Tony Cascarino’s Premier League Picks: Everton v Liverpool
This is an interesting game for the neutrals in what must be viewed as a poor season for both Everton and Liverpool fans. Neither team is playing as you’d expect with Everton uncharacteristically battered a few times this season and Liverpool conceding poor goals for fun.
David Moyes has built a reputation for Everton as a resolute team that is difficult to beat and downright horrible to play against. They are usually physically strong, don’t ever lie down and fight to the bitter end but that reputation has been lost this season. For some reason the team has lost its competitive edge which was plain to see at Old Trafford last weekend. I expected the Toffees to put up more of a fight but they went down with a whimper. Another midweek defeat at Hull was even more surprising.
Everton’s big players have not performed as well as they have in recent seasons with Tim Cahill scoring just once in the Premier League while one of the stars of last season Steven Pienaar has been in and out of the side through injury. Even Marouane Fellaini has struggled to repeat his performances from last season leaving Louis Saha as the one shining light of Everton’s season.
I felt for the Frenchman last weekend as he was left isolated in attack against Manchester United with little support. Playing up front on your own away at one of the big four clubs is a thankless task especially when you are literally fighting for scraps.
I don’t see the loss of Joleon Lescott as the cause of Everton’s woes as I believe Moyes got a superb price for a player I don’t rate particularly highly although it does seem to have upset the balance of the team. The new boys all look decent players in their own right but they’ve joined a set of players who’ve lost their way and need to get back to basics starting this weekend.
Liverpool too are struggling and in a way, Everton have been fortunate that their neighbours have endured such a disappointing start to the season as the headlines have focused on the Reds. I cannot understand how Rafa Benitez’ side is defending so poorly with more or less the same players as they had last season.
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Their defensive frailties were exposed yet again against Man City last weekend and they look way off a top four side mainly because of this. Martin Skrtel is a 6 ft 3 defender who jumps 5 ft 8 while Jamie Carragher has gone completely off the boil. Glen Johnson has been in and out of the side and while he looks a threat going forward the defence looks far more vulnerable on his side than it did last season with Alvaro Arbeloa in the team. Young Argentine Emiliano Insua also looks accomplished going forward but is not a great defender so Everton will have their chances this weekend.
The loss of Xabi Alonso in the summer is not Liverpool’s biggest problem, the lack of confidence in defence is. Pepe Reina continues to look as good a keeper as there is in the Premier League but the back four in front of him or not performing to the high standard you’d expect of a Liverpool side especially under Rafa Benitez.
Neither of these sides is performing well enough to be favourites for this match and both look likely to concede so I’m backing the draw on Premier 10. With a £45,000 rollover up for grabs this week, a point apiece is unlikely to do much for either team’s confidence but is the likeliest result.
Tags: Everton, Liverpool, Premier 10, Premier League, Tony Cascarino
