Hot-heads Should Lead to Another Feisty Merseyside Derby
This weekend’s early Premier League kick-off promises to be a typically feisty affair as Everton host Liverpool in the first all-Merseyside showdown of the season.
With the passions of a local derby running high, there’s always the likelihood of indiscipline as the occasion gets the better of the players and Kenny Dalglish’s side arrive at Goodison Park having already had two players dismissed in their previous away game. Charlie Adam and Martin Skrtel both received their marching orders in the 4-0 loss at Spurs after two yellow cards apiece and with this in mind, WhoScored takes a look at the those players who’ll need to keep their temperaments under control come Saturday lunchtime.
Last Season
Everton got the better of their rivals in the 2010/11 campaign, winning 2-0 at home and drawing 2-2 at Anfield. Over the two games, it was a frustrated Liverpool that incurred the wrath of the referees far more, though, picking up 6 yellow cards in comparison to Everton’s one. Strangely, both games had exactly the same number of tackles (36) and the tackle count per team was almost identical- 18 apiece at Anfield and 19-17 to Liverpool at Goodison, with the energy of a local derby bringing out that extra combative edge in both sides.
This season, both team’s defensive stats have been fairly similar, aside from those two red cards. Liverpool have picked up 14 cautions to Everton’s 11 and have averaged 21 tackles per game compared to 17, though it’s Everton who have edged it in fouls, 13 to 12 per game.
The New Boys
One factor which could prove pivotal is each team’s contrasting experience of the occasion- with David Moyes having little-to-no money to invest, his only real acquisitions have been loan captures Denis Stracqualursi and Royston Drenthe. Neither have made a league start thus far and the likely starting XI he sends out on Saturday will all have sampled the Merseyside derby before.
Liverpool, on the other hand, have splashed the cash and are very much a changed team from the previous campaign. Six of the starters in last Saturday’s 2-1 home win against Wolves have never played against Everton in Liverpool colours-Luis Suarez, Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing, Luis Enrique and Andy Carroll.
All have plenty of experience of similarly white-hot atmospheres- Henderson, Carroll and Enrique (Tyne-Wear), Adam (Old Firm), Suarez (Ajax-PSV) and Downing (Second City), but all will be eager to impress and need to keep a cool head.
Temper, Temper!
Everton
For the home side, Tim Cahill has been the main culprit this season for fouls. Fielded as a forward in recent games, the Australian has averaged 3 fouls per game, making 2 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and winning 41% of aerial duels, picking up 1 yellow card over his 5 appearances so far. He’s already received his marching orders in a Merseyside derby, back in September 2008.
Marouane Fellaini has averaged 2.6 fouls per game over his five games. Making 1.6 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and winning 80% of aerial duels, his combative nature is a key element of the Toffees play in the middle of the park. So far he’s picked up just 1 yellow card but he’s more than familiar with controversy in these fixtures- a tackle by Sotirios Kyrgiakos in February 2010 saw the Liverpool player sent off and consequently ended Fellaini’s season with ankle ligament damage.
Despite his years of experience at Man United, the red mist tends to get the better of Phil Neville on these occasions. He’s been sent off twice before in Merseyside derbies and will need to curb his enthusiasm if he’s to avoid making it three. Neville has made three league appearances so far, making 1.7 fouls per game. He’s made 2.3 tackles –the second-highest Everton tally- and 2.3 interceptions, winning 50% of aerial duels and receiving 1 yellow card. Neville has played at right-back a couple of times this term but came back into the side as a defensive central midfielder last week away to Man City.
Liverpool
For the visiting side, Charlie Adam will need to be on his best behaviour. The playmaker was rash in the challenge at Spurs and saw red with only 28 minutes on the clock; his petulance and mistiming in the tackle led to ten yellow cards last season with Blackpool. So far Adam has again shown his reckless side- 2.7 fouls per game is the most of any Liverpool player, though he makes just 1.8 tackles, 1 interception and has won 71% of aerial duels to date.
Lucas is the only likely Liverpool starter to be sent off in a Merseyside derby (February 2009 in the FA Cup), though Steven Gerrard –who may come off the bench as he continues his recovery from a groin problem- has been dismissed twice in the fixture. The Brazilian’s phenomenal work-rate in central midfield has seen him average 6.5 tackles and 2.2 interceptions, with just 1.8 fouls conceded per game. His will-to-win, while exemplary, means he’s always liable to dish out a crunching challenge and so far, he’s picked up 2 yellow cards for his troubles this season.
While there’s no disputing the world-class talents of Luis Suarez, the Uruguayan has a notoriously volatile temperament. A seven-match ban for biting in an Ajax-PSV clash was a sad end to his time in Holland and his disciplinary record before arriving in England was anything but ideal. With 3 goals and 2.5 shots per game, he has been far and away Liverpool’s biggest attacking threat but his frustration, particularly in away games, has been noticeable. While Suarez has made just 1 tackle, 0.8 interceptions and 1 foul per game, he’s been cautioned twice and will need to keep his self-control if Liverpool are to get a result.
