Liverpool have rubbed salt into Everton’s Premier League wounds, dispatching of the Toffees 4-0 at Anfield on Wednesday.
Everton started brightly but it would soon become a downhill ski as the Reds piled on four goals against 10-man opposition in front of a packed-out Anfield, further turning up the heat on Roberto Martinez.
A defensive error by Bryan Oviedo opened the door for Adam Lallana in the fifth minute, but Joel Robles decreased the angle and made a crucial one-on-one save. The Spaniard’s legs would again deny the Reds half an hour in – this time Roberto Firmino failed to breach the fort.
However the goalkeeper could do little do deny Divock Origi. The Belgian leapt highest to head home James Milner’s cross just before half time. Yet Liverpool’s fortunes would only get better from there, as Milner teed up an unmarked Mamadou Sakho for 2-0 with the last play of the first half.
Any hopes Everton had of a comeback dissipated a mere five minutes after play’s resumption. A simply awful challenge by Ramiro Funes Mori on a felled Origi was rightfully met with a straight red card, and the Argentinian will now miss Everton’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
The Reds made Everton pay once more as a sloppy pass from John Stones allowed Lucas to slide in Daniel Sturridge, who finished with aplomb.
Philippe Coutinho ensured Everton’s night would only get worse, adding a fourth with a lovely curling strike.
The result sees the momentum continue under Jurgen Klopp, while for Everton, the pressure mounts on Martinez as he and his side are left reeling ahead of the aforementioned FA Cup semi-final.
Not-so-boring James Milner
It is often easier to associate Milner with probably the world’s funniest parody Twitter account, but the workhorse midfielder put in a shift worthy of a place in any starting XI.
The former Manchester City man chalked up two assists for two goals that set the tone of the match as Liverpool effectively condemned their Merseyside counterparts to defeat before the half time whistle was blown.
James Milner has now registered 7 Premier League assists during 2016, more than any other player.
Not so boring… pic.twitter.com/caTGvdovHP
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 20, 2016
He now leads the league for assists in 2016 with seven, and we agree with Squawka that that return is hardly boring.
Triple-blow for the Toffees
Not only did a shambolic Everton taste miserable defeat yet again on derby day, compounding their Premier League misery, they suffered a huge blow to their hopes of FA Cup glory.
Already running on fumes in the heart of defence with captain Phil Jagielka expected to miss the remainder of the season, the Blues lost their remaining two first choice centre-halves. A shocking tackle by Mori on goalscorer Origi, leaving the youngster on a stretcher, was correctly punished with a straight red card, and shortly after, Stones trudged down the tunnel in a forgettable two minutes for the young defender. Such was the desperation on the day, James McCarthy was forced to centre-back.
That leaves under pressure manager Martinez with a real pickle – well, another one anyway. He must improvise with what he has left, and it appears Mo Besic will be the man tasked with the responsibility of redeeming a stricken situation.
Everton’s dour derby run continues
One can only imagine that derby day on Merseyside, as excitable as it is, is not one that Evertonians look forward to. It was horror night for the visitors – 35 shots to three tells its own story. Jon Champion’s analogy of comparing the Blues to a boxer on the ropes was apt as Liverpool thrusted relentless punch upon relentless punch at their neighbours.
The Blues have now won just once against their local rivals since 2010, and twice in a decade. The story is even worse at Anfield, where Everton’s record remains so poor that the club has not tasted victory there since last millennium in 1999, when Kevin Campbell’s lone fourth-minute strike was enough for a 1-0 win that day.
For the Reds, it was a second 4-0 win against Everton in two years. And when the olés come out, you know that for one tribe, it’s a party. The other? Misery.
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