Everton Res 2 Liverpool Res 1 (Oct 10 2006)

[TLW]

Everton Res 2 LIVERPOOL RES 1

Report by Dave Usher at the Halton Stadium

Scorer(s) - Nabil El Zhar (pen) Half Time - 1-1 Venue - Halton Stadium, Widnes Date - Tue 10 Oct 2006 Star Man - Bolo Zenden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary Ablett is still looking for his first win as Liverpool reserves coach, after a controversial 2-1 defeat at his former club Everton. The reds scored one penalty and missed another, whilst Jerzy Dudek was sent off in the second half for retaliating to a late lunge by Victor Anichebe. You could say that the referee didn’t have the greatest game of his life, or you could also say he was a f*cking joke.

He set the tone of things to come after just five minutes when he spotted a non-existant free kick after Paletta had breathed in the direction of Anichebe on the edge of the box. I have no idea why the free-kick was awarded, but was resigned to the fact it would end up in the back of the net. Just like when Reina was penalised at Bolton, it was inevitable that it would result in a goal. To be fair to the blues, the strike by Molyneux was outstanding and Dudek had no chance.

It sparked the usual eleven man celebaration. For a blue, scoring against Liverpool is the ultimate, regardless of what level it’s at. I was at their Academy the other day watching the u18 derby, and from the other pitch I heard this hysteral screaming. “Yes, yes, yes, yeeeeeeeesssssssss’. I turned around expecting to see Meg Ryan sat at a resteraunt table, but no, it was just one of their u16 players celebrating a goal against the redshite, with his ten team-mates in hot pursuit. A mate commented “You’d think he’d just scored in the world cup final or something”. “In his mind he just has” I replied. It was the same in the ressies, their players treated this game like a cup final.

The intensity of the game seemed to catch some of our lads by surprise, and in the opening fifteen minutes Antwi and Paletta were given a real battering by Anichebe and Vaughan. Every aerial contest saw an arm or an elbow in the face of the reds’ defenders, but the referee was not listening to their complaints. They quickly learned that they’d have to fight fire with fire, and Paletta especially seemed to relish the battle with Anichebe as the game wore on. He’s an Argentinian, he’s used to being uncompromising.

The reds played most of the football in this match, with the blues policy being get it forward quickly and let their strikers fight for it. Nothing went through their midfield, but then their central midfield duo had enough on their plate trying to keep Zenden under control. The Dutchman was very impressive and was at the heart of everything his side produced.

He had two goal shots at goal in the opening eight minutes, one bringing a save from the keeper and the other going wide. The left sided axis of Warnock, Aurelio and Zenden saw a lot of the ball, and with Mannix making an impressive return to reserve team duty after a long absence, the reds dominated much of the first half.

A good passing move after 15 minutes ended with Guthrie producing a lovely touch into the path of Ryan Flynn, but his shot deflected off a defender and went straight into Richard Wright’s arms. A minute later Mannix sent a 40 yard lob just over the bar.

Liverpool had really started to find their feet now, and created an excellent chance with their next attack. A great move saw Guthrie find El Zhar down the left, and he touched the ball back to the supporting Aurelio. With Hibbert in close attention, the Brazilian outfoxed him and got to the byline before delivering a pinpoint cross onto the head of Guthrie, but the reds’ skipper couldn’t keep his header down and the ball cleared the bar.

El Zhar was proving to be a handful, and Hibbert was booked for a horrible lunge on the young Moroccan. If there was one thing certain before this game started, it was that Hibbert would pick up a booking, I’d have put money on it.

With 26 minutes gone, the reds finally drew level. El Zhar lost the ball in the box when trying to create space for a shot, but an Everton defender inexplicably passed the ball straight back to him. El Zhar sidestepped a challenge and was tripped. The ref pointed to the spot, but it was a soft penalty and El Zhar had lost the ball. Had it not been given I wouldn’t have complained too much I have to admit. Technically it was a pen, but you wouldn’t expect to get that decision every time.

The youngster stepped up to take the penalty, and looked as though he was shaping to blast it judging by his run up. Instead he casually rolled it into the corner sending Wright the wrong way.

Five minutes later the reds had another penalty. Zenden collected the ball on halfway and burst through the middle going past two challenges before being tripped by Molyneux. This one was clear cut, Zenden reached the ball first, the defender had slid in and caught the back of his heel. Stonewall pen, but that didn’t stop the blue who was sat behind me from accusing Bolo of cheating. When Peter Schulz and myself turned around in astonishment and asked if he was joking, he claimed it was simply a case of two players crossing paths and Zenden playing for a penalty. Know nothing fool, he probably thinks Bolo’s got crap hair too.

Sadly Zenden’s penalty taking is not as impressive as his golden locks, and although he sent Wright the wrong way (not difficult, he doesn’t come across as the sharpest tool in the box), he rolled the ball wide of the post.

The miss would prove decisive, but it was the only blemish on an otherwise very good performance from Bolo. His attitude in reserve games this season has been really good, and it’s nice to see an ‘old pro’ who doesn’t just go through the motions in these games.

The reds had one more chance before half time, when Guthrie’s cushioned header put El Zhar in space on the right of the box, but he dragged his shot across goal and well wide.

It had been a lively first half, full of incident, but there was a definite undercurrent and I had the feeling it could go off at any time. Anichebe had angered the reds defenders, and Paletta, Antwi and Smith had all come away from aerial challenges holding their face due to his stray elbows. Not one had yielded a free kick interestingly.

Anichebe almost got in behind Paletta 12 minutes after the break, but Dudek was out to smother the danger. The keeper picked up a knock in the incident, and wasn’t happy with the challenge. He was behind the goal getting some treatment from the physio, when the ball was played over the top again. He rushed back on, and collected the ball ahead of Anichebe, who went in late and high. Jerzy was furious, and leapt to his feet and shoved his hand into the striker’s face. Anichebe had a swing back and everyone piled in to sort things out. Most of the players there were acting as peacemakers, but there was a bit of pushing and shoving in there.

It was obvious what had to happen. Either Anichebe had to be sent off for the initial challenge and then for raising his hands, and Dudek would have to go for raising his hand in retaliation to the initial challenge. Or the alternative would be to yellow card both players and tell them to chill out.

Sending off Dudek and only giving a yellow to Anichebe was outrageous, and I don’t see how the officials could come to that decision. Jerzy Dudek is not an aggressive player. I don’t ever remember seeing him lose his temper, so it shows you how unhappy he was with Anichebe’s robust approach. Duncan Ferguson may be gone, but they have a more than adequate replacement on this evidence. Actually, he was probably more ‘Fash the Bash’ than ‘Big Dunk’, as he was all elbows and snidey late challenges.

Dudek was livid, and as he left the field he removed his shin pad in front of the Everton bench to show their coach what Anichebe had done to his leg. The coach appeared to just ignore him and didn’t even look at the wound on his shin.

Vaughan celebrated Dudek’s red card like it was a goal, and went over and patted Anichebe on the back. At this stage I was expecting Paletta to get a red as well, as he was clearly annoyed with what was going on and seemed to be looking to take retribution. He was soon spoken to by the referee after a clash with Anichebe, and seconds later went into the book after arriving late for a fifty fifty with Everton's right winger.

Vaughan then went into the book for going in studs first on sub keeper David Martin, obviously wanting to get in on the act started by his strike partner. It rubbed salt in the wounds that it was Vaughan who scored the winner, capitalising on hesitation by Martin to run in behind the defence and score.

Liverpool must have been feeling a real sense of injustice, as they’d been the better side but events - ie the referee – had conspired against them. Down to ten men, and with only one recognised striker in the squad, it was always going to be tough for them to find an equaliser, especially as the blues went to a five man midfield with one up front, and began time wasting at every opportunity. You would have struggled to identify which team was down to ten men if you’d walked in at this point.

The best chance the reds had of an equaliser was when Wright picked up what was an obvious backpass (told you he was a little slow), and an indirect free kick was awarded in the box. As so often happens in these situations, the shot was charged down and it came to nothing.

Antwi was then forced off through injury, and was furious that no action was taken against his assailant (I didn't see who it was). Godwin even waited on the sideline to confront the official as he came off at full time.

The reds kept plugging away, and Warnock was moved into a three man midfield with Zenden and Mannix. El Zhar toiled manfully up front, showing great strength for a small lad and holding the ball up well. He brought the ball down on his chest numerous times and kept hold of it under pressure. I really like this lad, he’s got a lot to offer and once he has a natural striker alongside him, like Lindfield perhaps, I can see him doing very well.

Liverpool couldn’t force an equaliser, and were left cursing the official. That's three defeats in a row now, but this one was very harsh and will especially hard for Ablett to swallow as it came against his old club.

Picking a star man was difficult. Antwi played very well, one almost catastrophic mistake aside, and Paletta battled hard. Mannix was good in the middle of the park, and I though El Zhar showed some very nice touches, but I'm going for Zenden as for an hour he was exceptional. He faded in the final half an hour, but did enough before that to get the star man.

Team: Dudek; Smith, Antwi (Roque), Paletta, Warnock; Flynn (Martin), Mannix, Zenden, Aurelio (Threlfall); Guthrie, El Zhar: