Everton 1-0 Liverpool – FA Cup Live Blog – 4 February 2009

Liverpool and Everton clash for the fourth time this season, the latest episode being an FA Cup fourth round replay at Goodison Park. The Reds are on a high after beating Chelsea on Sunday why Everton have been rocked this week by a spat between David Moyes and Victor Anichebe. The winners will take on either Doncaster Rovers or Aston Villa in the next round.

Match Preview

Liverpool got their title bid back on track with a late 2-0 victory against Chelsea on Sunday but now turn their attentions to the FA Cup. Everton have held the Reds to successive 1-1 draws this season, once in the Premiership and then again a few days later on 28 January when their FA Cup meeting ended all square.

The Merseyside derby is the most frequently played fixture in the FA Cup, including replays, this will the 22nd time the pair have met. Bar this season’s fourth round match, the last time Everton played Liverpool in the FA Cup was a fifth round tie in 1991 which took three matches to reach a conclusion. Reds manager at the time Kenny Dalglish also resigned in between the first and second matches.

Everton boss David Moyes has severed problems in attack, with Yakubu, Louis Saha and James Vaughan all out injured as the Toffees bid to reach the last 16 for the first time in four years. Everton have not won in their last four matches but are unbeaten at Goodison Park since Aston Villa beat them on 7 December. Deadline day signing from Manchester City, Jo, is cup-tied and will not feature.

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 16 matches, having won and drawn eight games since they were defeated by Tottenham Hotspur in the Carling Cup last November. Rafa Benitez will look to take the Reds into the fifth round for the fourth time in the last six years but will of course be without Robbie Keane, who returned to Spurs on deadline day.

Line Ups

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Fellaini, Neville, Arteta, Pienaar, Cahill.
Subs: Nash, Yobo, Van der Meyde, Castillo, Jacobsen, Rodwell, Gosling.

Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Kuyt, Alonso, Gerrard, Leiva Lucas, Riera, Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Hyypia, Agger, Benayoun, Babel, Mascherano, El Zhar.

Goal

Everton: Gosling (118)

Live Blog

120+1‘ And it’s all over! The 11-men of Everton snatch victory right at the end and avoid the lottery of a penalty shoot out. An excellent goal from Dan Gosling, even if I did have to watch it second hand.

119′ I waited 118 minutes for a goal and had to watch it on the replay because some moron at the television company’s button pressing finger got itchy. Someone needs to be sacked for that.

118′ Everton 1 Liverpool 0. The Toffees have surely won it now. A pinpoint cross from Van der Meyde lands at the feet of Gosling who curls the ball between Skrtel and Arbeloa and into the far corner. A delightful finish in what has been an awful game to watch.

117′ Everton go on the attack but the transmission is interupted as some bright spark at ITV decides to cut to a commercial break. Inevitably…

114′ An Alonso corner is flicked away by Jagielka as Liverpool have a rare chance to attack the Everton goal. A free kick is given against Skrtel and Everton look to go forward again.

113′ Tony Hibbert, who has ventured forward all match is booked for a foul on Alonso as he attempted to recover possession.

112′ Take a shot somebody. Anybody. Gosling has a go from the edge of the box but it’s straight at Reina.

110′ Alonso overhits another free kick into the box which bounces away to safety. Not long left now, just 10 minutes of boredom. Perhaps the referee will have pity on the thousands of freezing souls at Goodison Park and call penalties early?

106′ A rare appearance for Andy Van der Mayde who replaces Phil Neville in the Everton midfield.

105′ Arteta’s free kick takes a deflection and goes behind. The Spaniard is on hand to take the corner while Kuyt is frantically trying to prevent Cahill from getting his magnetic head anywhere near the ball.

101′ The labouring Torres is finally put out of his misery and is replaced by Ryan Babel. He makes an instant impact, winning a corner but Kuyt can only direct the delivery from Alonso straight to goalkeeper Howard.

100′ It’s all Everton this half. They are throwing everything at Liverpool, delivering ball after ball into the box but the Reds are defending stoutly.

96′ Osman lets fire from the edge of the box which takes a slight deflection off Skrtel. Riena saves and then again from the follow up from Gosling. Cahill then heads the ball inches wide from the corner. So close for Everton but can they make one of these chances count?

94′ Osman manages to turn away from Alonso in the box and directs a shot towards goal which is gathered comfortably by Reina. It’s all Everton in these early stages with Liverpool seemingly happy to play this game out.

91′ The first chance of extra time goes to Everton. The lively Baines plays a ball across the face of goal but Carragher is alert and prevents Cahill from connecting with it.

Extra Time. Despite having a man advantage, Everton have not yet made it count and there will be another 30 minutes to play before a winner is found. Anyone want to make a bet with me this one is going to penalties? Perhaps they should just forget the extra time and go straight to spot kicks. It’s always good to cut out the middleman. Especially an unwanted tedious one which requires me to sit here and write about for half an hour.

90+4′ Baines delivers a last gasp corner aimed for Cahill but it’s cleared. A few seconds later and the referee blows for full time.

90+2′ Two successive Alonso corners are dealt with comfortably and Everton clear.

90′ Four minutes of added time are to be played. Can somebody find a winner and spare me the pain of another 30 minutes of this match?

89′ Alonso becomes the latest player to receive a booking after he trips Hibbert who showed some invention in going forward, rather than playing an aimless long ball. Arteta wastes the free kick and it goes straight into the awaiting arms of Reina.

86′ The Everton supporters are incensed by Torres who sits in the middle of the pitch messing about with his shin pads after Alan Wiley stops player after a foul by Neville.

85′ It’s getting to the stage where one goal would surely win this game. Baines whips in a cross but it’s too high for Cahill who’s waiting in the box.

84′ Youngster Rodwell gets a rush of blood to the head and slices the ball high and wide from almost 30 yards out. At this late stage of the game, anything is worth a try I suppose.

79′ Riera, who looked like he was carrying an injury is replaced by Javier Mascherano, as Liverpool look to shore up the midfield.

78′ Everton should have the upper hand but it’s Liverpool who press. Dossena delivers yet another dreadful cross from the left hand side. What on earth does Benitez see in him?

77′ Here’s one for the stat fans – Lucas becomes the 23rd player to be sent off in a Merseyside derby but the first in an FA Cup tie between the pair.

76′ Red card for Lucas! The Brazilian is given his marching orders for a trip on Joleon Lescott and earns his second booking of tghe night. The decision unsurprisingly encourages a roar from the home crowd, who have not been so vocal since Gerrard was substituted in the first half.

71′ Everton rattle the post in the best chance of the match. Arteta plays the ball into the box towards Cahill who touches it onto the onrushing Leon Osman. The midfielder wastes no time in taking the shot on but it cannons back off the woodwork and is cleared.

67′ There is nothing to separate either side and I wouldn’t be surprised if it goes all the way to penalties. Substitute Gosling has a weak effort from the edge of the box and Torres sees an effort blocked at the other end.

61′ Alonso plays an excellent ball behind the Everton defence and Riera sees a shot blocked by goalkeeper Howard who raced off his line to deal with the danger.

60′ Pienaar goes off for Everton and is replaced by teenager Jack Rodwell.

59′ Baines finds himself the subject of target practice as a plastic bottle from the crowd is aimed at his back as he attempts to take a throw in. It’s not just bottles, but rolled up socks and wooly hats are also scattered around the sidelines. There are going to be some very cold and soon to be banned supporters sitting in the stands tonight.

58′ Alsono curls a free kick into the far post and Torres tries his best to head the ball back across the face of goal but it had already gone out for a goal kick.

55′ Everton appear more composed on the ball in the second half and a good spell of possession ends with Cahill sending a dipping shot from distance well wide of goal. Lucky really, as replays show Reina wasn’t looking at the ball.

53′ Youngster Dan Gosling gets a chance for Everton after coming on to replace Fellaini.

52′ Benayoun is closely guarded by Jagielka but the Israeli managed to dig a cross across the six yard box but it’s hammered away to safety.

49′ More bookings to liven up an already heated first half go to Phil Neville for a late tackle on Alonso and one for Lucas for a trip on Arteta.

47′ The Liverpool fans get an audible ticking off from the tannoy announcer for standing up. I’m sure they will of course take their seats as football supporters love being told what they can and can’t do.

46′ As previously revealed, no team has played eachother more times in the FA Cup than Everton and Liverpool, but this match has hardly been a classic example of what the competition has to offer. Pienaar looks as though he has shrugged off the leg injury he was hobbling about with in the first half.

Halftime. A bad-tempered and stop-start first half was finally brought to an end. Liverpool will miss the absence of Gerrard because for all the bluster of Kuyt, he’s simply not in the same league playing support to Torres. The Spanish international himself, is also looking tired in attack and it’s difficult to see where Liverpool are going to score from. I would not be surprised to see Everton nick this one from a set-piece and they are lucky that neither Pienaar or Fellaini have been sent off yet for reckless and petulant tackles.

45+2′ Riera wins a corner off Hibbert. Alonso delivers but it’s headed away by Cahill and thumped clear, albeit painfully, by Pienaar. I bet he can’t wait for half-time. Neither can I.

45′ The fourth official announces just two minutes of extra time. Thank heavens for that. However, Pienaar goes down with an injury which is surely going to prolong the misery of the first 45 minutes.

43′ Pienaar finally gets booked for another awful challenge on Lucas. This time the Everton midfielder stamps on the Brazilian’s foot in another late attempt at making a tackle.

42′ Tempers flair again when Fellaini has a little kick at the calf of Skrtel as the big Slovakian shepherds the ball out for a goal kick. I had the benefit of a video replay and if Wiley had the same then the Everton man would be off for an early bath.

40′ A decent spell of possession is in the end wasted by “first choice Italy left back” Dossena, who, despite having acres of space, sends a cross straight out of play for a goal kick.

37′ Lucas is on the receiving end of a late, booking-free challenge from Pienaar and play stops for about a minute. Unfortunately this means more time will be added on to an already tedious half by referee Wiley.

33′ Kuyt, now playing in the Gerrard role, surges forward but his effort from 20 yards is deflected by a defender. Riera trys to run onto the loose ball but is flagged offside.

31′ Liverpool try to make things happen but it is going to be difficult without the inspirational Gerrard. Torres tries to latch onto a header in the Everton box, but again his touch is heavy and the ball rolls out for a goal kick.

29′ Lucas fouls Baines just outside the area. The usual suspects line up for Everton in the box, all hoping for that decisive headed goal, but Arteta can only direct the ball straight into the defensive wall.

27′ It’s Liverpool’s turn to get their first free kick of the match in a dangerous area. Alonso is just as wasteful as compatriot Arteta was for Everton, whipping it high, wide and not very handsome for a goal kick.

24′ Everton get their first free kick of the match and amazingly do not score from it. Arteta whips the ball in towards Cahill but it’s cleared. The Australian is involved seconds later when he heads down the ball to Osman to volley over the crossbar from just outside the area.

23′ Amongst all the fouling and players go off injured, Benayoun remembers there is a football match going on and attempts to shoot on goal from just outside the box. It’s a pathetic effort and just about reaches Howard. Moments later at the other end Reina has to punch clear a cross from Hibbert.

21′ The match has descended into a series of niggly, playground challenges. Wiley will be out of breath if he keeps blowing his whistle for much longer.

18′ Tim Cahill floors Jamie Carragher with a trailing arm as both players go to head the ball. Cahill doesn’t seem pleased as it looks as though some Liverpool players are trying to persuade the referee to book him. Influence or not, he becomes the first player to go into Alan Wiley’s book this evening.

16′ Gerrard is replaced by Yossi Benayoun and leaves the Goodison Park pitch to good natured applause from the home fans. As if. Boos, jeers and cat calls is more like it. Plus some ironic clapping thrown in for good measure.

15′ It looks like Steven Gerrard’s involvement in the match is over, he appears to be struggling with injury and has handed over the captain’s armband to Jamie Carragher.

12′ I have just been made aware the reason Liverpool and Everton are wearing black armbands is in memory of Anfield pitchside announcer Phil Easton, who died suddenly on Monday.

9′ Liverpool have had the better of the early exchanges with the midfield linking up well. Pretty passes and one touch football is all well and good, but we know an unmarked header from a corner or free kick is going to settle this one. It’s just a matter of time.

6′ Torres shows an exceptionally heavy touch to enable Lescott to tackle the ball out for a corner. Gerrard whips it in but Baines heads it out easily. Alonso latches onto a poor headed clearance from Pienaar and flashes the ball inches wide from 20 yards. A bit of action, that’s more like it.

3′ Everton are a team of short-arses according to the commentary team. The Toffees outfield players measure up at an average five feet 10 inches while Liverpool stand slightly taller at six feet. Yes, that’s the most interesting aspect of the match to report so far.

2′ Both sides are playing the frustratingly tedious 4-5-1 formation. Cahill is the lone striker for Everton with Fellaini just behind hiim while Liverpool predictably opt for Torres up front with Gerrard in support.

1′ The arctic weather has subsided to enable the game to go ahead and it’s Liverpool who kick off to get the match underway at Goodison Park.

0′ Some team news: Everton manager David Moyes names an unchanged starting eleven but outcast Victor Anichebe is not even among the substitutes, despite the Toffees striker crisis. Liverpool make two changes to the side which beat Chelsea on Sunday, with Andrea Dossena and Lucas coming in for Fabio Aurelio and Javier Mascherano.

0′ Joe Royle was the most recent English manager to win the FA Cup when Everton beat Manchester United in 1995, until Harry Redknapp won it with Portsmouth last season.

0′ Tonight’s fixture is the 211th Merseyside derby. Liverpool have the upper hand and are unbeaten in six, winning and drawing three since Everton beat the Reds 3-0 at Goodison Park in September 2006. The omens do not bode well for the home side tonight either: Everton’s win at Macclesfield in the previous round was only the Toffees’ fifth FA Cup match David Moyes has guided his side to in seven years in charge.

Reaction

It did not come as a great surprise the match went to extra time following two draws in the previous two meetings between Everton and Liverpool. Losing Steven Gerrard early in the first half was a blow to Liverpool and when Lucas was sent off, the Reds appeared content to play the match out to an inevitable penalty shoot out. However, Everton never gave up and bombarded Liverpool’s goal during extra time. Youngster Dan Gosling got his just rewards with a glorious goal two minutes before the end of extra time which warmed up a cold night no end. It was just a shame ITV missed it.

Man of the Match

In a match of very little quality, with Gerrard out of action, Torres misfiring for Liverpool and Mikel Arteta not his usual creative self for the Toffees, our attentions turn to the defence. Phil Jagielka was a rock at the back for David Moyes’ side and ensured Torres had a quiet game before being hauled off in extra time. The former Sheffield United defender must be knocking on England’s door and justified his manager’s claim that he and Joleon Lescott are second only in the Premiership only to Ferdinand and Vidic at Manchester United as the Premiership’s best defensive pairing.