In Focus:
Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres
I had planned to focus on Robbie Keane, who was playing in his first Merseyside derby, but when about 2 minutes in to the game I saw Joseph Yobo put a shoulder into Fernando Torres, I decided that match-up was much more interesting.
Everton clearly had a plan with Torres, having seen his frustration in the last few Liverpool matches. It was a design that is all too common in sports. When your team faces off against a world class talent of an athlete, whose ability surpasses that of anyone of your squad, you take it to that player physically. This can manifest itself in two ways. One, you frustrate the hell out of the striker and his annoyance gets him off his game. Or two, the star player is angered just enough to step up his game and put your team away. The Toffees got a taste of both sides against the superstar Spanish striker.
Torres came into Saturday's match, already itching to get on the score sheet, having not scored in his last six games, and only notching one tally this season, a game winner in the opener against Sunderland. His first half played out exactly how Everton had hoped.
Yobo, Jolean Lescott, Phil Jagielka, and Tony Hibbert put the screws to El Nino, shouldering and pushing him on and off the ball. From Yobo's opening shove, to Lescott's shoulder check in the box later on in the half, Torres could not get a clear opportunity. He had a man attached each time the ball came his way, which isn't so bad for Nando, as he likes to use his body up against a defender, and make a move in tight.
But Everton had another two men right there when one wasn't enough, figuring that Torres isn't a great passer out of traffic, and three men was enough to shut him down. This was especially true when he received the ball more towards midfield. It was all clearly frustrating the Spaniard, putting him off his game.
Several times through the first half and at the start of the second, Torres could be seen shaking his head at ref Mike Riley for the treatment he was getting from Blue defenders. Fernando was finally booked in the 50th minute for a foul on Lescott, the yellow card coming out probably as much for his constant protests, as it was for his infringement. It didn't stop there, as just minutes later Torres broke free from Jagielka, creating a chance, but he was stunned when Everton was awarded the free kick.
This could have been the beginning of the end for an increasingly annoyed Torres, but a deftly placed left footed cross from Robbie Keane fell unto the unmarked striker in the box, and he made no mistake in putting the ball by Tim Howard for a Liverpool lead. Torres' right footed volley needed perfect placement between Howard and a scrambling Lescott, and the Spaniard finished with the cool nonchalance he has become known for.
Just three minutes later, another golden opportunity came along that Fernando did not waste. Liverpool was coming at the Toffees with much more purpose now, and a Keane rush was broken up, deflected off of Dirk Kuyt, and landing right in front of Torres. This time El Nino made no mistake in firing the ball into the top shelf, leaving no one any chance of stopping it. It was pure striker's finish.
Everton was obviously shaken by the two goals, as only moments later, the ball fell to the right foot of Torres once again, and he again buried the ball into the net. A cross came from left to right, sailing over the heads of the Everton defender and Kuyt, onto Torres at the far post. Fernando went back to the left post with a perfect left footed shot, for what he thought was a hat trick. However, Mike Riley quickly ruled the goal out for a phantom foul on Kuyt, who I guess had impeded the jumping Everton defender by just standing there.
It didn't matter, by this point Torres and Liverpool had reversed their fortunes and taken control of the game. Getting two goals in a huge derby game at Goodison Park will probably be the start to a goal scoring purge for Torres, who doesn't need to be playing well to score goals, but when he is, look out. His three hat tricks last season had come against teams who knew they had to game plan for him and Gerrard, but still could not stop his scoring spree.
Everton proved that poking the bear with a stick may work for a half, but eventually he will get free and attack.
Grade: A-
Player Grades: Pepe Reina- B
Reina keeps doing what has to be done for Liverpool. He doesn't get much action with the Reds defense rolling along the way it is. Mucking up the ball into the box, that Mike Riley's call on Fellaini and Jamie Carragher's recovery bailed him out on, was his only mistake.
Alvaro Arbeloa- C+
It's hard for me to keep ragging on Arbeloa when the defense looks as solid as a back four that there is in the PL right now. He is improving on defense each week, but that has as much to do with his team's possession as anything. Alvaro is still horrific in the final third, his crossing and final pass again lacking any quality.
Jamie Carragher- A
Carragher, on the defense end, has been perhaps the top center back in the PL this season. He directs the defense into a solid shape, both on set plays and coming back. He has a nack for bailing out a scrambling Reds defense, as well. Everton did not get a shot on goal in large part due to his work at the back.
Martin Skrtel- B+
It is the same story for Skrtel week after week. He starts out the match fired up and makes a few clumsy or harsh tackles. Then he settles in and works in tandem with Carra to shut the other team down. He put the clamps on Yakubu, rendering the Yak unfed throughout the match.
Andrea Dossena- B
The Italian left back did a good job in possession and getting forward, but his crossing and final ball were not on in this match. His ineptitude on that part of the pitch, is not a true indicator of his play, as I have seen him create some chances and good balls this season.
Albert Riera- C+
The summer signing did not have a particularly impressive game. He wasted a chance presented to him by Robbie Keane, and was to slow to get into the Everton defense on several instances where the Reds' had pushed forward. He shows a lot of quality in possession though, as he is hard to take off the ball with his subtle dribbling skills. Was subbed for Fabio Aurelio half way through the second half.
Xabi Alonso- B
Alonso was once again great in possession through midfield. Unless he is going for a home run pass, he rarely wastes a ball. His defensive coverage was acceptable, although no where near Mascherano's in the same role, and he did completely nubbed a left footed shot in the second half. He is the key to the Reds' holding control of the ball in midfield, and he is not failing in that role as he often did last season.
Steven Gerrard- B+
Had a couple of shots that presented danger to the Blues. Once for 25 yards out that just crept wide as it passed Tim Howard, another a free kick that inched over the bar. He did a lot getting back in midfield, making great tackles, or coming back to support the backs both in possession and coverage. Would like to see him get forward and work more give and go's with Torres.
Dirk Kuyt- B
Dirk worked hard, had some bad touches, freed up a little space for Torres and Keane. You know, all in a day's work for Liverpool enigmatic winger/striker/ midfielder guy. He tried a blast early on that missed the target. Let me know if anyone has a concrete opinion on whether he is good or bad for the Reds, because I can't make up my mind.
Robbie Keane- B
This grade is given taken into account his poor play up until this point. He didn't have a distinguished game outside of his wonderful cross on the first Torres goal, which he may or may not of known that much about. Keane got forward with possession a lot more in this one, but he was once again much to hesitant on the ball around the penalty area.
Subs: Fabio Aurelio- B
Aurelio came on for Riera and did a good job getting back and helping Dossena on the left, as well as getting forward and keeping possession and pressure through midfield.
Jermaine Pennant and Lucas Leiva- Incomplete
Came on at the end of the game and had little impact.
Man of the Match: Fernando Torres
Everton clearly had a plan with Torres, having seen his frustration in the last few Liverpool matches. It was a design that is all too common in sports. When your team faces off against a world class talent of an athlete, whose ability surpasses that of anyone of your squad, you take it to that player physically. This can manifest itself in two ways. One, you frustrate the hell out of the striker and his annoyance gets him off his game. Or two, the star player is angered just enough to step up his game and put your team away. The Toffees got a taste of both sides against the superstar Spanish striker.
Torres came into Saturday's match, already itching to get on the score sheet, having not scored in his last six games, and only notching one tally this season, a game winner in the opener against Sunderland. His first half played out exactly how Everton had hoped.
Yobo, Jolean Lescott, Phil Jagielka, and Tony Hibbert put the screws to El Nino, shouldering and pushing him on and off the ball. From Yobo's opening shove, to Lescott's shoulder check in the box later on in the half, Torres could not get a clear opportunity. He had a man attached each time the ball came his way, which isn't so bad for Nando, as he likes to use his body up against a defender, and make a move in tight.
But Everton had another two men right there when one wasn't enough, figuring that Torres isn't a great passer out of traffic, and three men was enough to shut him down. This was especially true when he received the ball more towards midfield. It was all clearly frustrating the Spaniard, putting him off his game.
Several times through the first half and at the start of the second, Torres could be seen shaking his head at ref Mike Riley for the treatment he was getting from Blue defenders. Fernando was finally booked in the 50th minute for a foul on Lescott, the yellow card coming out probably as much for his constant protests, as it was for his infringement. It didn't stop there, as just minutes later Torres broke free from Jagielka, creating a chance, but he was stunned when Everton was awarded the free kick.
This could have been the beginning of the end for an increasingly annoyed Torres, but a deftly placed left footed cross from Robbie Keane fell unto the unmarked striker in the box, and he made no mistake in putting the ball by Tim Howard for a Liverpool lead. Torres' right footed volley needed perfect placement between Howard and a scrambling Lescott, and the Spaniard finished with the cool nonchalance he has become known for.
Just three minutes later, another golden opportunity came along that Fernando did not waste. Liverpool was coming at the Toffees with much more purpose now, and a Keane rush was broken up, deflected off of Dirk Kuyt, and landing right in front of Torres. This time El Nino made no mistake in firing the ball into the top shelf, leaving no one any chance of stopping it. It was pure striker's finish.
Everton was obviously shaken by the two goals, as only moments later, the ball fell to the right foot of Torres once again, and he again buried the ball into the net. A cross came from left to right, sailing over the heads of the Everton defender and Kuyt, onto Torres at the far post. Fernando went back to the left post with a perfect left footed shot, for what he thought was a hat trick. However, Mike Riley quickly ruled the goal out for a phantom foul on Kuyt, who I guess had impeded the jumping Everton defender by just standing there.
It didn't matter, by this point Torres and Liverpool had reversed their fortunes and taken control of the game. Getting two goals in a huge derby game at Goodison Park will probably be the start to a goal scoring purge for Torres, who doesn't need to be playing well to score goals, but when he is, look out. His three hat tricks last season had come against teams who knew they had to game plan for him and Gerrard, but still could not stop his scoring spree.
Everton proved that poking the bear with a stick may work for a half, but eventually he will get free and attack.
Grade: A-
Player Grades: Pepe Reina- B
Reina keeps doing what has to be done for Liverpool. He doesn't get much action with the Reds defense rolling along the way it is. Mucking up the ball into the box, that Mike Riley's call on Fellaini and Jamie Carragher's recovery bailed him out on, was his only mistake.
Alvaro Arbeloa- C+
It's hard for me to keep ragging on Arbeloa when the defense looks as solid as a back four that there is in the PL right now. He is improving on defense each week, but that has as much to do with his team's possession as anything. Alvaro is still horrific in the final third, his crossing and final pass again lacking any quality.
Jamie Carragher- A
Carragher, on the defense end, has been perhaps the top center back in the PL this season. He directs the defense into a solid shape, both on set plays and coming back. He has a nack for bailing out a scrambling Reds defense, as well. Everton did not get a shot on goal in large part due to his work at the back.
Martin Skrtel- B+
It is the same story for Skrtel week after week. He starts out the match fired up and makes a few clumsy or harsh tackles. Then he settles in and works in tandem with Carra to shut the other team down. He put the clamps on Yakubu, rendering the Yak unfed throughout the match.
Andrea Dossena- B
The Italian left back did a good job in possession and getting forward, but his crossing and final ball were not on in this match. His ineptitude on that part of the pitch, is not a true indicator of his play, as I have seen him create some chances and good balls this season.
Albert Riera- C+
The summer signing did not have a particularly impressive game. He wasted a chance presented to him by Robbie Keane, and was to slow to get into the Everton defense on several instances where the Reds' had pushed forward. He shows a lot of quality in possession though, as he is hard to take off the ball with his subtle dribbling skills. Was subbed for Fabio Aurelio half way through the second half.
Xabi Alonso- B
Alonso was once again great in possession through midfield. Unless he is going for a home run pass, he rarely wastes a ball. His defensive coverage was acceptable, although no where near Mascherano's in the same role, and he did completely nubbed a left footed shot in the second half. He is the key to the Reds' holding control of the ball in midfield, and he is not failing in that role as he often did last season.
Steven Gerrard- B+
Had a couple of shots that presented danger to the Blues. Once for 25 yards out that just crept wide as it passed Tim Howard, another a free kick that inched over the bar. He did a lot getting back in midfield, making great tackles, or coming back to support the backs both in possession and coverage. Would like to see him get forward and work more give and go's with Torres.
Dirk Kuyt- B
Dirk worked hard, had some bad touches, freed up a little space for Torres and Keane. You know, all in a day's work for Liverpool enigmatic winger/striker/ midfielder guy. He tried a blast early on that missed the target. Let me know if anyone has a concrete opinion on whether he is good or bad for the Reds, because I can't make up my mind.
Robbie Keane- B
This grade is given taken into account his poor play up until this point. He didn't have a distinguished game outside of his wonderful cross on the first Torres goal, which he may or may not of known that much about. Keane got forward with possession a lot more in this one, but he was once again much to hesitant on the ball around the penalty area.
Subs: Fabio Aurelio- B
Aurelio came on for Riera and did a good job getting back and helping Dossena on the left, as well as getting forward and keeping possession and pressure through midfield.
Jermaine Pennant and Lucas Leiva- Incomplete
Came on at the end of the game and had little impact.
Man of the Match: Fernando Torres
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