A day before the derby, Paul Parker, a columnist on Eurosport wrote the following statement:
Upset of the weekend: Everton v Liverpool
I don’t really know if this would still be considered an upset or not at the moment, but I can see Everton beating Liverpool in the Merseyside derby this weekend.
Liverpool travel to Goodison Park with their defence having all sorts of problems, and David Moyes will be looking at the two sides thinking that the hosts have a real chance.
Kenny Dalglish’s side shipped four goals against Spurs, then could not keep clean sheets against either Brighton or Wolves. Everton could well have enough to claim a big victory.
A quick analysis of the above statement shows how this ex-Mancunian got it all horribly wrong. He starts by claiming that an Everton victory would not be much of an upset given Liverpool’s prospects (always according to him), and through his renowned expertise in the sport he ‘could see Everton beating Liverpool ‘.
Taking the Spurs game (in which we made them look like Barcelona) as a measuring stick, Mr Parker claimed that the Reds had huge defensive issues and that for David Moyes, it would be the right occasion to go for the win.
I would like to point out to Mr.Parker that Liverpool won the derby, so there was no upset. They also kept a clean sheet, and even though Ref Atkinson got the Rodwell decision ‘slightly wrong’, it takes absolutely nothing away from our victory. As for shipping in goals, the Reds have conceded 8 goal in 7 PL fixtures (4 against Spurs), just as much as Chelsea and 2 less than Spurs. Only three more than Utd and City and 8, yes 8 less than Arsenal. So apart from a horrid afternoon in North London, I don’t see the Reds as having ‘all sorts of problems’ in defence.
Another ex-Mancunian should think before he talks. Paul Scholes claims that England’s failure to land any success on the international scene is mainly due to the rivalry-cum-hatred between the Man Utd and Liverpool players forming part of the national squad! First of all, he is the last person with a right to express himself on the subject because he retired early from his International career to lengthen that with his Club. Secondly, England’s failure to land anything is not due to what he claims, but to lack of commitment and a nonchalant culture, WAGS, and the players’ obsession with preserving themselves for their Clubs, ours included! There is just as much rivalry and hatred (if you want) between players of all the other top football countries, but when they play for their country, they play for their country unconditionally and as if their lives depend on it.
But then these are ex-Mancs , so we really cannot expect sympathy from them can we? What we need to do is show them what we are made of when they come to Anfield!