In a season of ups and downs, Liverpool have suffered the most of any other teams. Having ended their 30 year drought of a league title last year, nobody would have expected what's to follow next for them. Having lost their last 4 league games and 3 straight at home, they lost again on Saturday as Everton won the Merseyside Derby for the first time in the 21st century (last winning at Goodison Park in 2010) and for the first time since September 1999 at Anfield.
Liverpool have been hit with major injuries crisis especially in Defence and have lost all three of their main Centre Backs Virgil Van Dijk (who got injured in the reverse fixture), Joel Matip and Fabinho. They have so far tried out 18 Centre Back parternship this season, the most by any team.
The main reason for their struggles is not only Defence but also attack. The Reds have been struggling in front of the goal. Their lack of goals is another headache cause for manager Jurgen Klopp who insists Liverpool will soon get out of this traumatic phase.
They conceded inside 3 minutes as James Rodriguez laid a ball through for Striker Richarlison who tucked away his effort in the far bottom corner beyond Alisson reach in front of an empty Kop end to give Everton a rare lead at Anfield.
The injury list kept on expanding for Liverpool as Captain Jordan Henderson was replaced inside half and hour through injury. He tried to carry on after the initial knock but was unable to shake it off.
Everton sealed the game in the 83rd minute through a controversial peanlty Decision by VAR. Gylfi Sigurdsson scored from the spot comfortably to make it 2-0. However the Decision of giving away the penalty was the hot topic after the game.
Richarlison broke off to a counter from his own half and played it through to Dominic Calvert Lewin. Lewin's shot was saved by Alisson before Alexander Arnold who had slid in to block the shot, sticked out a leg to bring him down and stop him from a second attempt.
Due to the Controversies that had taken in the reverse fixture (Pickford's challenge on Van Dijk) VAR offical asked Referee Chris Kavanagh to go over to the monitor and see for himself. He took a very short look and had no hesitation to point to the spot. Manager Jurgen Klopp was left frustrated and questioned Kavanagh decision in his post match conference.
Everton are now level on points with Liverpool at 40 each with the blue half playing a game less than Reds. Carlo Ancelotti's men have surely not given up their fight for European Football next season.
0 Comments