EPL : Dalglish blasts referee again after Mersey derby draw

zocoss SG

Sunday, 16 January 2011

Liverpool v Everton, 10:05 Mio Channel 102 / 110

Dalglish tomorrow manages his first game on the Reds' home turf since his shock exit 20 years ago.

Ahead of the clash with Everton he said: "It can only help if the punters think it's a positive I'm back. That will reflect well for the players.

"It should be a great advantage if we start with the fans fully behind us. "The players know what they have to do, how they have to play and we would love to win the game."

Liverpool fans have been on a high since King Kenny replaced Roy Hodgson last weekend. And not even defeats at Manchester United and Blackpool have burst their balloon. But defeat to their Merseyside neighbours is unthinkable to the Anfield faithful.

Dalglish's return will have them in full voice though. And the man rated as Liverpool's greatest ever player, admitted emerging from the tunnel will be a hugely emotional moment for him.

He said: "If the supporters are pleased to see me sitting there, they will not be as pleased as I am. "It will be emotive walking up those steps. "But it's all very well being romantic the truth of the matter is we have got to start winning games.

"It would cap off a fantastic day if we got a positive result - and I hope it's got a happier ending than last Sunday!"

zocoss SG

The 215th Merseyside derby comes with a Glasgow twist and its importance transcends local pride for both Kenny Dalglish and David Moyes. Amid the emotion of a first home game as Liverpool manager for almost 20 years, the seriousness of his club's plight is not lost on Dalglish. Lose, and the feelgood factor of his return will be replaced by a deepened sense of crisis. But Liverpool are not the only team languishing four points above the relegation zone and, without Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher to contend with, there is pressure on Moyes to go for the jugular. Andy Hunter

Venue Anfield, Sunday 10.05pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Liverpool 1 Everton 0

Referee Phil Dowd

This season's matches 18 Y65, R6, 3.94 cards per game

Odds Liverpool 6-5 Everton 13-5 Draw 9-4

Subs from Jones, Poulsen, Kyrgiakos, Konchesky, Cole, Gulacsi, Shelvey, Jovanovic, Pacheco, Babel, Wilson, Hansen, Spearing, Ngog

Doubtful Spearing (ankle)

Injured Carragher (shoulder, Feb)

Suspended Gerrard (second of three)

Form guide LLWLLW

Disciplinary record Y33 R2

Leading scorer Torres 7

Subs from Mucha, Turner, Hibbert, Pienaar, Anichebe, Bilyaletdinov, Gueye, Baxter, Mustafi, Duffy, Vaughan

Doubtful None

Injured Jagielka (hamstring, 22 Jan), Barkley (broken leg, Apr)

Suspended None

Unavailable Cahill (international duty)

Form guide WLDWDD

Disciplinary record Y26 R3

Leading scorer Cahill 9

• Everton have not won in the league at Anfield since Kevin Campbell got the only goal in a 1-0 victory in September 1999

• When these teams met at Goodison Park earlier this season, Liverpool had 67% of possession and eight more shots but lost the game 2-0

• There have been five red cards in the last seven league meetings between these teams, including two in this fixture in 2009-10

• Steven Pienaar has won more free-kicks (54) than any other player this season

• Raul Meireles has had more shots without scoring (28) than any other player

TTFU SG

No cahill for everton tonight plus derby should be can and steven is back right ? Should be can...

zocoss SG

Steven Gerrard? He isn't but I reckon Pool will win tonight cos it's Anfield and the players will be really charged up for this as many of the former players will be at Anfield in support of Kenny D...

Also the directors and even owner that John Henry guy will be attending too so you can understand the players will raise to the occasion like they did for Roy against Bolton where many former players were seen at the match...

And to top it all up, Everton without their top scorer, would find it very tough going at Anfield on an emotional afternoon...

So don't expect their over 10 yrs record to be broken today...

charlize SG

Usually things are never so straight foward in derby games.

One red card. One penalty is all it takes to swing the result.

Medicated Oil SG

There is so much Ah Ken can do.

The liverpool defence is in pieces now.

Even with An Ken and Anfield crowd, Liverpool will not address the slide as Jamie and Stevie are missing.

Liverpool will be beaten at Anfield later.

[email protected]_Devils.com SG

Liverpool is now trailing 2-1 at home to Everton, 55th min, despite leading 1-0 at halftime. Self-destruction button pressed.

TTFU SG

Chu pattern again haha. 1-0 can become 1-2

trolol SG

was it a dive by liverpool or a legitimate penalty call???????

zocoss SG

Pool played very well in the first half like I had expected them to... but strangely, they got lost in the 2nd...

With such incentive, a fully charged up stadium full of fans specially for kenny's first home match, former players in the stand to support... and of course the owner watching... They couldn't come up with a winning performance like that one against Bolton...

I think Everton would be the more happier side with the end result... I honestly didn't expect them to get anything today cos of the special occasion at Anfield will help motivate the players... It seems worrying as with so many extra motivational reasons, they still can't make it...

I wonder when all these extra motivation isn't there anymore, how will they become? But time is running out for Kenny D cos his honeymoon period will soon be over and everyone will expect more and better results to go along with his reputation and the build-up to his appointment...

zocoss SG

Unimpressed: Kenny Dalglish wasn't happy with Phil Dowd's display

Kenny Dalglish pointed the finger at referee Phil Dowd after his Anfield homecoming ended in disappointment yesterday.

Dalglish’s first home game of his return as Liverpool manager brought a draw with Everton to leave him still looking for his first win after three games back in charge.

The home side were a goal up at half-time but ultimately needed a Dirk Kuyt penalty to salvage a draw after two Everton goals in the first six minutes of the second period.

Dalglish claimed the visitors should not have been awarded the corner that led to Sylvain Distin’s equaliser and that Liverpool defender Martin Kelly was fouled in the build-up to the Jermaine Beckford goal that put David Moyes’ team ahead.

Dalglish said: ‘The first goal should have been a goal kick and not a corner. Even if I had not got lenses in I could have seen that.

‘For the second one, Martin Kelly got battered and then we got turned on the edge of the box when he was about to clear it. Maybe on another day you would get those decisions given in your favour. ‘But at this moment in time there is not a great deal of good fortune going our way.

‘But it’s a great credit to the players that they continue to tap away at the door and to try and get better luck. The harder they try the sooner it will come.’

Animated: Kenny Dalglish (right) and assistant coach Sammy Lee (left)

Everton manager Moyes said: ‘I am disappointed we didn’t take all three points after the second half performance but I am delighted we went in at half-time only 1-0 down.

‘Liverpool had been the better team in the first half and won all the duels so it needed a word to correct it at half-time.

‘So we have taken a draw from a game where most people favoured Liverpool. ‘At 2-1 up I thought we may go on and get a third.

‘I know Liverpool were missing two (Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher) but it is different for a club like Everton, who have a much smaller squad.’

iceFatboy SG

Pool played very well in the first half like I had expected them to... but strangely, they got lost in the 2nd...

one thing, Everton is not weak and even on a good day, Pool may find it difficult to sweep them aside.. even without a Tim Cahill.

I believe with their own greats, pool fans will be extra tolerant of KK's performance.

for me, I still feel if the owners are committed as per they say, they will put up the funds for a new stadium. then, pool will be able to get the gates-money and from there, get the funds to get good players.

maybe, they can adopt gunners method of biting the bullet a few years while their stadium is being built. but to be fair, gunners' "youth" then, was strong and enable them to be top4, gather good funds as they play.

Medicated Oil SG

Arsenal have a strong foundation of players to stay up the EPL.

Liverpool is on the verge of getting relegated if they are not careful.

They cannot played like last night for the rest of the season.

So, the urgent task for the owner is to get some decent players and build up the squad.

The stadium plan have to be delayed or else they will be playing in a half empty stadium with division one team.

If Liverpool is relegated, the world cup player will be forced to play for other teams.

It will be a route of no-return as the value of the club will collapse.

The defence of Liverpool is in a mess and they need to fix it up fast.

Rock^Star SG

Even if dalglish wins only once or twice in the next ten games.......kop fans will never treat him the way benitez and hodgson suffered. Wanna bet :) Well, that's also because he has been a brilliant legendary figure for them, he has already justified himself long before.

Anyway, sorry no offence to pool fans but whenever I see them singing you'll never walk alone, I wonder what people like hodgson and benitez think. It's pretty ironic. And so many players who failed to make the grade have been booted out over the years. They must have felt really lonely when they hear that song.