2013, a clear as day header from a corner being a standout memory.

Another was probably when we were winning 2-1 there (think Dalglish was managing them?) and Tim Howard gave away the most ridiculous of penalties to let them level.

Last night, in that first half, Moyes can't do much about Beto being fractionally offside or missing another clear chance one v one.

No Everton manager ever seems to prosper at Anfield, even Carlo lost there to an Under-18s Shite team in his first derby.

The latter only merited a yellow card. On that basis,
Tarkowski should have got which:

a. a talking to;
b. a yellow card;
c. a red card.

Leeds can have him back

There won't be another managerial change this summer.

We haven't got the money to be doing that and appointing yet another manager would start the whole "let's look at the squad I have first" so basically that would mean another close look at all the same ones that have continually failed.

No way a new manager is coming in this summer as well as about 7 players leaving and at least 7 being brought in.

You could bring Frank in (Thomas Frank, that is) and he wouldn't be doing any different with this current crop of mediocre players, unless he convinced Mbuemo, Schade, and a few others to join him which a seriously doubt.

The fact that Potter is struggling at West Ham, who have a far superior attacking group of players than us in my opinion, says it all.

Totally agree on Iroegbunam -– there's a class player in there for the future.

I'm optimistic, given the new stadium and the young players we have coming through already, that we'll be beating that lot more often in the near future.

The gulf is closing – maybe someone like Iraola will close it for good!

The gravy train is rolling on ‘incidents' so it follows that bent ref and VAR decisions are defining results, while actual football is deteriorating into non-contact show pony posturing. So, for me, it wasn't a red.

I understand that the modern game is fast, and modern players are great athletes… but great footballers? Not for me.
But I love the Toffees and the more LFC bleat, the better, they have their title but I can't see them following it up.

Up the Toffees!

I expect they are looking to get Everton into the nice, safe, 8th to 14th zone with stable finances and a fairly modest budget. Moyes is ideal for that - buying a few players in the low-cost zone (£20M to £40M) and a few others in the bargain bin (sub £20M). In fact, Moyes gives us a reasonable chance of pushing into places 6 and 7 without unsustainable spending.

If you are hoping for more than that, probably look away for the next 3 to 5 years...

As captain, Tarkowski's tackle was embarrassing, and to make matters worse, we have seen him do those before. He must know what he is doing and he should stop it before he breaks someone's leg.

And as usual Pickford had to get in the act, his tackle as a 'goalkeeper' was also reckless and he was lucky to get away without a caution. His last minute dash up the pitch was just embarrassing.

But aside from the indiscretion, we were always in the game, and I thought Beto did very well and constantly troubled their defence. In summary, we gave it a go but we played like the under dogs and lacked quality all over the field.

I can't find much to criticise, saying we are away from home against the best team in the league.

We are not a million miles away from the best sides but they all have those 2 or 3 top class players that make them superior.

Screaming histrionics because he didn't get away with his dirty foul and was carded. He then shows zero respect when sarcastically applauding both the ref and the lino. Any player wearing a different shirt at a different ground would have been lashed. The fact that the little cunt then goes on to get the winner is absolutely typical of the shite this crew persistently get away with.

Their goal should have been flagged. Diaz (another little cunt) may not have tried to play the ball, but he made sure Tarkowski had to come around him to get his foot in.

Beto, Doucoure and Harrison all utterly lamentable. Alcaraz (the new golden boy) anonymous for long periods. We pushed them all they way whilst carrying passengers.

I think we saw the worst title-winning team in history last night. Cunts.

Tarkowski has been around a long time, doesn't get injured, and defends like his life depends on it, game after game… but you don't want him tackling because it's embarrassing! Embarrassing for who?

If it was the Reds' captain, I would expect no different and I wouldn't be embarrassed about it.

Embarrassment in my book is feigning injury, berating linesmen and refs, trying to get players booked, and generally cheating — do you not agree?

And yet we had the best chances, with Beto hitting the post and Harrison finding a red shirt rather than one of the three blue ones.

I'm praying for two midfielders comfortable at receiving, keeping and passing the ball, and at least one striker better than what we have now.

Tarkowski's challenge was committed and brutal; I was surprised VAR didn't get involved.

Beto, he finished, then he didn't, he kept Van Dijk on his toes but just needed some luck.

Jota, another red joker, Slot's pretenders.

The Blues... WIP: work in progress. That's where we are, keep it going, things can get better.

The play was dead when Nunez and Pickford collided, although I do agree that it was a swing of his foot by Pickford after the ball had gone past him and caught Nunez with what appears to be a shin-on-shin contact.

It wasn't a dangerous challenge by Pickford, and certainly not a red card offence, even if play hadn't been stopped for the earlier challenge, although a penalty probably would have been given if the referee hadn't blown his whistle a few seconds earlier.

Also, Nunez was rightly booked for time-wasting, rolling back onto the pitch to continue his treatment, and he didn't seem too badly injured when he was finally back on his feet.

Also, I am a firm believer that the offside rule is a bit naff. Might as well sit your centre-forward on the edge of the penalty area and play around them until Phase whichever number suits your attack, at which point, your forward pops the ball in the net.

It felt like any contentious decision in the 2nd half would go their way. It did and it cost us the game.

He does that type of challenge too much for it to be accidental. Remember the Richarlison tackle when at Burnley?

I think he's been an excellent signing for us and has been a big part in us staying up these last few years. However, these reducer and tough guy challenges belong to The Big Match 1970s with Gerald Sindstadt.

Also, I do think Diaz was offside and the goal should have been disallowed. The pass was directed to him, and even though he didn't make a move for it, it forced Tarkowski to intervene, and within a couple of seconds Diaz is involved to set up Jota.

It's all within the same phase of play, and Diaz was involved, ie, being offside in the build-up to the goal.

I understand why people say it should be red, but it's a man's game and if you don't fancy it, then get out the fucking way! If a central defender has been sold a little bit short and is the last man, then surely you should expect him to come in full blooded like Tarkowski did?

Maybe not everyone will see it this way but the one thing that nobody can argue with is that Tarkowski got the ball first.

No he is obviously making the extremely valid point that it was a ludicrous challenge (and we've seen similar before) that just couldn't be beneficial for the team.

Let's ignore for now that he probably should have walked for it; it wasn't anywhere near a 50/50 situation and yet it gave a wholly avoidable free kick in a dangerous position to them, put him on a yellow that realistically limited his options for challenges for the rest of the game, and actually seemed to play on his mind for the rest of the game. (After the game, he was obviously immediately focussed on making his peace with Mac Allister.)

I think the ‘weight' of that incident on his mind was evident throughout the whole of the rest of the game, and even in his panicked attempt to clear the ball in the build-up to their goal.
If we'd got anything from the game, the media would just be squawking about the non-sending off 10 times more than they already are.

We got some decent performances (in general) from a core of players and further indication of those who just aren't cutting it or are starting to cause more problems than they solve.

Overall, best (for all) to consign it to history and quickly move on to the next game.

I wasn't bothered if Mylolenko played or not but have to say he was one of Everton's best players last night — in fact, the defence did their job but, as has been said, going forward, there wasn't enough quality, and that cost us the game.

The Liverpool players and their bench showed why they are one of the most despised clubs in the league by their actions throughout the game last night.

Nothing to add on Harrison and Doucoure but I thought Pickford was totally reckless. A mirror image of his challenge on St Virgil.

When is someone going to highlight the constant badgering, pressuring and intimidation of officials at Anfield? Why is it allowed to happen unchecked? Should we just give Van Dijk the whistle and let him make the calls? No other team gets away with this.

A word on Mykolenko, he is one of the few left-backs that plays Salah properly. Salah is a one-trick pony. He can only come inside on his left foot. Force him outside by standing inside of him and he always turns and goes backwards. As he did last night. Well done, Myko. Why other full backs let him constantly inside amazes me.

Two wrongs don't make a right.

But let's be honest: what exactly is Tarkowski meant to do? Just stand there and let Mac Allister get a shot in, and hope he doesn't score? Or put in a challenge to prevent him getting a shot in?

We really might as well enforce netball rules in football, whereby no player contact is allowed whatsoever.

Harrison either loses possession or fails to make a 10-yard pass of note; why we signed him on loan in the first place, I don't know… and only an idiot would extend that loan period for a further 12 months. I hope I never have to see him in a Blue shirt again.

Similarly with Doucoure, I never think he is going to go past people and score and his passing is nearly as bad as Harrison's.

Beto,, while being limited certainly gave Konate and Van Dijk a very uncomfortable first half and was unlucky to be inches offside when scoring, then hitting the post after leaving Van Dijk and Konate in his wake.

I don't think that, by playing Alcaraz in that position, we get the best from him. I thought the substitutions were a little late but maybe the Saturday lunchtime kick-off may have had something to do with that.

As I said at the beginning, I was pleased with what I saw. Given the lack of quality in the players I have mentioned, we still could have got something from the game. I thought the tactics were correct: we defended when we had to and got men forward when the chances arose to do it.

I think our back 4 is as good as any in the Premier League; not for the first time, Mykolenko hardly gave Salah a kick – not an easy task at Anfield.

O'Brien gets better and better with every game; you wonder why the other idiot who was in charge couldn't see his ability. But then we come to Branthwite who is England's best centre-back without a doubt; if we are to progress as a club, we must put him on a long contract, as too often we have sold our best players, and that's never a recipe for success.

Moyes has improved this group of players; a couple of quality additions will see us much stronger next season. Good to see Ndiaye get some playing time as he does make a difference in our quality in the final third. I would like him and Broja start against Arsenal in place of Harrison and Doucoure, maybe starting Broja wide right as he played in the recent internationals.

It's not so much the actual challenge itself that pissed me off, but the effect of it. Suddenly, everyone was on about it and the refs and VAR will have been aware of the noise. To me, it was clear that anything contentious would go their way. It did... and we lost to a clearly offside goal.

He also had Van Dijk in particular on toast for most of the game.

I'm not saying Pickford should have seen red, but he could have. The fact that the whistle had blown is immaterial. Highly unlikely, I admit.

I agree with you regarding leaving Doucoure and Harrison out this weekend, Brian. I thought Harrison particularly was wasteful.

Not sure I agree with you though on Broja, I don't believe he will be here next season either so not sure about the benefit of giving him more game time, other than as a back-up.

Personally, I would prefer to see more of Chermiti.

Dunc's agreement that it was red card is just another example of ex-Everton pundits being eager to please. Redshite pundits operate on the basis of permanent one-eyed bias.

The redshite win by efficiency, ruthlessness, cheating, moaning and intimidation so you have to match them, especially as they have more quality in the team.

I guess the frustration is, that was a pretty ordinary Liverpool team, who have run out of steam, but their 12-point cushion will see them over the line with a limited number of games still to play.

What we witnessed last night was not really a surprise to anybody. The two worst players on the pitch, Doucouré and Harrison, had absolute stinkers, and will be the first out the door in June.

Early in the second half, Everton had a great chance to equalise, when three players broke at speed, catching Liverpool flat-footed; it was three-on-three, but Harrison made a complete hash of it and the chance was gone.

The look on Moyes's face said it all, if he had any lingering doubts about Harrison since his arrival back at the club, he will now have none at all.

As for Doucouré, he simply ambled about not doing very much, his best days long since gone.

The inability to retain possession for more than 10 seconds simply handed the initiative to Liverpool all night. Even then, Pickford wasn't really called upon to make many saves, that's how ordinary they were. Sadly, we didn't have enough quality to take advantage of it.

The close season is so important for Moyes and the squad. We cannot afford any mistakes in the recruitment department this time around.

With PSR still hanging around our necks, after another season of substantial losses, we will have a limited amount of money to spend on transfers.

Dare I say it but, if the club received an offer of £70M plus for Branthwaite, it would allow us to strengthen in key areas, ie, up front, and a speedy winger who can actually cross a ball, and a little more quality in midfield.

I'll get my tin hat on.

There was an RS supporter on TalkSport this morning, home counties accent but give him his due he was at the game, who was possibly the first reasonable RS I've ever heard.

He said the game was ruined by two terrible decisions. The first was to not red card Tarkowski, and the second was to not disallow the offside goal the RS scored.

Couldn't disagree with him on either of those points, to be honest.

Steven Gerrard alone would have his own handbook out, that's not even looking at the ones committed by the likes of Kuyt on Neville.

- tactical discipline
- workrate
- pace, stamina and athleticism
- mind games / sneakiness etc

Sadly they do also have some excellent players too – and a lot of strength in depth.

I made the point on another thread that player for player only Pickford would have got in their first XI last night on current form.

The fact they looked ordinary and we could have won is really a credit to Moyes and the players. To go beyond that, though, we do need more quality and pace and ideally both.

I do get where he is coming from, however, when he said he expected a 50:50 crunching tackle which he committed to but Mac Allister bailed out of, instead choosing to put a blocking foot up as Tarkowski sailed through after kicking the ball.

If Tarkowski had kept his feet grounded, there could not have been a complaint or a card. He didn't.

If Clattenburg says it's offside, then by God it's offside.

Today, it's deemed as dangerous, recognition that football is not a contact sport, as such the follow through is deemed dangerous and as such worthy of a red card. He took no prisoners, ìsnt that his job?

We have all seen some terrible decisions and tackles in derbies which haven't influenced the ref or game in our favour ever.

If their captain had done the same do you think the ref would then have favoured us? Even if the game was at Goodison we very rarely get a ref who favours us.

Before the game last night I watched a bit of the
Derby v Preston game. A tackle involving ledson and the derby midfielder would have Mike Dean and the sky pundits calling the police for an assault!! The result was a free kick and both players shaking hands.

Fast forward 20 mins in the best ever league in the world ever and the tackle could have resulted in any nature of disasters which sky filled 20 mins with at half time whilst the pundits went fully into self preservation mode with Duncan Ferguson joining the club.

It's pathetic to watch at times the level of sycophants talking shite on sky, the game is better watched on mute.

Dunc was in gizza job mode.

That was the kind of point I was making. I just knew it would be jumped on and the officials would feel the pressure. Hence the offside goal. When Tarkowski made the tackle and didn't get red, I said to my son that we've lost this game now. They'll get every decision. Refs need little excuse to favour them. They do it anyway.

Their sense of victimhood is legendary and they also have the media on their side. The tackle went viral and they will go on about it for years. It's on every time I switch the TV on today!

I suppose what I am trying to say is the tackle/clearance gave them what they wanted - and yes you are correct that it wouldn't have been the same for us.

On the Tarkowski clearance, ball first and possibly opponent without forethought, was Garner fouled immediately before?

A life time of frustrations at our old ground, but some hope on the horizon for Everton.
UTFTs!

He could be seen in the tunnel giving the referee the bifters as they were coming out for the second half.

One other note on the subject of bias. Beto was booked for kicking the ball to one side before a throw in but I think it was Jota in the decond half threw the ball well away to delay the throw in but wasn’t even spoken to.

They moaned about the seven minutes at Goodison, but when you see them rolling a player back onto the pitch to receive treatment, then I personally thought six minutes was a piss take, but I suppose that’s what you are supposed to do in a Merseyside Derby, fight your fucking corner.

One thing that definitely pleased me about Tarkowski’s challenge was that it showed the Liverpool team, that he didn’t give a fuck about them, and this has always got to be the first rule, when we play against our neighbours, imo.

We fell away in the 2nd half and our lack of quality was apparent. The breaks were still on but the ball was like a hot potato to our lads. It was the officials that decided the game in the end. That goal was offside.

We desperately need quality, esp all across the middle of the pitch. I think we win that game with that. Maybe even if Ndiaye had been fully fit and Mcneil available we could have. The RS are not particularly great.