Everton played well enough to come away with something.
Lampard set up well and had the team drilled well. It looked like a 4-5-1 without the ball and a 4-3-3 in attack. Obviously we're not the only side that went to Anfield to hunker down, but it wasn't a pure bus-parking. Among other things we did not go five at the back, which makes sense; our FBs are not wing-backs and don't play well as such; our wingers are our best players at the moment and we need them out there; and there are not two CB's I want on the pitch with Mina (perpetually) out, let alone three.
So a standard back four, albeit with Godfrey getting hurt in warmups (WTF with the injuries?) and Keane, who has been abysmal, stepping in.
Midfield three of Allan, Iwobi, and Doucoure. Iwobi has been revitalized under Lampard. He always said that the middle was his best spot and he's proving it. His end product still is not the best but he covers every blade of grass. Doucoure started the season as one of the best in the PL, got hurt, and has been abysmal since, but he looked like his old self yesterday, notwithstanding his counterattack, which lacked conviction and I had no expectation that he'd score. Allan, yes I'd like a little more attacking intent and he's a little too old and slow but he was at least serviceable yesterday. Allan had 5 interceptions, 7 clearances, and 1 block, so he gets the Ngolo Kante prize for job done with that stuff.
With those three in midfield, the wingers in a five-man line in defense, and Richy up front, Pool couldn't break it down. Mykolenko especially was phenomenal on Salah. Reds got some joy after the second half, the game loosened up, I think the switch to attacking the Kop had something to do with that, but give JK credit for the subs. Diaz and Origi had the physicality that they needed. Robertson and Salah had the goal and assist for the first goal but Origi made it happen with his holdup play. Both goals were crafted on Liverpool's left in the six-yard box - Holgate and Coleman asleep at the switch. Keane was actually decent. The right side of Everton's back four was the weak link.
On attack, if you saw the game you know that everything went through Richy and especially Gordon. Allan had few passes because he was not tasked with taking the ball off the CBs and bringing it forward. To the extent that was done through the middle, Iwobi and Doucore did it. Really, though, it wasn't done through the middle at all, since we're mostly in a relegation fight because of goals given away by Keane trying to play out from the back. The forward movement was all on the left. Gordon and Mykolenko were fantastic - they outplayed TAA and Salah on that side IMO all day long, they're both on a spell of great form and it gives hope for the future. But poo on the right side. Coleman doesn't have the wheels week-in, week-out anymore, and
Doucore Gray started the season as one of the best in the PL, got hurt, and has been abysmal since - he had one good strike, spurned another chance, and had nothing going down his side all day. from whoscored.com:
and
One thing Lampard could have done better, in retrospect, is to play Rondon as a holdup striker and put Richy out wide. As the focal point of that formation in the first half, Richy did not give enough of a target. Rondon was awful when he was first pressed into service this season, but as he's gained match fitness and struggled to shake the stigma of being Rafa's binky, he's done ok in limited duty. Despite the Brazil 9 shirt, Richy just isn't a central striker; he's much better cutting in from the left.
But notwithstanding the obvious difference in quality, we could have gotten something if not for the officiating. I'll not go into each call, because it's tiresome and you saw them just like I did, but I'll say that Lampard is right - if you reverse the jerseys and it's Salah and not Gordon, that gets called 10 times out of 10.
I'm strangely OK today. Frank has learned what he has on his hands. He's learning to make the best of it. If we go down there will be many reasons, the least forgivable being blowing a 2-1 second half lead at Burnley (although I think if Everton do stay up it will be at the expense of Leeds - I would not have guessed so but it looks like firing Dyche unlocked some of the potential in that club). But there needs to be fight and discipline and some application of the quality in the side and I've seen that over the last three games - win vs United, draw vs Leicester, and this. I can't think we're favored to beat Chelsea on Sunday but I won't be surprised if we do. Despite the tough run-in we are now playing well enough to survive. If we'd played like this all season we'd be 13th or so. In a grotesque way it may be better that it's come to the state it has, since there can be no illusions now. The terrible governance, wasteful spending, lack of vision, etc. - there needed to be a reckoning. I hope it's not too late.