Match Report: Liverpool FC 2-2 Everton FC

Kenny Dalglish's return to Anfield did not have the fairy-tale ending that many had hoped for.

Dalglish was making his return to the Anfield dug out some 20 years after he last took charge of a game at Anfield and the reception he received prior to kick off was indeed one of the greatest that has been heard for a long time. 

 

With principal owner John Henry and his wife watching on, the Liverpool side responded to the rousing rendition of  "You'll Never Walk Alone" by starting the game with enthusiasm and some decent football.  The side showed intent from the kick off with Fernando Torres, who looked hungry for a goal, having a shot within 15 seconds of the kick off.  It was a sign of how the first half would play out.


Admittedly, Everton settled the quicker of the two teams but Liverpool found their feet quickly.  Torres's more recent demeanor of petulance and frustration was again today replaced by that of hunger and aggression, something that had returned in the midweek game against Blacpool.  And it was his shot early in the first half that could have given Liverpool an early lead. 

Anticipating the bounce of the ball better than Distin the 26-year-old cleverly turned the centre-half before twisting inside his defensive partner, John Heitinga, and unleashing a curling left-footed shot which beat Tim Howard but was only denied by the far post. 

Glen Johnson, for the second game running, had been chosen to play left back in a move that has surprised some supporters, but it was his good work down the left flank that lead to the goal. 

Having advanced with the ball from left back position deep in his own half, he cut inside and crossed well to the far-post to find Dirk Kuyt.  Howard, in decent form today, saved well downl to his right and got up immediately to block the Dutchman's follow-up. The ball fell kindly tto Meireles on the edge of the area and having taken one touch to get the ball out of his feet he drilled an arrow-like shot inside the near post to send the Anfield faithful into raptures.

After the confidence boost that the goal had obviously given him, Meireles started to look like the player his reputation claimed and nearly doubled his tally when Kuyt's inch-perfect through-ball picked him out, only for Howard to deny him, forcing the shot around his near post. 

Half-time came and Liverpool were unlucky only to be only a goal to the good.  With the resumption of the second half an enforced change had to be made by Kenny Dalglish, with Soto Kyrgiakos replacing Daniel Agger, who as it later turned out, had been suffering stomach problems all week.  

Almost imediately after the kick off to the second half, Pepe Reina was picking the ball out of his own net.

Everton, somewhat controversially, won a corner and as the ball was delivered into the box, Distin ghosted in at the far post behind Skrtel to head in from a couple of yards out in the first minute of the second half.  It was a nightmare start for Liverpool and even more so considering the corner never have should been, as replays suggested a goal kick would have been the correct decision.   

The players appeared stunned by the goal and things went from bad to worse as only oments later they conceded again.

Martin Kelly and Anichebe challenged for a ball deep in Liverpool's half,  Kelly coming off worse in the challenge.  With no foul given by referee Phil Dowd and as Kelly lay on the ground in need of attention,

Everton continued playing and the ball found its way to Leon Osman, who made his way into the penalty area before slipping a pass inside for Beckford who shot past Reina.  Another controversial goal as some may argue that the challenge on Kelly was unfair and play should have been stopped at that point for a foul, something Dalglish hinted at in his post-match conference.  

The start to the second half was unimaginable given the performance of the first and Anfield was stunned.  However, the fans urged the players on and on 68 minutes Liverpool got the break that they deserved.

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard  tripped Maxi Rodriguez as they both challenged for the ball following a Meireles' free-kick from the right flank.  Phil Dowd had no hesitancy pointing to the stop and Dirk Kuyt calmly converted the spot kick to draw Liverpool level.   

Liverpool looked for a winner and survived some scares of their own as the game became increasingly frenetic but a breakthrough would not come.  

It would have been a dream return to Anfiied for Kenny Dalglish to have recorded a victory over our fiercest rivals, but the certain aspects of the performance, especially the first half display should give the manager and the team confidence going into future games.

There were certain performances that  stood out today.  Both for the right reasons and also, unfortunately, for the wrong reasons.  Kelly had another good performance at right back and if he continues to play in this way he's only going to continue to improve and stake the position of right back for himself.  Glen Johnson too did better in a position that is alien to him, having created the first goal and getting forward at the right times.  Jay Spearing, after many months weeks on the sidelines due to injury, performed well on his return and with time and more games one can only see this young man improving his game. 

But it was the defensive frailties that were exposed again, as had been at Blackpool days earlier.  This time it was Skrtel who could have done better in the build up to Everton's first goal - a lack of ariel ability and organisation at the back perhaps leading to Distin lurking in at the far post.  Although he was not solely to blame, as Liverpool looked shaky on many set pieces and crosses.  Meireles had a good first half, one of his best for a long time, but went missing in the second and was eventually replaced by Shelvey.   

Overall, the performance was an improvement on recent games but if the frailties aren't addressed, on the training ground and possibly in the transfer window, it could be a nerve-wracking end to the season.