Only now am i sort of calming down about the result. Fantastic effort.
Starting with the crowd, they were immense. Both fans set up this spectacle. There was a real buzzing sense around the ground and it's been a while since i felt like there was something special at Anfield this season.
The game wasn't classy, it was a typical local grudge match and i think for that reason made this win a whole lot sweeter. Two clubs and their sets of fans fighting for one prize just added even more incentive to a fixture that needs no build up.
From the back, Pepe was outstanding. He is the only keeper in the league that when i see a chance fall for the opposition, i would have my money on it being saved on more occasions than it going in the net.
Our whole backline was superb. Faultless. Insua was showing he is coming back to form, Carra and Agger were unbreakable and even when Everton tried to stretch our defence with the extra man, they were solid as a rock.
Mascherano was my MOTM. 60 minutes asked to play at right back, in a position where he has played once before for the club and quite simply failed with the task. Last night though, he was boss. Simple. Broke down everything and even was aware of playing with a defensive line to play opposition attackers offside. Not an easy thing to do at all!
Our midfield was as structured last night as it has been all season, and probably even better structured than last season. Kuyt and Maxi applying pressure on the flanks and supporting the fullbacks no end, while Lucas and Gerrard just bossed the centre of the park in defence. Ngog/Babel dropping back to help out as a 5 man midfield just emphasised how much we wanted this win.
In attack, the transition was quick and it hurt Everton. With a man down, we were pulling them out of position easily. It was like watching last season's team in action with the ability to go from defence to spring an attack from nothing, albeit we sometimes had no support up top for the lone striker but that is expected with 1 less midfielder.
Ngog up top was perfect. He didn't score, and it's rare to describe a striker's game without scoring 'perfect' but he was to me. Holding it up with strength and poise to allow support time to get up the field instead of going alone. With a backline of Baines, Distin, Neville and Heitinga, in a derby match also, it's takes such a cool head and intelligence to be able to out-think them on your lonesome, such is their strength.
Oh and the managerial battle? Moyesy, just jump into Rafa's back pocket!
As i said in the match thread, i cried with pride at the end of that and unashamedly so. Could of easily defended for 60 minutes to ensure they don't win and we don't slip further away from our competition but the men in red battle so F***ing hard and showed who the real pride of Merseyside is!
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