twofootedtackle.com

The 215th Merseyside derby comes with a Glaswegian twist as Kenny Dalglish returns to the Liverpool dugout at Anfield for the first time in twenty years, writes Suhail Seedat. The romance and feel-good factor following Dalglish’s return was limited by Blackpool’s deserved victory in the week and David Moyes’ Everton would like nothing better to take the honours today. Both sides have lost their talisman for different reasons, so it is a fantastic opportunity for those in the shadow to come to the fore and make themselves overnight folk heroes.

Tale of the tape

Liverpool come into the derby with only two wins in the last six. Five of the teams below them in the table have managed to get more points in the last six games, which illustrates Liverpool’s poor showing this season. The home form, however, has been exemplary with the Reds getting five wins in the last six; their defeat to Wolves proved to be the tipping point for their managerial change. Liverpool’s heartbeat - Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard - miss out through injury and suspension respectively.

Everton visit their fierce neighbours after a fantastic victory against Tottenham Hotspur. The Toffees’ season has been such that their defeats of better teams - Manchester City included - have been followed by poor performances against lesser opposition, much like their neighbours. Their away form has seen them pick up one win in six. More worryingly, Everton have not won at Anfield since Kevin Campbell scored in front of the Kop in September 1999. Everton will be without Tim Cahill, who is representing Australia in the Asian Cup much to the relief of the Reds. Phil Jagielka who misses out through injury.

Predicted Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Aurelio; Johnson, Lucas, Meireles, Rodriguez; Kuyt, Torres.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Felliani, Arteta, Osman; Saha, Beckford.

Liverpool’s Jekyll and Hyde midfield

One of the reasons for Liverpool’s inconsistent form has been the central midfield’s inability to control possession away from home. Whilst Lucas and Raul Meireles will provide energetic performances, their quality is sometimes lacking when trying to retain possession. Meireles has attempted 28 shots without breaking his duck at Liverpool, which is indicative of his technique - or lack of it. Though Gerrard filled in deeper under former manager Roy Hodgson, Liverpool miss the presence of Javier Mascherano and the vision of Xabi Alonso in exerting their dominance upon the opposition.

At home, however, Liverpool have been vastly superior and cruised past the opposition in several games. The game against Wolves can provide some solace to Everton as it does provide a good template as to how to counter the midfield. As mentioned, the midfield has a soft centre and lacks creativity. Everton, using Wolves’ hard working display, will have to demand both Marouane Fellaini and Mikel Arteta to be aggressive and combative, especially when pressing both Lucas and Meireles.

If the supply is cut from the centre Liverpool will be forced wide, where they lack incisiveness and pace, and be forced to play high percentage balls to the front line of Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres. Torres, this season, has shown that he can cut a lonely figure if the supply is suffocated and his frustration does not make for healthy viewing for the rest of the team.

Everton’s wide men

Seamus Coleman has been one of Everton’s bright spots this season and another fine talent who looks to blossom and improve the more he plays on Everton’s right midfield. Though he can play as a full back with an old fashioned wing back style to his approach, Everton feel his reading of the game can allow him to play further up the field where he can bamboozle the opposition with close control and consistently good delivery whilst also realising his responsibilities going backwards.

With Liverpool looking to play Maxi Rodriguez - a naturally right footed player - on the left of the midfield he will cut onto his right foot more often than opening his body and crossing with his left foot to carve open some opportunities. This should allow Coleman a good chance to face Fabio Aurelio in one on one situations and whip in crosses, which Liverpool have failed to deal with throughout this season.

On the other side, Leon Osman will play a slightly narrower role than Coleman. In essence, Osman will be the third central midfielder, which may make it difficult for Liverpool’s midfield to penetrate. The skewed shape does allow the in-form Leighton Baines to charge forward and provide the delivery for both Louis Saha and Jermaine Beckford; both of whom need goals to propel Everton out of the dire position they are currently in.

Glen Johnson

Clearly, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish is a huge fan of local boy Martin Kelly who has started the two games for which Dalglish has been in charge. Glen Johnson missed the FA Cup tie against Manchester United as he attended the birth of his son, which gave Kelly a chance to shine and then returned to the side to play in an unfamiliar left back position, unsuccessfully, against Blackpool to accommodate Kelly at right back.

England’s right back has come under criticism from former manager Roy Hodgson for his lack of form, and also from Paul Merson, which drew a heated defence from Johnson on his Twitter account. Using Spurs’ Gareth Bale as an example, Liverpool fans have felt Johnson may be better off being relieved of his defensive duties and solely allowed to attack in true winger fashion. Whilst in the relegation dogfight at Portsmouth, Johnson was used in a right wing role sparingly and it was those performances which drew the initial attention of both Liverpool and Chelsea.

Five red cards in the last seven meetings between the two sides shows how full-blooded these occasions can be. With local pride and perhaps more importantly three points at stake, we may get to see a thunderous match with both teams desperate to climb out of the bottom half of the table.