Paul Tomkins, Andrew Beasley, Daniel Rhodes, Chris Rowland and other TTT regulars will give their thoughts on the Merseyside derby for 24 hours after the game, and we’ll have post-match statistics and videos too.
Post-Match Thoughts
Paul Tomkins
There can’t have been many late-season derbies where Liverpool were trying to go within a point of the top and Everton were trying to get out of the relegation zone.
Indeed, there was this:
47 – Liverpool (76) and Everton (29) are separated by 47 points in the Premier League table, the largest ever gap between the two sides when facing one another in league competition. Chasm. pic.twitter.com/ouW4JempcA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 24, 2022
Liverpool were flat in the first half, moving the ball too slowly on a pitch that didn’t look slick enough. Everton – who also defended stoutly – wasted time, dived, moaned, fell over with no one around, and Jordan Pickford’s every touch saw him needlessly fall onto the ball, as if he’d just had to make a save or take a difficult cross.
So the highlight, for me, was Alisson doing the same at the end, to rapturous applause and laughter from the Kop. It was almost as good as a Divock Origi goal.
I tweeted at half-time:
If it doesn’t improve and zip it about more, get Diaz and even Origi on. Feels like an Origi type of day. Throw another player a bit more forward against the 10-man defence. Liverpool players need to keep their cool under all the provocation.
— Paul Tomkins (@paul_tomkins) April 24, 2022
Everton came out with a bit more intent in the second half, but continued to throw themselves to the ground for the next 45 minutes as well. Richarlison could have had four bookings.
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