Jonathan Wilson on Liverpool
Andy Hunter’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company, goodnight!
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin speaks “We had a few chances at the end but it wasn’t our day. I thought we defended very well; we were resolute and it’s unfortunate we couldn’t nick it. The match wasn’t as sharp as you’d expect. The players are a bit rusty and my timing was a bit off. You can’t replicate that; it’s something that comes with games.
“I thought we got up in their faces quite well, we didn’t give them too much time on the ball, and our fitness levels were good. I think a draw’s a fair result. It was a little bit bizarre to play a game of this magnitude with no fans. Usually the place is bouncing. It was strange, I can’t lie to you.”
The earliest Liverpool can now win the title is at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday. But they need Burnley to get at least a draw at the Etihad tomorrow. These are the dates on which they might win it:
- Wednesday 24 June: Liverpool v Crystal Palace
- Thursday 25 June: Chelsea v Manchester City
- Thursday 2nd July: Manchester City v Liverpool
- Sunday 5th July: Liverpool v Aston Villa, Southampton v Man City
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Liverpool fail to win for only the third time in 30 league games this season. They missed the injured Mo Salah and especially Andy Robertson, struggling to create clear chances despite dominating possession throughout. It was a sterile match. Everton, who defended admirably, almost stole it at the end when Tom Davies’s deflected shot hit the post.
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Full time: Everton 0-0 Liverpool
Peep peep!
90+3 min Moise Kean replaces Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
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90+2 min It’s Fabinho who takes it, in fact,. It’s a decent effort, curled over the ball, and Pickford leaps to fingertip it over the bar. That was a comfortable enough save.
90+1 min Richarlison fouls Oxlade-Chamberlain 25 yards from goal, to the right of centre. This is another opportunity for Alexander-Arnold.
90 min Only three minutes of added time. That’s slightly surprising given all the substitutions and the drinks break.
89 min It’s not over yet. There should be a fair bit of added time, maybe four or five hours.
87 min Another Everton substitution. Bernard on, the hardworking Alex Iwobi off.
85 min Origi is booked for a foul on Coleman.
84 min “Sigh,” says Matt Dony. “I’m not enjoying this match as much as I thought I would.”
On the plus side, if you don’t win today you may well end up winning the title at the Etihad.
82 min And another chance! Richarlison moves into the area from the left, cuts back outside Lovren and whacks a shot from a tight angle that is beaten away by Alisson. He had options in the middle as well but choose to shoot. “Maybe it was the wrong decision,” says the Sky commentator Martin Tyler.
“I’ll tell you what the right decision is,” says Jamie Carragher, quick as a flash. “Play on Lovren.”
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81 min Another chance for Everton. Sigurdsson’s left-wing corner is headed on by Holgate and headed wide at the far post by the flying Calvert-Lewin. It was just too far in front for him to steer the header back towards goal.
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80 min: Davies hits the post! Everotn almost steal the lead on the break. Richarlison’s low cross from the left was backflicked ingeniously towards goal by Calvert-Lewin. Alisson scrambled across his line to save but could only push the ball towards Davies. His shot took a slight deflection off the lunging Gomez before beating Alisson and bouncing off the far post.
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80 min Everton have defended so well. Liverpool will surely create at least one more chance, but for the time being Everton are relatively comfortable at the back.
78 min “With reference to Matip’s injury, Liverpool had used their three blocks earlier,” says Nimit Jain. “Any idea why Liverpool are allowed to make a fourth substitution?”
One of them was at half-time, which doesn’t count as a block because it doesn’t interrupt play.
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76 min “Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “Duncan Ferguson’s gloves look sleek but they also have a certain assassin vibe about them. And Ancelotti’s t-shirt and blazer look is positively Miami Vice!”
74 min Mane’s flicked header bounces harmlessly through to Pickford.
74 min Actually, Salah couldn’t have come on anyway as Lovren is the fifth substitute.
74 min Lovren comes on for Matip. No Mo Salah, so we won’t be seeing him today.
73 min Matip is struggling and is going to be replaced by Dejan Lovren. That means this is Liverpool’s final chance to make a substitution, so Mo Salah may also come on.
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71 min A quiet spell in the game. We’re 19 minutes away from a third consecutive 0-0 in Merseyside derbies on this ground.
68 min And that’s drinks.
67 min Everton continue to defend with determination and diligence. They must be shattered, though, because they have had very little respite since the first 10 or 15 minutes.
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65 min A double change for Liverpool: Gini Wijnaldum and Divock Origi replace Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino.
63 min Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick nicks off the head of Andre Gomes and flies over the bar. That was an important touch because it looked like the original shot was on target.
63 min The free-kick is 22 yards from goal, slightly to the right of centre. This is perfect for Alexander-Arnold...
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62 min Digne makes a fine challenge on Mane just outside the area. Mike Dean gives a free-kick, and books Digne as well.
61 min A half chance for Everton on the break. Calvert-Lewin drives a good pass over the defence to find Richarlison, who gets away from Matip but blazes his shot high and wide from a tight angle.
60 min Sigurdsson replaces Anthony Gordon, who had a quiet full debut. Everton barely had the ball, so it was hard for him to show his skills.
59 min Digne hoofs a long ball straight into Alisson’s arms. Everton have been poor in possession, which is why Gylfi Sigurdsson is about to come on.
58 min Alexander-Arnold’s outswinging corner is headed down by van Dijk and claimed by Pickford, just in front of a Liverpool player in the six-yard box.
57 min Everton can barely get out of their third, never mind their half.
54 min Mane bursts into the area from the left, but Coleman recovers to make another excellent tackle. Those two are having a cracking battle.
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54 min Even though Everton have two up front, the ball keeps coming back at their defence. A Liverpool goal feels increasingly inevitable.
53 min “Hi Rob,” says Paul Morris. “The canned crowd sounds would seem more authentic with some shouts about the ref needing to visit Barnard Castle, or speculation as to which manager is getting furloughed in the morning.”
51 min Beautiful play from Liverpool. Matip, on the right wing in open play, picks out Keita on the edge of the D. He flips a first-time pass into Firmino, who chests it back for Keita to volley towards goal on the stretch. The shot flies well wide, but the build-up was lovely.
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49 min “Keita receives the ball beautifully every time - he might be the difference today,” says Stephen Carr. “Especially as Everton appear to be happy to have conceded the midfield.”
48 min Van Dijk plays a terrific pass down the inside-left channel for Gomez, who surges into the area before Coleman stretches to make a fine tackle.
47 min “Surely,” says Rudd Hughes, “this from Pink Floyd is the most appropriate song for this fixture.”
46 min Peep peep! Everton begin the second half.
Liverpool have made a half-time change. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is on for Takumi Minamino.
Half-time entertainment
Half time: Everton 0-0 Liverpool
Peep peep! A very quiet first half at Goodison Park. Liverpool were the better team, though both sides were a little subdued. Roberto Firmino missed the best chance, shooting wide from the edge of the area, while Joel Matip headed wide from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick. See you in 15 minutes for the second half.
44 min Mane crosses low towards Minamino, whose shot on the turn is excellently blocked by Holgate.
44 min “Hi Rob,” says Peter Pearson. “Personal vote here for best crowd noise coming from The KLF (although I think the sample is from a U2 live record).”
43 min A Liverpool substitution: the injured James Milner is replaced by Joe Gomez. It looks like a muscle problem for Milner.
42 min “Should I ever get around to writing my memoirs,” says Matt Dony, “can I borrow ‘The Wrong Option, Poorly Executed’ for a title?”
It’s what you do best, mate!
41 min Alexander-Arnold hits a good free-kick that takes a nick off Keane in the wall and is comfortably saved by Pickford, plunging to his right.
40 min Mane rolls Coleman superbly, just inside the Everton half. Then he cuts inside Keane, who flattens him and is rightly booked.
38 min Liverpool have been the better side, though there isn’t much in it. They are certainly missing the relentless, mildly terrifying energy of Andy Robertson on the left.
37 min “Hi Rob,” says Gary Naylor. “If this is a bit dull, here’s Lucas Digne reading The Tiger Who Came To Tea in the most French way possible.”
35 min “Tom Davies,” says Christopher Faherty. “A player I’ve filed as ‘There’s A Player In There’ for a bit now. Thoughts?”
The same. He’s still only 21, so there’s plenty of time. I don’t devote every waking hour to Everton FC, so this might be completely wrong, but it feels like his career has been a bit stop-start. That never helps, especially when you’re a young player.
34 min Firmino misses a good chance, dragging a tame left-footed shot wide from inside the D. He had Keita in a great position to his left and should have played him in. It was the wrong option, poorly executed, which is very unlike Firmino.
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32 min Richarlison heads Gordon’s free-kick onto the roof of the net. It wouldn’t have counted, though, as he’d been flagged offside.
30 min Matip misses a decent chance, heading Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick wide from 10 yards. It was a lovely ball in from Alexander-Arnold, but Matip saw it a fraction late and that’s why his downward header went well wide.
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29 min “Background noise,” begins Jim O’Donoghue. “Maybe they could just use the Mogwai soundtrack to ‘Zidane’.”
It’s quite majestic, isn’t it, especially Black Spider.
28 min Most of the games since lockdown have started slowly before coming to life in the second half. This will be the same. You have my word.
27 min Davies lunges dangerously at Mane, who does him a big favour by getting straight to his feet. Had he made more of that, it would have been at least a yellow card.
25 min “Hi Rob,” says Kailash. “Watching the game on TV. I can hear some chants and fans in the background. Isn’t this supposed to be with no fans? Where is the noise coming from?”
It’s artificial, designed to make the viewing experience more normal. In most places you have the option or watching the game with or without it.
23 min Time for a drinks break. It’s been a quiet first quarter.
21 min “With his new lockdown beard, Mike Dean is beginning to look like Robert Stewart, isn’t he?” says Rotimi Styles Obisesan.
Do you mean the son of James V, or is there another Robert Stewart?
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20 min Milner is booked for taking out Richarlison.
17 min Henderson and Alexander-Arnold are starting to look dangerous down the Liverpool right. Alexander-Arnold’s delivery has been a bit rusty so far but he is getting into some dangerous positions.
14 min Liverpool have livened up in the last few minutes and are starting to dominate possession.
12 min Richarlison is penalised for a challenge on Fabinho, 30 yards from goal. The free-kick is slightly to the right of centre. Alexander-Arnold decides to cross rather than shoot, but clips it straight out of play. That was unusually imprecise for him.
10 min Gordon loses the ball to Fabinho in the centre circle. Mane picks up the loose ball and finds Minamino, who moves forward and blooters a rising drive from 25 yards that flies a few yards wide.
7 min It’s been a decent start from Everton. Liverpool haven’t come out of the blocks as many of us expected, unless you count Sadio Mane’s sprint before the kick-off.
4 min The first half chance goes to Everton. Richarlison runs at Matip on the left side of the area and drives a low cross shot that whistles just wide of the far post. The ball stayed in play, curling back after it beat Alisson, but at one point it looked like it was going in the bottom corner.
3 min “Hi Rob!” says Mary Waltz. “Please excuse some of my fellow Everton fans. Consider the beaten dog. we have been down so long that many of us tend to be a tad sensitive. We are hyper aware of any potential sleight. especially when Liverpool is involved. Come on you blues.”
What is Everton?
2 min Anthony Gordon has started on the left, with Iwobi on the right.
1 min Peep peep! Liverpool kick off from left to right. They are in red. The other team, I forget their name, are in blue.
The players on both sides take a knee before the game. I think Sadio Mane forgot, because he started sprinting into the Everton half as if they had just kicked off.
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“After a couple of days of warm-ups, Real Football is about to start again,” says Matt Dony. “Yes, we’ve enjoyed Foals on the Park Stage, but The Cure are warming up, about to take to the Pyramid Stage. Of course, football doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, but as we are going to finish the season, I’m very, very excited to see Liverpool in action again. The extended break came at a useful time. After the insane first half of the season (which I can still hardly believe!) results had tailed off slightly. I just hope the last few months have helped everyone to relax and regain some focus. And I’ve got high hopes for Minamino. He seems well liked, he’s got bags of potential, but he’s stepping into some big ol’ shoes. Hoping for a great game!”
I agree about the value of the break for Liverpool, mentally as well as physically. I think they’ll smash every record going now, which I don’t think they would have done had the season continued as normal.
“Hi Rob,” says Ray Breen. “I saw the pic of the kids holding the Liverpool flag by the Goodison sign and your one-sided report. Why don’t you leave the reporting to the professionals who avoid bias and have the knowledge to know there are two teams in a football match.”
Well that’s a good start!
👏 | A first senior start - in the Merseyside derby, no less - for @EvertonAcademy graduate @anthonygordon59.
— Everton (@Everton) June 21, 2020
Good luck, Ant! 🔵 #EVELIV pic.twitter.com/N3RgGkk3ZT
“Hi Rob,” says Matt Burtz. “I finally get to write to you as a supporter of one of the teams involved, Everton. Of course I’m aware of their dismal recent record against Liverpool, but I just want to point out that Liverpool have only won at Goodison Park once in their last seven visits (and that win required a 94th-minute goal), with six draws thrown in there. The absence of a vociferous and partisan crowd will certainly be a disadvantage for Everton, but those predicting a Liverpool walkover might be mistaken.”
That’s a good point, and one that surprised me a little. Mind you, there’s a counter-stat: the last time Liverpool lost to Everton, Roy Hodgson was their manager. That was forever ago.
Pre-match reading
Chelsea came from behind to win 2-1 at Aston Villa in the earlier game, a result that puts them five points clear of Manchester United and Wolves.
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Team news
The teenager Anthony Gordon makes his full Premier League debut for Everton, who also have two goalkeepers on the bench. There’s no Andy Robertson for Liverpool, while Mo Salah is only fit enough to be a sub. Takumi Minamino starts up front alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
Everton (4-4-2) Pickford; Coleman, Holgate, Keane, Digne; Iwobi, Gomes, Davies, Gordon; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.
Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Virginia, Baines, Martina, Brathwaite, Sigurdsson, Baningime, Bernard, Kean.
Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Milner; Henderson, Fabinho, Keita; Minamino, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Adrian, Lovren, Gomez, Williams, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Elliott, Salah, Origi.
Referee Mike Dean.
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Preamble
Hello. The good news for Everton is that Liverpool can’t clinch the title at Goodison Park tonight. The bad news is that they still have to play Liverpool. They will approach the match with a fair bit of trepidation, especially as they were beaten by Liverpool Under-4s in the FA Cup. But they will also go into the game with the hope that they can pull off a symbolic victory and delay Liverpool’s party.
Liverpool need six points - either for themselves or the teams playing against Manchester City - to officially become champions for the first time since 1990. It could be over by tomorrow night, when Burnley go to the Etihad, but the likeliest scenario is that they will clinch it against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday. That’s if they win today, of course. Everton will have other ideas.
Kick off 7pm.
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