Derbies are weird, and both teams have been awful recently, so I had absolutely no idea how this was going to go, beforehand.  There was still no Torres or Aquilani in the starting line-up for Liverpool, but, to be fair, Everton had a whole bunch of their own injury problems.

The opening ten minutes were typically manic, and not a lot of football was played.  Fittingly, for such a scrappy game, Liverpool took the lead, on 11 minutes, from a wildly deflected Mascherano shot.  It didn’t look like it was on target, so it will probably go down as an own goal from Joseph Yobo.

On 17 minutes, Bilyaletdinov missed an open goal and should really have put the Toffees level.  The chance came from a throw-in in to the box, Liverpool’s defence still looks suspect from set pieces.  Everton were looking quite dangerous and were definitely getting the better of the chances.

On 32 minutes, Jo was caught marginally offside after slotting home from a clever turn.  It would have been what Everton deserved as they continued to press the Reds back.  On 42 minutes, Jo put the ball in the back of the net again, but this time he was ridiculously offside.

The half ended 0-1 to Liverpool, despite them being pretty woeful.  Surely they couldn’t be as bad in the second half.

Well, they weren’t quite as bad, but the pattern of the game continued.  The second half was relatively event free until, on 70 minutes, Reina made a excellent double save from Cahill and Fellaini; I really thought that Everton had scored.

On 79 minutes, Kuyt made it 0-2, following up after Howard parried an Albert Riera shot.  It certainly gave an extremely flattering look to the scoreline.  Thankfully, the game became quite comfortable from that point onwards,  and Liverpool were able to see out the end of the game.

The blue half of the city must have come away baffled as to how they lost, but the Reds did just about enough.  Regardless of the local rivalry, it was a crunch game for Liverpool and it was all about the 3 points.  They didn’t play well, but sometimes you have to get a few scrappy wins to get your form going.  Hopefully this is a fresh start for Liverpool.

Liverpool have now got confidence  back in the league after a 2-0 win over rivals Everton at Goodison Park in the famous Merseyside Derby.

Liverpool took the lead early on; Javier Mashcerano’s shot deflected of Yobo’s leg, and flew into the corner. Not sure if that’ll go down as a Mashcerano goal or an own goal. For the rest of the first half, Everton were pushing for an equalizer. Jo found the net twice, but both were ruled for offside. If Jo ever wants a surname, I suggest it to be ‘Offside’ Liverpool’s defence was (for once) quite good, as the kept Everton out, and Pepe Reina had hardly anything to do. He had to pick the ball out of his net twice…to take a free kick because Everton were offside.

Mashcerano after Liverpool score their first

During the second half Liverpool were more ‘impressive’ than after they scored their first goal. Both teams had chances, but none took any of them. Yossi Benayoun came on for N’gog, and late on Riera came on for Fabio Aurelio. Pepe Reina made a great save before dropping the ball, luckily not into his own net, and he managed to pick it up again. That wasn’t all Reina’s work done for the day though. Fellani should have scored, but a tremendous double save form goalkeeper Reina kept him out, and Everton just couldn’t find the net. Howard also made some fine saves, including one stopping Albert Riera. But before that, Liverpool went 2-0 up, thanks to Dirk Kuyt kicking home a rebound. Liverpool’s season may now be back on track.

Liverpool are 5th while Everton fall down to 16th place in the table.

This was Liverpool’s eighth win in ten visits to Goodison Park.

Amidst rumors of lack of camaraderie in the Liverpool dressing room and noises of Everton and Liverpool having a stadium share in the future, Liverpool are being presented yet another opportunity to get their season back on the proverbial track with this fiercely contested Merseyside derby, this weekend.

The reds have been offered this opportunity only too often this season and they have blown it because of a combination of plain bad luck, lack of the dynamic duo, Gerrard and Torres and general featherbrained behavior when faced by dead ball situations.

Liverpool need to win the usually boisterous derby at Goodison park by a 2 or 3 goal margin if they are to allay any fears among the fans of slipping away the Leeds Utd way (exaggeration!).

Anyway, here is what the team may look like:

Reina (GK), Johnson (RB), Carragher (CB), Agger (CB), Insua (LB), Benayoun (RM/SR), Mascheranho (CDM), Leiva (CDM)/Aquilani(CDM/CM), Babel (LM), Gerrard(AMC/CF), Kuyt (SC).

Key: GK: Goalie, RB: Right Back, CB: center back, LB: Left back, RM: Right midfield, SR: Striker-Right, CDM: Central defensive midfield, LM: Left midfield, AMC: Attacking mid field, CF: center forward, SC: Striker-central.

A tight game at Goodison Park saw a very unlikely winner coming from 19yr old Dan Gosling in the 117th minute of a match that stretched into extra time. With this result, Everton progress to the 5th round of the F.A. Cup to face Aston Villa in what has the makings of another hard fought game. Tonight’s match though wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t easy. Indeed a number of players saw cards today as is typical for the oldest derby in the land. However, Everton remained composed through to the end to grind out a result against their cross town rivals. 1-0 was the final score.

While it wasn’t the best night for either team, as an Everton supporter you have to be chuffed at the bit to go through against Liverpool. Everton’s next match in league play will be against Bolton home at Goodison Park.

For a full recounting of tonight’s match check out this link.

The second Merseyside Derby in a week saw a rehash of Monday’s score line. Other than the score however the two matches were utterly dissimilar. Everton without midfield general Mikel Arteta, sat back for the entire game playing very defensive football and allowing Liverpool to dictate the course of play. Despite this, Everton knocked in the opening goal courtesy of a Jolean Lescott (‘27) header from a corner assisted by none other than the ninja himself Tim Cahill. Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard equalized within the first ten minutes of the second half however to ensure that the oldest derby in the history of soccer would see another replay, the 210th in the series. The replay will be played the Wednesday after next.

In all honesty, I was a bit disappointed in Everton’s play this match though it could’ve been down to lacking Arteta in the middle. On this day I would say Liverpool were the better side and probably deserved the win if not for Tim Howard and the defense reforming after the goal. For more coverage of today’s match look here.

Next up Everton face a struggling Arsenal at Goodison Park on Wednesday, Arsenal having tied their F.A. Cup match with Cardiff City on the weekend as well.

By Ross Hart

The news that Everton manager David Moyes is set to sign a new five year contract at Goodison, worth a reported £17 million, will come as a great relief to all Evertonians. Talk of a new deal has been ongoing since the summer and it seems certain that the Scot will put pen to paper before the season’s first Merseyside derby a week tomorrow.

Great news for Everton but they went into last night’s UEFA Cup first round, first leg tie with Standard Liege on the back of mixed domestic form; 2 home league defeats countered by 2 away wins. The return of Tim Cahill to the team for Sunday’s victory at Stoke City underlined how valuable he is to the side as he netted the winner.

And they needed him last night for a game which is easily the most difficult draw out of all the English clubs. Liege were only knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers at Anfield in the 118th minute and were sure to provide a stern test of the Blues’ European credentials. And so it proved.

Key players like Cahill, Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan have returned to the team after missing the early part of the season but Moyes was without record signing, ironically from Liege, Marouane Fellaini, who was inelegible having played in that defeat to Liverpool.

And the Belgians served notice of their intent after only 9 minutes as they took the lead with a nicely worked goal. Steven Defour released Wilfried Dalmat on the right and the winger beat Joleon Lescott to the ball before sliding a low ball across the box for Dieudonne Mbokani to knock home.

Everton were rocked by the loss of a crucial away goal but worked their way back into the match with Cahill heading over.

But the equaliser arrived after 23 minutes and it was last season’s top scorer Yakubu who was once more on hand for Everton.

Mikel Arteta picked the ball up on the left hand side and played a neat pass inside and it found its way to the Nigerian via Leon Osman, and he placed the ball past Rorys Aragon in the Liege goal.

The first half was end to end stuff and after 35 minutes the visitors struck Everton with a second away goal. Marcos Camozzato played a cross ball into the box and as Joseph Yobo tried to intercept, he diverted the ball beyond Tim Howard.

But Moyes’ side responded 3 minutes later to equalise for a second time in the match. Segundo Castillo, making his home debut, rifled home a superb 25 yard shot with Aragon got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

After such a superb opening period, the second only lacked in goals as the game continued to be played at a high pace, with the home side desperately seeking a way through to make the job in Belgium slightly easier.

Both sides had penalty appeals waved away by the Polish referee. Anichebe went down under a challenge with Oguchi Onyewu while in stoppage time Lescott was fortunate not to concede a penalty as Dalmat went down under his challenge.

Everton did go close through substitute Vaughan, but he headed just over from six yards. But the loss of 2 away goals means that while it is not mission impossible, it leaves Everton in a difficult position ahead of the return in Belgium.

The Blues have conceded 11 goals in just 5 games this season and the manager knows his team’s defending must improve if they are to progress.

“I’ve been saying that for a few weeks now and it’s getting to the stage where I’m going to have to start looking at it and if it’s going to stay the same,” he told BBC Sport.

“Hopefully, we can go to Belgium, keep a clean sheet and score a goal.”

Everton: Howard; Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott; Anichebe (Vaughan 64), Castillo, Osman, Arteta, Cahill; Yakubu.

Subs not used: Nash, Baines, Nuno Valente, Jutekiewicz, Baxter, Rodwell.

Everton goals: Yakubu (23), Castillo (38).

a bird, a plane, no it's the flying portuguese

Saturday (28-9-08) Match Report:

Well, Liverpool was victorious in the merseyside derby. No surprise there considering Everton’s defence was all over the place since the beginning of this season. Torres is back on the score sheet but Robbie Keane was unable to break his duck. Another flop perhaps?. He will join the ranks of Cisse, Baros, Veronin, and Bellamy to name a few. 20million will go down the drain.

Was there a penalty at Old Trafford? Definitely not!!! Nonetheless, Rob Style has his own idea. Jlloyd Samuel has made an excellent tackle, but the flying Portuguese was more convincing. I’m not complaining since I’m a united fan, but that was an awfull decision by the referee.

After Arsenal’s big win against Sheffield, we would think that Hull would roll over. Nevertheless, Hull proved us wrong. To win a game from a goal down required something special and it was Giovanni’s goal. It was an absolute stunner! I predict a good future for Hull in the premier league.

Everton vs Liverpool Match Report

Glory for Liverpool as they beat their Merseyside neighbours Everton in their own backyard (Goodison Park), courtesy of two great Torres goals. Rafa had a lot to think about, with Pennant and Agger showing pretty good performances midweek against Crewe, but in the end, he played a similar team, although Pennant did come near the end of the match. Before the match, Stevie G was hoping to get his landmark 100th goal at Goodison, but it just didn’t happen. No worries, Liverpool still beat their rivals. Liverpool pretty much dominated the game, Everton getting only a few good chances at goal, while Liverpool had many, including 2 goals which were disallowed. The first half was pretty feisty, although producing no goals. The second half could have had many more goals than it did, and Torres could have gotten a hat-trick, but he has to be satisfied with to great goals. Watch the goals here. As always, there’s lots of drama in this derby fixture, and this time was no exception. Near the end of the match, Tim Cahill of Everton got red-carded for a challenge on Alonso (which was a bit unfair…but you won’t see me complaining). All-in-All, Rafa must be really happy with the performance, and this sould take a little bi of the gloom off of last week’s disappointment against Stoke. Match Reports Here and Here (Everton’s Point of View) and Liverpool’s point of view, here :

Fernando Torres fired home an explosive double as Liverpool stormed to the top of the table after running riot in the 208th Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

The Spanish hot-shot blew the Toffees away with two goals in four second-half minutes to clinch a 2-0 win for Rafael Benitez’s side and ensure the Reds equalled their best start to a Premier League campaign since the 96-97 campaign when they took 14 points from their opening six matches.

Torres Celebrates Brace

In other news, Liverpool are to face Robbie Keane’s former club Tottenham in the Carling Cup, sometime in the 2nd week of November. And the next match coming up is a Champions League qualifier against PSV Eindhoven.

This week we visit Goodison Park for the Merseyside Derby, where two Liverpool players have made it into our list for Week 6. Both Everton & Liverpool drew last weekend against their newly-promoted counterparts. Chelsea and Manchester United should cruise against Stoke City & Bolton respectively, while Arsenal are set to take on overachievers, Hull City.

We begin with Robert Green as our goalkeeper for this week, as West Ham United takes on Fulham. Fulham were goalless against Blackburn last weekend, as Paul Ince’s Rovers went on to record only their second victory of the season. The underrated, Green should come out as the winning keeper in the clash between the two London sides.

Richard Dunne & Kolo Touré lead the defense as the two centerhalfs. Both defenders are good choices and should come as a bargain. José Bosingwa & Patrice Evra complete are back-four.

Manchester United will face Bolton and this should be a good time to save a little money in order to afford Cristiano Ronaldo on your team. Tim Cahill is another great choice in the middle – a good player that scores under pressure. The Australian attacking midfielder has scored twice in the two games he’s played since his return from injury. Florent Malouda & Shaun Wright-Phillips complete are midfield, as both players are enjoying their rejuvenated starting roles.

As promised, two Liverpool players have been chosen for this week. Dirk Kuyt & Robbie Keane make up our strike force as they take on their old rivals. Keane is highly anticipating his first Merseyside Derby, while Kuyt looks to repeat his team’s first Merseyside encounter from last season with another goal.

Live text commentary as it happened: Liverpool 1-0 Everton

1754 BST: Full-time. Liverpool 1 Everton 0 and Liverpool win the Merseyside derby and do the double over their great city rivals. Torres’ 27th goal of the season seals the deal, and Liverpool jump five points clear of Everton in fourth.

Stoppage time: Gerrard clears the ball with a great clearance. Kuyt is troubling the Everton defence with some sneaky play, staying up and forcing Howard to clear. One minute left.

Liverpool win a free-kick. It would now appear to be game over. Liverpool make one final change — Peter Crouch is on for Steven Gerrard.

90th minute: That results in Torres being replaced for safety by Jermaine Pennant. Torres’ goal in the 7th minute could turn out to be the winner here… Gerrard drives a rasping shot at Howard who tips it out for the corner. Three minutes of stoppage time. Arteta does well at the corner to win the goal kick.

89th minute – YELLOW: Fernando Torres earns a totally needless booking for kicking the ball away to time-waste.

88th minute: Corner taken short. Jagielka heads clear.

87th minute: Hyypia heads away the corner. Carsley wants to shoot but doesn’t get it right and Liverpool clear easily. Down the other end, Kuyt appears to have scored but just missed wide after a deflection.

86th minute: Everton keen to keep a hold of the ball to maximise their chances. Cross from Osman. Reina can’t deal with the cross — scary thoughts of last week’s Man Utd match come to mind — and Skrtel concedes the corner.

84th minute: Arteta squares the free-kick to Fernandes, whose shot from distance is blocked. Liverpool break quickly and Torres plays a brilliant ball in, saved well by Howard.

83rd minute: Carragher gets a cross in but it flies over the goal on the other end and out for a goal kick. Everton win a free-kick in a good position up the other end.

82nd minute: Hibbert takes an attacking throw short. The ball is lost for a goal kick, although Hibbert wants a corner. Ref Webb has to talk to Hibbert about dissent. Replays show it should have been a corner. Babel is taken off for Benayoun.

80th minute: Everton have an attack going. Liverpool’s defence holds strong, however. Liverpool counter. Torres down the left, but can’t get past two defenders in the box. Osman finds Yakubu but Skrtel makes a good challenge.

78th minute: Liverpool keeping possession but appear to be content to hang on to the ball. You cannot help but feel that Everton will somehow get a point from somewhere. Torres caught offside. The ball goes missing for a while and Howard only takes the kick a minute later.

76th minute: The Everton defence switches off and Tim Howard has to rescue his colleagues by clearing the ball outside his box before Ryan Babel can get to it. Liverpool looking for a killer blow here.

75th minute: Torres caught offside. Liverpool should have buried this game a while ago.

74th minute: Everton win a corner. Reina deals with it by punching it away. Goal kick as it comes off Yakubu.

71st minute – YELLOW CARD: Phil Jagielka is booked for a high challenge on Gerrard. Phil Neville is off for Leighton Baines.

69th minute: Yobo loses the ball a bit too easily. Gerrard breaks down the left but his cross is blocked and out for a corner. Eventually cleared short and Everton play upfield quickly. Skrtel reads the situation well and challenges successfully to clear.

66th–68th minutes: Liverpool make a number of good passes but it comes to nothing as Babel’s cross is cleared. Everton break down the other end and win a throw. Taken quickly by Arteta. The cross is headed away and it’s Liverpool’s turn to break. Early ball in from Kuyt is not cleared properly and Alonso has a shot, blocked by Yobo. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

65th minute: Everton have an attacking throw. Taken long by Neville, but headed away. Liverpool win the ball. Gerrard tries to play it early but Jagielka is aware and puts it out into touch.

62nd minute: More from the stats department: Everton have had 60-40 of possession this half. Rafa Benítez is seen discussing something with fourth official Rob Styles.

61st minute: Everton want a penalty. Not given. Replays show Yakubu dived. Fernandes is finally on, he replaces Steven Pienaar.

60th minute: Everton want to bring Manuel Fernandes on, but Osman’s struggling a little and Moyes has to halt the change to consider Osman’s situation.

59th minute: Everton win another free-kick, in a less promising position but still upfield. Arteta’s cross is headed by Osman but it’s wide. Osman has gone down.

58th minute: Everton win a free-kick in an ever-so-promising position.

57th minute: The game’s gone ever so slightly dull right now. Gerrard plays a one-two with Alonso, but the ball is lost further up the field. Rather dull right now.

54th minute: Yakubu’s cross is easily cut out. Liverpool now with possession in midfield, playing well. A loose ball finds its way to Osman, but he wastes the chance. Lee Carsley has gone down hurt after a challenge on Gerrard saw the Liverpool skipper accidentally injure him. He’s back up now though.

53rd minute: Everton have had more possession this half than they had last but need to make something happen soon. Osman finds Pienaar in an offside position.

50th minute: Another little bit from the random stats department: Everton are statistically the ‘cleanest’ team in the Premier League this season, with the lowest number of yellow and red cards. This despite having two men sent off last time they played their Merseyside rivals.

48th minute – YELLOW CARD: Yakubu does well to latch on to a through ball and wins a corner for his team. Taken by Arteta. Reina punches it clear and Babel takes the ball down the left. Brought down by Pienaar who is booked.

46th minute: Right from the get-go, Liverpool threaten again. Everton manage to deal with it, but this surely isn’t a good sign for David Moyes’ men. Torres attempts a little chip from 20 yards which is easily saved.

1705 BST: Everton get us underway in the second half. Will Liverpool be made to pay for failing to take a number of their chances? We’re about to find out.

1704 BST: The teams re-appear for the start of the second half.

1648 BST: Half-time. Liverpool lead 1-0 and have totally dominated the match.

45th minute: Gerrard plays a brilliant pass cross-field. The cross in is headed back by Torres to Kuyt, who misses wide. Riise smashes one in as well, and that’s out for a corner. Looks like it came off Babel, though. One minute added.

43rd minute: The free-kick comes to nothing. Down the other end, Yakubu is left alone and his soft shot is easily gathered by Reina.

42nd minute: David Moyes does not look happy on the sidelines. Everton have rarely tested Reina so far. Liverpool win a free-kick after Hibbert is deemed to have jumped unfairly.

40th minute: Reina takes a brilliant free-kick. Torres heads it on for Gerrard whose brilliant volley hits the post. Torres’ follow-up does not materialise.

38th minute: Everton win a free-kick. Their first real chance at scoring, perhaps? It’s taken by Arteta. The attacking header hits Hyypia and it’s cleared poorly. Liverpool finally get it away. Liverpool push up on the counter. It’s out for a corner.

37th minute: Everton break with Arteta after Xabi Alonso is caught in possession. Pienaar wastes the attack by losing the ball out into touch.

34th minute: A rare Everton attack has Liverpool sitting fairly deep. Headed away by Hyypia but not far out enough. Liverpool finally clear. Slightly better from the Toffees now. Jagielka is caught in possession in his own half and Gerrard very nearly takes the ball away.

33rd minute: Kuyt whips in a good cross but it’s cleared. Everton are really poor right now.

32nd minute: A great ball in from Gerrard from the free-kick but Lucas heads over. Given as a corner. Howard punches it away.

31st minute: Everton win a free-kick in their own half but give it away and Liverpool break well. Torres is pushed over by Jagielka and wins Liverpool a free-kick.

29th minute: Everton have a rare attempt on goal. Wide from Osman.

28th minute: Gerrard sends a teasing ball forward looking for Babel. It’s cleared. Riise gets a great cross in but Babel, yet again, is the culprit as he misses the ball totally and it’s out for a goal kick.

26th minute: Quick stat. Possession in last 5 minutes? You guessed it. Liverpool bossing it, 75-25.

25th minute: Liverpool win yet another corner, their fourth of the game. It beats everyone and Kuyt barely gets a touch on it to send it out the other end for a goal kick.

24th minute: Hyypia is fouled by Yakubu again and Liverpool win a free-kick.

23rd minute: Down the other end, Torres loses a number of defenders but his ball back across is cleared.

22nd minute: Everton get their first corner of the match, but it’s well headed away by a defender. Liverpool are starting to look edgy. Some great build-up play from Everton is wasted as Lescott’s cross is not met.

21st minute: Howard Webb — one of the best refs in the league (he’s shown the fewest yellow cards in the league this season) — speaks to Yakubu about a minor altercation with Sami Hyypia.

19th minute: Neville, of course, was one of two Everton players sent off earlier this season when the two teams met at Goodison Park — his handball on the line saving Lucas’ goal-bound effort in the last minute. He’s now on a yellow here.

18th minute – YELLOW CARD: Phil Neville is the second man into the book for a late challenge on Lucas.

17th minute: Everton defend the corner well but have yet to do much in this game.

16th minute: Torres in the box finds Gerrard unmarked. Gerrard tries to get it back to Torres and Everton clear. Later in the minute, Torres does well to get the ball in the box. Finds Kuyt, whose shot is well saved by Howard.

15th minute: The two managers on the touchline both shouting instructions to their players. Their demeanours could not be more different, however.

13th minute: Liverpool get a corner. Finds Riise outside the box but no trademark long-range goal from the Norwegian, his weak attempt is wide.

11th minute: Liverpool are bossing play. Everton have not seen much of the ball so far and need to settle down quickly. Torres’ goal, incidentally, was the 100th in all competitions this season so far for Liverpool.

9th minute: The free-kick is wide, left of the goal.

8th minute – YELLOW CARD: Straight from the kick off, Gerrard wins the ball. Carsley takes out Torres with a high challenge and is booked. Free-kick to Liverpool.

7th minute – GOAL (Liverpool): Fernando Torres capitalises on some poor defending and sublimely finishes with a great low shot into the corner past Howard.

3rd minute: Babel cuts in from the left and finds Kuyt on the right. Kuyt’s cross/shot is saved easily by Howard.

2nd minute: Energetic start here. Arteta has a powerful shot saved well at the other end.

1st minute: Gerrard goes on a run down the right but his cross is out.

1602 BST: Liverpool kick off, playing towards the Kop end.

Team lineups
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Lucas, Gerrard (Crouch 90), Alonso, Babel (Benayoun 82), Torres (Pennant 90), Kuyt
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Neville (Baines 72), Carsley, Pienaar (Fernandes 62), Osman, Yakubu

Liverpool at Everton

Premier League

12:45pm (7:45am EST) Saturday, October 20 

The Lowdown: Let’s start with the obvious…

3-0.

Need I say more?

The Merseyside Derby comes at an interesting (some might say crucial) time of the season for the Reds. Not only does Liverpool have the memory of last season’s embarassment at Goodison Park to scrub away, but after a string of poor performances and average results, the team looks needs to get back to its winnings ways.

Once again, Rafa’s catching shit for his rotation policy, some in the squad have come under heavy criticism for individual performances and some people are whispering that the departure of Paco has sent the squad into a tailspin. But, everybody recognizes the next few matches (at Everton, at Besiktas, vs. Arsenal) as either getting Liverpool’s season back on track or derailing that train.

Rafa on the importance of Saturday’s match:

Winning a game like this can change everything and we are looking forward to the derby.

It’s important for us to win this game. Everton are in a good position in the league and have started the season well.

We know it will be a tough and very physical game. We have confidence and the players know how much this match means to our supporters.

So, motivation shouldn’t be a problem.

What could be a problem is the way Liverpool were playing before the international break if they don’t return to action with a different look. But the Gaffa has spread the blame evenly, refusing to single out players:

The problem is a tactical problem and it is my problem. Confidence is also an issue but not the physical condition of the players. We are running more and faster than before.

I am really worried about the team over the past few games, because we are not playing at our level.

So I say the team is not playing well and you cannot pick out one player.

The team is working hard so we need to improve tactically and we need to improve our confidence.

As for the actual team, there could be a few more players in the mix for selection. As Rafa noted earlier in the week, it’s funny how everybody seems to get healthy ahead of the derby.

The news on Torres and his muscle tear/twinge is promising and it sounds as if he could make the bench. I’d be surprised to see him start, but if he’s healthy enough, have at it! Kuyt should be fit, Alonso is getting close and Kewell may soon make his season debut. (enter your own ‘and season bow-out’ joke here)

Rafa on injured players returning:

Torres trained well on Wednesday and we will have another session on Thursday and Friday afternoon, then we will make a decision.

We have three players who are very close to returning and we will see how they are before I decide on the team to face Everton.

It is always a risk but I will talk to the doctor and maybe it is not such a big risk here.

I think all of the players want to play. Some have injuries but when I see them in the dressing room or in the corridor all of them say, ‘I am ready if you want’. You know they want to play.

As for the opposition, the Toffees sit tenth in the table with 13 points, three behind Liverpool. Their form at home has been slightly above average – two wins, one loss, one draw — with five goals for and three conceded. But, I tend to believe that when it comes to emotional matches like the derby, form and records past can be thrown out the window.

As for injuries, Tim Cahill may have a part to play after returning to training this week from… wait for it, wait for it… a metatarsal injury. The tenacious midfielder, who has developed a nasty habit of scoring in the derby (three goals in six matches), has been missing for some three months but could be handed a place on the bench by David Moyes.

Cahill could be joined by fellow gimp, Thomas Gravesen, whose season has been roughly 30 minutes longer than Cahill’s due to a knee injury. But, the Toffees will definately be without striker James Vaughn and diver Andrew Johnson, who just started running after an ankle operation. (before one dives, he must first learn to run)

But Everton still have some useful players in the side, with Arteta and McFadden being the most in-form at the moment. But, Yakubu should be the man to watch up front for the Bitters.

And, I came across this while slumming through some Evertonian websites. Who knew the lesser half of Liverpool had such a keen sense of humor? Then again, if you were a Evertonian, laughter might be the only thing keeping you from offing yourself.

I’m reminded of the words of Shankly…

If Everton were playing at the bottom of the garden, I’d pull the curtains.

Five Questions TBA:

1. What kind of football will Liverpool play? The quick-touch, free-flowing attacking footy we saw versus Derby or the boot-it-up-the-field and generally-phone-it-in-type effort we saw against Marseille?
2. Which of the injured will make the squad?
3. Will tempers flare up? How many cards will we see?
4. Will SopCast actually work this weekend? (I fear I already know the answer)
5. Does Joleon Lescott have the worst hair in the Premier League?