“Liverpool have one huge failing that cost them the league title three years ago. They have to recognise they’re defensively poor,” were the words of Football pundit and Manchester United legend Gary Neville some minutes before the Merseyside derby.
Jurgen Klopp will be overly elated at the sound of the final whistle on the night not because his side played beautiful football having struggled and failed to complete a take on in the first 35 minutes of the game, rather what will elate the German is the fact that his side have recorded their first back to back clean sheets away from home in the Premier League since August 2015, (two months before the appointment of the former Mainz manager). From the stat, it is clear Liverpool dominated proceedings having bossed 60% of the possession to Everton’s 40%, as well as creating eight chances to Everton’s three, coupled with their 11 shots to Everton’s six, yet these stats are misleading considering Everton successfully contained Liverpool for a large part of the game restricting them to areas where they were less dangerous. Also Liverpool were so poor in attack that by half-time Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had completed more passes (eight ) than compatriot and club mate Divork Origi who was the main striker yet (completing six) which shows Liverpool’s dreadfulness in attack.
Even with all these set-backs Liverpool continued to press high for the all important goal with Klopp introducing Daniel Sturridge who hit the woodwork and Emre Can as the North West side continued to throw men forward. Though Sadio Mane’s goal wasn’t the most classy, the Senegalese epitomises every quality Klopp wants from his players with his hunger, drive, energy , technical awareness and the most importantly ‘never say never attitude’, which has seen him get involved in 20 goals in his last 24 Premier League games (16 goals, four assists ) counting from his days in Southampton.
It might be safe to say that Klopp has been vindicated in his decision to bench summer signing and no.1 goalkeeper Lucas Karius for Simon Mignolet when one considers that Mignolet has kept his second clean sheet in two games since his recall which is an improvement from Karius’ six goals in two games before his dropping.
With games coming so fast during the festive season, it was more than important Liverpool were within the catching distance of near perfect Chelsea who are six points ahead of Liverpool having been in an 11 games winning run in the League since losing to Arsenal on October 22. With the win tonight , Liverpool made it 13 games (six years) unbeaten against Everton as well as making sure Everton have only won twice in their last 10 league games.
Though every manager will like his team to play sexy attacking football, it is games like this that define the character and position of teams at the end of the season. Everton might feel hard done by losing to Liverpool as a result of Sadio Mane’s 94th minute goal yet it does not change the fact that Liverpool have shown they can also win ugly.
Stats powered by Opta.
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