For the second part of an FA Cup Third Round ‘Framed’ triple header, we headed to Anfield to see if Everton could finally put an end to a 20-year winless streak at the home of their Merseyside rivals, an unhappy record which dates all the way back to the 1999/00 campaign.
The Merseyside Derby is one of the big ones; a city truly united in its rivalry, as red and blue collide. But in recent years the competitive balance has somewhat slipped, with Liverpool seemingly unstoppable under Klopp, while Everton continue to traverse a transitional phase that's been ongoing for the best part of five years, taking in managers such as Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, and most recently Marco Silva. But there’s a new man at the helm now; a man that comes with an almost unmatched pedigree in the game. Yes, Carlo Ancelotti has brought hope to the blue half of Liverpool.
Taking our seats amongst the famed and packed out stands of Anfield, this match was certainly a far cry from our Second Round trip to the Wallace Binder Stadium. From the moment the team sheets were revealed for the game, Everton fans felt a glimmer of hope. More than that, they suddenly had a genuine belief that this was the game in which they would finally break their hoodoo against their bitter rivals, and that feeling was palpable within the ground. Having never won against Liverpool away in the competition, they would have to make history. But that’s what the FA Cup is all about, right?
Fixture congestion and priorities meant that Liverpool fielded a team that were on average five years younger than their opponents, and the Kop – ever-optimistic no matter the circumstances – knew that it would take something special to overcome their rivals. The team’s inexperience was exacerbated when Milner went off injured early on, and the chances were coming thick and fast for Everton, Adrian earning his pay check with some invaluable saves, keeping the reds in the game. And in true cliched fashion, those missed opportunities returned to haunt the Toffees and their desperate fans.
Adding insult to injury, on the 71st minute Everton were made to pay by a scouser who was born two years after Everton last won at Anfield. Curtis Jones’ sublime curling effort was deserving of the win alone, but this young Liverpool side showed a maturity beyond their years to see out the game, ensuring the Reds remained unbeaten in their past 23 home games against Everton in all competitions. A bitter pill for the blue side and yet another marker of the Klopp-effect.
Photography by Ross Cooke for SoccerBible.
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