The 218th playing of a Merseyside derby promises to be an extra special occasion as the city decamps south to Wembley. With both sides languishing in mediocre league positions, the FA Cup has become crucial in determining the successfulness of the current campaign to both clubs. The Saturday lunchtime semi-final will bring together two teams in contrasting form. Liverpool’s dramatic 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers in midweek was only their third win in the past 14 league games whereas Everton have won three of their last four Barclays Premier League fixtures and overtaken Liverpool in the standings as a result. The two league fixtures this season however both ended in victory for the red half of Merseyside with an impressive 3-0 win at Anfield recorded as recently as last month. Since the last gasp win over Rovers on Tuesday night, Liverpool have had more off-field issues to contend with as high-profile Director of Football Damien Comolli received his marching orders from the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG). The Frenchman seemingly paying the price for a number of unsuccessful and expensive signings during his 19 month spell.
Vital Quotes:
“There’s probably a bit more added to it because it’s a local derby. It seems strange playing a local derby in London but every time the clubs have met in London, both sets of fans have been an absolute credit to the city. I’m sure Saturday will be another occasion when they both represent the city of Liverpool very proudly. Both clubs have served the city fantastically well.” Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish speaking at the pre-match press conference
“This is not only a semi-final, it is a semi-final against Everton. For everyone at this club and everyone at Everton, it’s a massive game. It could change our season for the best. I’m not going to play it down because everyone knows how big it is to me and everyone here at the club.” Reds captain Steven Gerrard as quoted by the BBC
“I put pressure on myself because I want to be successful and I want to win games. I take responsibility for the teams. I pick the players, so I have to. So, of course the pressure’s on me and I’m happy to take that. I was always going to have difficult decisions. We’ve got a squad which is playing well at the moment and we could quite easily pick a number of players. It’s good. We’ve got a good choice to make.” From an interview with evertonfc.com by Toffees boss David Moyes
“From a fairytale aspect there is an element of settling scores but it is about keeping a clear head… We need to be focused on Saturday. We cannot start worrying about who kicked who, or who scored what – we have to play the game the right way and afterwards, if we walk off victorious, it will be that much sweeter of course.” Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard talking to Sky Sports
Liverpool Team News:
The Reds have well documented problems in the keeping department with both first-choice Pepe Reina and understudy Alexander Doni both suspended following recent red cards. The club did make an appeal for wrongful dismissal on behalf of Doni but the Football Association unsurprisingly rejected the request. Subsequently third choice goalkeeper Brad Jones will be between the sticks at Wembley after making his Premier League debut for Liverpool as a 26th minute substitute on Tuesday night. Hungarian Peter Gulacsi has been recalled from his loan spell at Hull City to provide cover. Midfielders Charlie Adam and long-term absentee Lucas Leiva are still missing but right-back Martin Kelly may be available again following an ankle injury. Expect several rested players such as Gerrard, Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique and Luis Suarez to return to the starting eleven.
Player to watch: Steven Gerrard
Whenever you think of Liverpool in big matches, inevitably the mind is filled with inspirational moments from their no.8. His heroic hat trick against Everton last month was the latest in a long line of key contributions when it’s mattered most. Few will forget his individual brilliance during the club’s last FA Cup final appearance against West Ham United in 2006. A performance matched perhaps only by the flicked header and all round effort that inspired the greatest comeback of all time against AC Milan in the Champions League final of the year before. Even as far back as 2001, a then 20-year-old Gerrard was on the score sheet and playing a pivotal role in the memorable 4-3 Uefa Cup triumph over Alaves in Dortmund. Now seemingly fully recovered for the various injury setbacks that have plagued the skipper over the last year or so, both he and Liverpool fans everywhere will be dreaming of more magical moments on Saturday. The England international would have suffered more than most over the last few traumatic years as the club became besieged by off-field problems and on-field mediocrity. Destiny may just dictate that ‘Stevie G’ once again takes centre-stage as Liverpool attempt to secure a second domestic cup final appearance of the season.
Everton Team News:
The Blues travel to Wembley with only Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and Steven Pienaar (ineligible) unavailable to play. Manager Moyes is likely to revert to his strongest line-up for the FA Cup semi-final after resting a number of players during Easter Monday’s 4-0 thumping of Sunderland. Defender Leighton Baines, midfielder Tim Cahill and striker Nikica Jelavic were among the players left out but almost certain to reclaim places in the first eleven. Dutchman Royston Drenthe will be hoping to take the place of the cup-tied Pienaar whilst former Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson could feature after returning from injury and being an unused substitute earlier in the week.
Player to watch: Marouane Fellaini
The Belgium international midfielder proved a massive hit when joining from Standard Liège in September 2008 for a club record fee of £15 million. A succession of serious ankle injuries, one of which was sustained during a derby contest following a robust challenge with Sotirios Kyrgiakos, have restricted Fellaini’s appearances during the past two seasons. The player’s form has also arguably suffered from being moved around the team too often with a period even spent playing as a loan striker. Recent performances however suggest the 24-year-old, now back in his favoured central midfield role, is close to hitting top form once again. A combative physical presence, Fellaini also possesses good feet for a man of his size and is an influential member of the Toffees team.
Match Facts & Stats
? Liverpool hold the upper hand in the 217 meetings between the two clubs to date with 86 wins to Everton’s 66 (65 draws).
? Following the 2-0 and 3-0 victories recorded this season, Liverpool have now secured four league doubles over Everton in the past seven seasons.
? On all three occasions that Liverpool have beaten Everton in a semi-final previously, they have actually gone on to lose the final.
? This will be the third time that the two clubs have met at Wembley in the competition with Liverpool winning FA Cup Finals against the Toffees under the old twin towers in both 1986 and 1989.
? In total Liverpool have contested 23 FA Cup semi-finals making it through to the final 13 times.
? Everton have been eliminated in semi-finals 11 times – an unwanted record – but amazingly they have been successful on each of their last six appearances at this stage.
? Liverpool are one of just three sides to win the League and FA Cup in the same season: Arsenal (1992/93), Liverpool (2000/01) and Chelsea (2006/07).
Ref Watch:
The experienced Howard Webb MBE is the man appointed to control this contest. The 40-year-old has officiated in 42 completed games and shown 132 yellow and 5 red cards in the process so far this season. Liverpool’s last encounter with the Yorkshire based referee was the 3-2 defeat at Queens Park Rangers last month when the Reds let a two goal lead slip late on. Everton have to go back a further two months to January for their last contest involving Webb: a 2-1 home win over Fulham. The FIFA listed official was the man in charge during the recent ill-fated quarter-final match between Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers that saw the collapse of Trotters midfielder Fabrice Muamba.
Match Prediction:
The goalkeeping situation is obviously an issue. Brad Jones is a decent shot stopper by third choice standards but he is of course not in Reina’s league and despite saving a penalty on Tuesday night he had a nightmare in gifting Yakubu the equaliser and was a little fortunate not to be giving his own marching orders. Elsewhere though there is little to choose between the two sides and it is likely to be a close, tense affair. Although that was what we all expected ahead of the recent league encounter before Liverpool recorded a fairly comfortable 3-0 victory. The atmosphere will be electric and with the game falling on the anniversary weekend of the Hillsborough disaster, a win for the Red half of Merseyside will be even more sweet. Liverpool to win 2-1.
Next Fixtures:
Liverpool – Premier League vs West Bromwich Albion at Anfield on Sunday 22nd April 2012, kick off 4.00pm.
Everton – Premier League vs Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday 22nd April 2012, kick off 12.30pm.
So that’s what we think, how about you? Let us know your thoughts and predictions for the game below or in the forum…
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