When it comes to Liverpool and Everton, the Premier League table looks considerably lopsided at the moment, with David Moyes' team sitting pretty in 4th place, six points above the Reds in 12th place. Brendan Rodgers' team has the chance to cut the gap to only three points this Sunday, but Anfield legend Mark Lawrenson is not convinced that Liverpool have the quality to win at Goodison Park.
Speaking to the BBC today, Lawro predicted a 1-1 draw for Sunday's game but, rather surprisingl, he suggested that Everton's players of a higher quality than Liverpool's. He explained:
"This must be the first time in a very long time where Everton really do fancy themselves against Liverpool. Everton have more quality but Liverpool are still difficult to beat, which is why I am thinking this will end up in a draw".
Is Lawro right? Do Everton really have more quality in the squad than Liverpool? it sounds like heresy, but:
* Everton finished ahead of LFC in the league last season.
* This season, they're already 6 points ahead of the Reds.
Prior to last season, Everton had not finished ahead of Liverpool since 2005, so on current form, Lawro's contention seems fair.
Having said that, on a man-for-man basis, is it accurate to say that Everton have more quality? Here are Liverpool and Everton's current first XIs:
Reina (Howard)
Wisdom (Hibbert)
Johnson (Baines)
Agger (Jagielka)
Skrtel (Heitinga)
Allen (Neville)
Gerrard (Osman)
Sahin (Fellaini)
Sterling (Mirallas)
Suso (Pienaar)
Suarez (Jelavic)
Everton undoubtedly have a very good team at the moment, but Let's compare each side's first XI (on current form) on a man-for-man basis. (obviously this is just opinion):
Howard > Reina
Wisdom > Hibbert
Baines > Johnson
Agger > Jagielka
Skrtel > Heintinga
Allen > Neville
Gerrard > Osman
Fellaini > Sahin
Sterling > Mirallas
Pienaar > Suso
Jelavic > Suarez
That's 6-5 to LFC.
* I chose Jelavic over Suarez purely because the Croatian consistently scores more goals (plus, he doesn't dive, or bring massive controversy and disruption to the club)
* I love Suso, but Pienaar arguably has more of an impact for Everton at this stage, but I fully expect the Spaniard to surpass him in the future.
* Baines is more defensively sound that Johnson, plus he poses an attacking threat.
* Howard makes significantly less mistakes than Reina.
If I had to choose an amalgamated team:
--------------------- Howard
Wisdom ------ Agger ---- Skrtel ---- Baines
----------- Allen ------- Gerrard
------------------ Fellaini
Pienaar ------------------------- Sterling
------------------ Jelavic
Who would make your team?
Jaimie Kanwar
Speaking to the BBC today, Lawro predicted a 1-1 draw for Sunday's game but, rather surprisingl, he suggested that Everton's players of a higher quality than Liverpool's. He explained:
"This must be the first time in a very long time where Everton really do fancy themselves against Liverpool. Everton have more quality but Liverpool are still difficult to beat, which is why I am thinking this will end up in a draw".
Is Lawro right? Do Everton really have more quality in the squad than Liverpool? it sounds like heresy, but:
* Everton finished ahead of LFC in the league last season.
* This season, they're already 6 points ahead of the Reds.
Prior to last season, Everton had not finished ahead of Liverpool since 2005, so on current form, Lawro's contention seems fair.
Having said that, on a man-for-man basis, is it accurate to say that Everton have more quality? Here are Liverpool and Everton's current first XIs:
Reina (Howard)
Wisdom (Hibbert)
Johnson (Baines)
Agger (Jagielka)
Skrtel (Heitinga)
Allen (Neville)
Gerrard (Osman)
Sahin (Fellaini)
Sterling (Mirallas)
Suso (Pienaar)
Suarez (Jelavic)
Everton undoubtedly have a very good team at the moment, but Let's compare each side's first XI (on current form) on a man-for-man basis. (obviously this is just opinion):
Howard > Reina
Wisdom > Hibbert
Baines > Johnson
Agger > Jagielka
Skrtel > Heintinga
Allen > Neville
Gerrard > Osman
Fellaini > Sahin
Sterling > Mirallas
Pienaar > Suso
Jelavic > Suarez
That's 6-5 to LFC.
* I chose Jelavic over Suarez purely because the Croatian consistently scores more goals (plus, he doesn't dive, or bring massive controversy and disruption to the club)
* I love Suso, but Pienaar arguably has more of an impact for Everton at this stage, but I fully expect the Spaniard to surpass him in the future.
* Baines is more defensively sound that Johnson, plus he poses an attacking threat.
* Howard makes significantly less mistakes than Reina.
If I had to choose an amalgamated team:
--------------------- Howard
Wisdom ------ Agger ---- Skrtel ---- Baines
----------- Allen ------- Gerrard
------------------ Fellaini
Pienaar ------------------------- Sterling
------------------ Jelavic
Who would make your team?
Jaimie Kanwar
Johnson does brilliant work despite constantly being played out of position. The man is a monster when it comes to aerial challenges . Nobody thinks Baines is better than him
ReplyDeleteHoward better than Reina, you're having a luagh
Also you say you chose Jelavic PURELY because he scores more but then add another reason, purely means only. suarez has scored far more goals than Jelavic and provided many more assists. The two players are not on the same level. If you're looking at current form as you say, Suarez has scored more and assisted more goals this season than Jelavic
ReplyDeleteJelavic = Suarez
ReplyDeletejohnson>baines, suarez>jelavicx2
ReplyDeleteFellaini is injured, he is the main threat !
ReplyDeletealso piennar got red card vs qpr, he wont be playing, right?
ReplyDeleteI'm not even getting into this debate, Lawro is a tool and loves knocking Liverpool coz he played in the golden days, even winning champions league under Benitez he was moaning then!!!
ReplyDeleteMoyes has been given years and money(People dispute this but add up all their players you noted)15m Fellaini, 6m Pieanaar, 5m Baines, 7m Jelavic, Miralles 6m, Jagielka 5m, oh but when people judge Moyes and his spending they do this by NET spend.
Count the players we would have in our team from Everton, would anyone in the right frame of mind pick Jelavic over Suarez? Jelavic can't get in Croatia team ahead of Eduardo.
Pieannar, Fellaini and Baines would make my SQUAD and that's it!
I would have to say Jagielka and Agger are fairly even with if anything Jags nosing it.
ReplyDeleteOn current form I would doubt that Gerrard is better than Osman and Baines is MILES better than Johnson.He has the most assists of any player in the Prem and has scored more goals.
Make that 6/5 to the Blues as will be shown on Sunday.
I would have Suarez AND Jelavic! Suarez on either the left or right, with Jelavic up front... Simples!
ReplyDeleteEverton are looking the best they have for a few years, but I think we can beat them, as I mentioned in a differnet post, Everton are without Pienaar, and possibly Fellaini
Delusional kopites ha
ReplyDeleteI dont understand what is delusional about saying Everton have good players... I think you are the one who is delusional.
ReplyDeleteFellaini and Pienaar are out, so my Cat tells me.
ReplyDeleteJohnston has been a revelation at left back, imo the best in the Premiership for the last few weeks. This game has a draw written all over it, barring a sending off or two, or a few Penalties harshly given.
As usual, the Ref will be the deciding factor in this game. I Would love to see Assaidi get his chance after his display Thursday, surely Brendan will test the waters with him in the EPL this weekend at some stage.
With those two out, Gerrard playing big games much better, couple of good results in a row, emergence of assaidi{finally}, midfield that can play attack and defend very good{with at least one great sub} and defence improving, I think we are closer to winning the game...
ReplyDeleteWill da wool
ReplyDeleteYou've heard of the concept of having an opinion, right?
ReplyDeleteThis site is fucking awful
ReplyDeleteI would go with this;
ReplyDelete----------------Jones---------------
--Johnson---Skrtel--Agger---Baines--
-------------Allen--Sahin------------
----Assaidi----Gerrard----Suarez-----
---------------Jelavic---------------
My combined 11 based on form would be would be Howard Wisdom Jagielka Agger Baines Allen Sahin Fellaini Sterling Suarez Jelavic.
ReplyDeleteOn current form both Gerrard and Reina don't make it as both have been fairly average or maybe even below average this season and neither of them would make Liverpool's best 11 this season either but since its a derby i would think both will start because of their experience.
will be great to see Suarez at the first place of epl top scorers list Monday...
ReplyDeleteSorry to burst your bubble,but it looks like Felli will be playing. Tell me this, if Liverpool are stronger,then why did Everton finish last season stronger and start this season better? I can see Suarez getting a player sent off by faking injury again. Distin will start before Heintinga,and he's a better player than Skrtel.
ReplyDelete'nobody thinks Baines is better' - I do
ReplyDeleteCroatia rotate their strikers lately, sometimes its Eduardo, sometimes its Jelavic. Prior to the Wales game, Jelavic started at least two consecutive games.
ReplyDeleteHoward
ReplyDeleteWisdom (wouldn't normally put a player that is so new but lack of good options)
Jagielka
Agger
Baines
Allen
Lucas
Sterling
Fellaini
Suarez
Jelavic
please answer the second post of arebee, first one is nonsense, i agree...
ReplyDeleteReally Chan, so you'd have Lucas in the team based on recent form?
ReplyDeleteI don't think much of any of the current player's form, so I'm going with Lucas. I am not going strictly by 'recent form', it varies for me in terms of reasons, this kind of DIY XI.
ReplyDeleteJohnson/Baines is a tough call, but Baines is probably the best left back in the league right now. I'd have to pick Baines (although I've been impressed with Johnson's performances of late).
ReplyDeleteI do disagree that Howard is better than Reina, even considering the mistakes Reina has made this season.
The opposing team would be
ReplyDeleteReina
Hibbert
Skrtel
Heitinga
johnson
Suso
Gerrard
Sahin
Pienaar
Mirallas
Borini
To origninal chans team
ReplyDeleteJK, I have a question for thee:
ReplyDeleteYou always say 'never drop a player after he has scored', so would you start Downing in the derby? If so, where? You clearly rate Suso, which suggests he wouldn't play on the right but Sterling is one of our form players and scored on his last start. The other option is to play him left back but that would mean dropping Johnson (who looks like he will be fit and has been in very good form over the last couple of games) and putting an inexperienced left back up against the tricky Mirallas.
Thoughts?
Also, Liverpool/Everton amalgam team:
ReplyDeleteReina
Baines
Agger
Skrtel
Johnson (if you count him as a right-back, though he seems better at LB for some reason- if not then Wisdom)
Allen
Lucas
Sterling
Suarez (at AM, Fellaini hasn't been as consistent as some would have you believe and Gerrard has had a few poor games)
Pienaar
Jelavic
I think, more than having better quality personnel, Everton are benefitting from consistency and the understanding that comes with the longevity of their project.
If I may jump in, why not Downing left back and Johnson right? Really like Wisdom, but he has time...
ReplyDeletei say that Liverpool and Everton should just become one big super team for the whole of Merseyside. Everton has gotten better lately while still operating on a shoe string budget. Moyes has got to be congratulated for this. If the season were to end today these cats would play champions league football next year. Would Everton beat us to champions league football? Could they really do that? Don't honestly know at this point.
ReplyDeleteIf i were to weigh in on the debate as to if Everton indeed possess a more dominant team than we do. I attribute their recent success to the signing of one man mostly . When David Moyes brought in Jelavic he brought stability to the Everton forward line. I credit this player for Everton's resurgence by the signing of Nikica Jelaric. He is a more consistent performer than other forwards Anichebe, Naismith, or Mirallas
Weird how Johnson seems to better defensively at left back than he does at right back.
ReplyDeleteMirallas is class btw. If you havent noticed then you obviously havent been watching him. Epic tekkers.
ReplyDeleteSuarez will always walk straight into any team be it Brazil or Barcelona so there is no way Jelavic can be "greater" than him. The fear that he instills in the opposing team is the key
ReplyDeletesome players shine around average players(EFC) efc players would be bench warmers when they crossover to lfc. evident of the players Kenny bought last summer they were stars in their team but now look average at lfc.
ReplyDeleteYes, I would start Downing in the Derby. Goals win games; he not only scored, but he won Liverpool the game, so he deserves to start.
ReplyDeleteI rate Suso, but I would play him on the left in his place against Everton. It won't be the end of the world if Suso doesn't start; he can always replace Downing in the second half.
When attacking players score it breeds confidence, and although I don't rate Downing, the team comes first, and if his inclusion increases the chances of scoring goals then I'm all for it.
Okey-dokey. I was wondering your thoughts on that.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I'd start Downing (provided he isn't too fatigued from mid week, considering he hasn't played much) and bring on Suso if his performances are typically Downing-y.
Pienaar wouldn't be on my team, unless my team is Everton. He wasn't fantastic for Spurs, although he has been consistently amazing for the Toffees.
ReplyDeleteA well set up team isn't primarily about who's on form but the balance and chemistry they have as an 11. Rodgers seems to understand that perfectly.