Top 10 conclusions: Everton 2-2 Liverpool
1. This was not exactly your typical Merseyside derby. In fact, it wasn’t your typical any kind of derby. Too often these encounters are a constant poker game as the two sides try to work out what the other is holding. Four goals in the first 35 minutes proved this was anything but a nervy affair.
2. We were spoiled in the first-half. Enthralling though the second half was, the goals dried up – although Luis Suarez might argue otherwise – and it didn’t quite live up to the pulsating opening.
3. Luis Suarez is very thrifty. Most people are annoyed when opposition supporters throw coins at them. The Uruguayan striker simply flashed the coin at referee Andre Marriner before tucking it inside his boot for safekeeping. That’ll go towards a pint of milk when he’s on his way back home this evening.
4. Phil Neville is the world’s worst diver. He’s also the world’s least likely diver. Brother Gary was visibly squirming as he watched replays of the incident that saw his sibling booked in the first-half. The Toffees skipper went down like a sack of spuds after an apparent foul from Liverpool centre-back Daniel Agger. Great material for Gary’s next Monday Night Football expose on the widespread simulation in the Premier League.
5. In fact, the whole world was upside down for much of the match. Neville was getting booked for diving, while Luis Suarez left a foot in on Kevin Mirallas’ ankle. The crunching tackle saw the Belgian eventually forced off with injury. Talk about role reversal.
6. Leighton Baines has been a constant goal threat in the early stages of this season, but he probably didn’t envisage being on target for Liverpool today. Given that he’d also done his best to concede a penalty in the same move, the England left-back can’t complain too much about turning Luis Suarez’s wayward effort into his own net.
7. Dropped Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina might have been pondering aloud whether he would have done better on Everton’s goals than replacement Brad Jones.
8. Luis Suarez’s efforts at building bridges with those who perhaps don’t find him to be the most pleasant of individuals is commendable. Offering Everton boss David Moyes the opportunity to join in with the celebration of Liverpool’s first goal was a truly touching gesture.
9. The offside rule has changed with annoying regularity over recent years, but by any version of the laws of the game you care to play by, Luis Suarez’s disallowed goal should have stood. It would have been a sucker punch for the Toffees coming so late in the game, but while it might have been cruel it certainly wasn’t offside.
10. It turns out the old cliche is true: 2-0 really is the most dangerous lead. It had appeared the Reds were coasting to victory, but that wasn’t to be the case.
GIF via 101GG
