Liverpool (2) Everton (2): Suarez Denied Dramatic Last Minute Winner

Click on Luis for the highlights…
Once again, the result is decided by the linesman. Luis Suarez was the catalyst for Liverpool’s first half barn burner — forcing Leighton Baines into an own goal before flicking a header past a stranded Tim Howard — though that lead wouldn’t last for long. Two minutes after the Uruguayan doubled the lead, Leon Osman pulled one back for the home side and Steven Naismith would complete the comeback 10 minutes before halftime.

It was a roaring first half in which neither team could establish a foothold, but a tactical shift by Brendan Rodgers after the break settled the midfield after switching to three at the back. With both sides cancelling each other out, a draw looked to be on the cards before Suarez smashed home a Sebastian Coates knockdown from a perfectly delivered Steven Gerrard free kick. The Red half of Merseyside were sent into raptures for a brief second — until an incorrectly raised linesman’s flag stopped the celebrations short.

Big matches can be built up to the point of anti-climax. The backdrop of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster added a somber feel pre-match and concerns were raised that this would be a somewhat subdued affair — thankfully, that’s not what played out. The comically childish dive celebration from Luis Suarez directly in front of David Moyes set the tone within the first 20 minutes and after that it was obvious that the atmosphere that this match is famous for was alive and well.

Racing to a two goal lead within 20 minutes wasn’t what anyone expected; though conceding two goals through our own defensive errors was par for the course. The three man midfield that Rodgers is such a keen practitioner of left the back line exposed on the wings with Andre Wisdom bearing the brunt of the onslaught. The youngster looked out of his league as the Toffees overwhelmed the narrow Reds midfield and forced their way back into the match. The slick passing game Liverpool have used to great effect this season was constantly disrupted — only 76.8% of their passes were completed — but Rodgers would show his tactical acumen with a reshuffling at halftime that would settle things down substantially.

The introduction of Sebastian Coates and Jonjo Shelvey after the break saw the Reds switch to a three man backline and allowed for an extra body to plug up the gaps in midfield. Raheem Sterling — his usual firecracker self — was pushed forward to play beside Suarez and caused the Everton defense a number of problems with his pace and movement. Last season Rodgers was criticized for his lack of a Plan B when Swansea stuttered, but those fears were without merit as Liverpool set up some last minute drama.

A pair of stamps from Luis Suarez — one on Sylvain Distin and one on Kevin Mirallas — incensed the Goodison crowd even more than usual and when the linesman’s flag incorrectly denied the Uruguayan the winner, there would be no complaints from the Blue half of Merseyside. Neither foul showed obvious malice and though only Suarez knows for sure what his intentions were, the offside call was less open to interpretation. When Gerrard delivered the free kick, everyone was onside. As Sebastian Coates headed down the ball into the path of Suarez, everyone was onside. The striker would smash the ball home — still with everyone onside — but the linesman flag would nullify the effort and send the conspiracy theorists into overdrive; and again, it would be the man in black who’d decide the match.

Goal line technology, instant replays on controversial decisions, another ref watching on TV that can be referred to; there’s been so many options put forward that work in so many other sports that not employing at least one is laughable at best. Liverpool have had shocking array of decisions — all across the board and all over the pitch — go against them with this one being the most damaging of the bunch. Three points magically disappear and we’re again left to rue the fact that, despite being the better side, the outcome of the match was never in our hands.

steven.

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Steven McMillan

Can’t find up from down or tell black from white, but doesn't care cause it’s all Red to him. When he's not pissing and moaning about all things Liverpool, he’s chatting nonsense with his multiple personalities — or his “entourage” as he likes to call them.

12 thoughts on “Liverpool (2) Everton (2): Suarez Denied Dramatic Last Minute Winner

  • October 29, 2012 at 5:14 am
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    What action will be taken against the ref and his lines man? It is costing clubs valuable points and wins.

  • October 29, 2012 at 5:27 am
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    That’s a fair question. What happens if a club misses the Champions League because of decisions like this? That’s megabucks that don’t get made.

  • October 29, 2012 at 6:15 am
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    For me, there’s a definite agenda against LFC and Luis in particular. The linesman actually waited until Luis wheeled away in celebration before he raised his flag. It really was a shocking decision. However, pleased how BR tactically altered the game and got it spot on. Concerned with Nuri Sahin and his style suiting the prem- the game seems to pass him by??? Jonjo for me all day long.

  • October 29, 2012 at 6:30 am
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    Better side I disagree,but the goal was onside for sure

  • October 29, 2012 at 7:23 am
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    What would shanks have said!

  • October 29, 2012 at 7:52 am
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    Shouldn’t have been on the pitch by that stage anyway!

  • October 29, 2012 at 8:37 am
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    Despite being the better side?
    Don’t think so deluded kopites in a world of their own again

  • October 29, 2012 at 1:10 pm
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    simple mathematics ..the team who spend a lot’s of money needs return asap. did liverpool spend it as like them? ..just put the rules under their butt.

  • October 30, 2012 at 2:00 am
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    but he was on the pitch, wasn’t he? would of, should of, could of at that point but when even Moyes says the goal was onside, it makes you wonder.

  • October 30, 2012 at 2:01 am
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    first side was a wash and we had a better run of it in the second…
    argue semantics all you want, it’s not like i said you were shite.

  • October 30, 2012 at 2:02 am
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    Sahin is going to take some time to figure out the league, but i agree with Jonjo…the kid has heart and talent to match…i’m a big fan.

  • October 30, 2012 at 2:05 am
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    super-duper mega bucks….missing out on the Champions League can make or break a season.

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