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Liverpool Echo, 18 Mar 2005
Countdown to the 201st Merseyside derby
DAVID FAIRCLOUGH has already taken in one derby match this week. And
whatever the Merseyside version throws up on Sunday can't possibly
compare with what he witnessed in Plovdiv on Tuesday night.
The former Reds star - himself a derby day matchwinner in 1976 - has
been in Bulgaria on business.. He was invited to the Botev Plovdiv v
Lokomotiv Plovdiv showdown by Hristo Stoichkov and won't forget what he
saw in a hurry.
"It was absolutely incredible," he declared. "Both the referee and the
linesman allowed a highly dubious Lokomotiv goal to stand and the place
just erupted.
"Play was held up for 10 minutes while the fans rioted, the police piled
in and Botev officials tried to persuade their players to walk off the
pitch.
"It went on for ages before they finally restored some sort of order and
Plovdiv eventually won 2-1 with a silver goal in extra-time.
"Even then it wasn't finished. The next morning the referee and the
linesman were banned. Whatever happens at Anfield on Sunday can't even
begin to compare !"
Fairclough has seen plenty of Everton this season and he expects the
Blues to come to Anfield with a similar formation and attitude to that
shown by Blackburn in midweek.
"I have seen then play some open, attractive stuff, but for the most
part they make life difficult for teams facing them.
"The atmosphere on Sunday might force them to come out a little more,
but I can't see it. It's up to Liverpool to be good enough on the day to
break them down."
So, do Liverpool have the players to break down Everton in Sunday's
201st derby match? David Fairclough assesses the likely Liverpool
starting line-up . . .
In the Red corner
JERZY DUDEK
He has made one or two mistakes this season which have proved costly,
but I think those errors have taken people's eye off what he does do
very well - which is make crucial, match-influencing saves. There are
plenty of other keepers not capable of doing that, but Jerzy can make
great saves.
STEVE FINNAN
He has been really steady this season and has grown in stature. I think
he has responded to the faith shown in him by Rafael Benitez and will
not be at all overawed by the importance of the occasion - after all, he
is a regular international. Occasionally I would like to see more
telling balls into the box from him, but Liverpool will have no worries
about him on Sunday.
JAMIE CARRAGHER
What can you say that hasn't already been said? He typifies what every
Liverpool fan wants to see from a Liverpool player - commitment, passion
and a burning desire not to lose. The occasions when he has been less
than outstanding this season you can count on the fingers of one hand.
SAMI HYYPIA
I was impressed by Mauricio Pellegrino on Wednesday against Blackburn,
but a derby match is not the time to experiment and I expect Hyypia to
come back and re-establish his settled partner-ship with Carragher. Sami
has put in some of his best performances of the season in recent weeks -
notably in the Carling Cup final - and Liverpool can rely on him.
Occasionally he can get exposed in a one against one situation, but the
way Everton play, that is unlikely to happen on Sunday.
STEVE WARNOCK
He deserves a run in the first team and it's encouraging from
Liverpool's point of view to see a local lad like him get in and do so
well. I would certainly have no worries about him on Sunday. He's
aggressive, doesn't make glaring mistakes and tackles crisply.
LUIS GARCIA
Sunday is a real test for the Spaniard. In Europe he looks more
comfortable than he does on occasions in the Premiership when he has
been guilty of giving away possession far too easily. What I have been
impressed by, though, is his ability to get into goalscoring positions.
He could be a threat to Everton on Sunday - whether he is played out
wide or just off Morientes - and he can be a Liverpool matchwinner.
STEVEN GERRARD
I just wish Stevie was allowed to get his head down and get on with his
football, but that doesn't look like it's ever going to happen. It's
difficult to comprehend the pressure he's been playing under in recent
weeks, and I think he has done remarkably well in the circumstances. But
what is undeniable is that when he's on his game, he is a world class
talent. Let's just hope Sunday is his day.
DIETMAR HAMANN
His performance on Sunday will be vital to Liverpool. Central midfield
is where Everton are strong, but he is capable of breaking things up and
winning plenty of possession for the Reds. He can be exposed for a lack
of mobility at times - and I enjoyed seeing him get further forward
earlier in the season - but he still has a vital role to play.
JOHN ARNE RIISE
A potential Liverpool matchwinner. I think Everton were much happier to
be facing Harry Kewell down their left side in the Goodison derby
earlier this season, but John Arne's form this season will cause Everton
some concerns. He won't be fazed by the occasion or whoever he is lining
up against and I see him as a likely hero.
FERNANDO MORIENTES
He is undoubtedly a class act, but I thought he looked short of
match-sharpness on Wednesday. He has been frustrated by injury and
ineligibility for the Champions League in recent weeks, but he will be
all the better for Wednesday's 90 minutes and I wouldn't bet against him
getting on the scoresheet.
MILAN BAROS
You don't know what you're going to get from Milan at the moment. But he
is tenacious and will battle all day long, and because he was so
disappointing on Wednesday, that could be just the motivation he needs
to turn it on, on Sunday. He has a point to prove.
DAVE WATSON has been to Anfield before knowing that a victory would as
good as end the challenge from their neighbours.
On that occasion Liverpool won the battle, but Everton won the war - but
Watson admits even lifting the League Championship trophy a fortnight
later couldn't completely cancel out the disappointment of losing the derby.
"I can see the similarities between Sunday's visit to Anfield and our
game there in 1987," explained Watson "when we knew if we won we'd have
as good as clinched the Championship.
"That year we always felt it was only a matter of time before we won the
title, but we desperately wanted to win it at Anfield.
"That was the biggest disappointment about that match. We could have
been running around Anfield celebrating a championship, but instead we
had to wait until the following Bank Holiday weekend when we went to
Norwich to clinch it.
"Likewise, Everton will know that if they can win at Anfield they will
have a 10-point lead over the Reds which will take some pulling back.
"Both teams will want to keep it tight. Everton don't need to go chasing
a win, while Liverpool will know that if they go a goal down, Everton
are more than capable of shutting up shop and making it very difficult
for the Reds to get back into the game."
Today Dave Watson runs the rule over the players aiming to all but
secure Champions League qualification by getting a result at Anfield . . .
In the Blue corner
NIGEL MARTYN
He has this great calming influence which is vitally important to the
rest of the defence. When he comes for a ball there's no panic,
everything is done with an air of steady reassurance and he always has a
smile on his face.
TONY HIBBERT
Defensively there are absolutely no worries about Tony. People have
questioned his distribution and his ability to get forward, but on
Sunday I wouldn't be worried about him overlapping all that much. His
priority will be to limit John Arne Riise's effectiveness down
Liverpool's left.
CENTRAL DEFENCE
Davie Weir and Alan Stubbs are Everton's real steady Eddies which is
why, fitness permitting, I would go with that partnership on Sunday.
Joseph Yobo would probably get the nod if you were worried about pace,
but while Baros is undoubtedly quick, you rarely see Stubbsy or Dave
caught out like that. They have the experience and the calming influence.
ALESSANDRO PISTONE
Sandro's had a great season. We've all looked at him in the past and
seen a defender who is good in the air, has two great feet and is quick,
but there have occasionally been question marks about his desire. That
accusation can't be levelled at him this season. He has been up there
among the most consistent defenders in the Premiership. If you could
have a fit Alessandro Pistone week-in, week-out, I think most managers
would be happy with that.
LEON OSMAN
If you are looking for a bit of creativity and someone who can knock in
a vital goal, then Ossie is crucial to Everton's game-plan. He is a
young lad who can pick out a pass and when he gets into the box he
always has a trick or two up his sleeve.
TIM CAHILL
He has arguably been one of Everton's players of the season with the
number of invaluable goals he has grabbed from midfield. He might have
had even more - and one missed chance will still be playing on his mind
now from the last time the two sides met at Goodison. His miss didn't
make any difference that day, but he'll still be desperate to completely
bury that memory by scoring at Anfield. He is a potential Everton
matchwinner.
LEE CARSLEY
For me, Carsley is Everton's top man. He does all the dirty jobs in
games that aren't really appreciated. Sometimes he doesn't stand out for
the ordinary fan, but his work-rate, his ability to break moves up and
keep things simple is invaluable. Every Evertonian, of course, will also
remember that he is capable of scoring winning goals in derby matches!
Lee Carsley's presence is crucial to Everton.
MIKEL ARTETA
I honestly don't know all that much about him, but he scored within
minutes of his first Old Firm match in Glasgow, so maybe we should take
that as an omen! By all accounts he was impressive at Villa Park when
Everton produced their best performance of the season and his recovery
from injury is vital if Everton are to successfully employ their 4-5-1
formation.
KEVIN KILBANE
There aren't many good left-sided players around in the Premiership, and
Kevin has done a very good job for Everton over the past
season-and-a-half. He is incredibly hardworking and with his height can
be very important at set-pieces. Just look out for him arriving at the
far post on Sunday.
MARCUS BENT
I still remember the reaction of Evertonians when Marcus Bent arrived
last summer. Underwhelmed is a fair description. But for me he has set
the tone for Everton's performances all season with his work-rate and
his intelligent running. His finishing isn't top notch, but then you
tend to have to pay more than £450,000 for a top class finisher, but his
contribution will again be vital.
JAMES BEATTIE
There is no guarantee that James will be involved from the start on
Sunday, but I just have this feeling about James that he is a big game
player with a knack for producing when it matters most. He can certainly
cope with the occasion and the atmosphere at Anfield - and while I think
Marcus Bent deserves to start, if James is involved I can see him being
Everton's matchwinner.
DUNCAN FERGUSON
When the teamsheet goes in on Sunday, and Duncan is there on the subs'
bench, you can rest assured Liverpool's players will take notice.
They'll be saying to each other 'don't kick any of their strikers or
that big nuisance will be on.' Duncan still has the ability to upset
defenders and though he may only have a limited part to play in the
game, you can be sure it will be influential.
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