Merseyside Derby: Important is an understatement!!!

Brendan Rodgers Liverpool FC host Roberto Martinez Everton FC in the most important derby in history(some say in decades) because when last was a Merseyside Derby played when both teams were above Manchester United and real contenders for the Champions League places even the English Premier League(EPL).

Its been 28 years since a win for either side had such importance as it did way back on the 22nd February 1986 when Everton won 2-0 at Anfield. With that win they went eight points clear of Liverpool in the League, but at the end of the season Liverpool won the title and actually won the double in a first all-Merseyside FA Cup final later that season winning that 3-1(Rush 2, Johnston 1).

Ok the Merseysider's will not be fighting it out for the EPL trophy just yet tonight nor for any cup trophy but it's for me much bigger than that. It has far bigger ramifications than just the 3 points on offer. Some would say it's far more important for Everton to take those three points than the home side. History is against them as well, it has been 11 winless years(under David Moyes) at Anfield standing infront of them.

If Everton have any ambitions to finish in the top-four they certainly have to start at Anfield tonight. A loss could see Manchester United just 2 points behind them and for that matter Newcastle within 3 points but more importantly they could see Tottenham extend their lead to 4 points above them.

Don't get me wrong Liverpool would not want to lose but a loss for them might not be as damaging as it would be for their neighbours. Everton are too good a side to fall away completely, but it would be a long way back if they were to endure another fruitless trip to Anfield. A win tonight could bring the same belief as they had in their 1985 title wining season and propel their season into unchartered territory.

The 222nd Merseyside Derby tonight has all the elements to be an enthralling battle of Red vs Blue and I don't foresee another draw. I do however see the red half smiling, once again, come the final whistle and to be honest I don't know why.

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams(@jcba)

Comments

The Premier League changes its logo.

The most lucrative football league in the world, The English Premier League (EPL), yesterday unveiled its new official logo, which will be used from the 2016-17 season onwards. The division's lion icon has been the face of England's top flight since its launch in 1992 but has undergone a makeover to give it a fresh, modern look. It means, EPL is ending its 12-year association with Barclays bank and will from now on be known simply as ‘the Premier League’. The new logo – has a crowned lion’s head gazing to the right, accompanied by either the words ‘Premier League’ or ‘PL’ -- will replace the current logo of a lion with its left paw on a football. All 20 clubs in the top flight have also agreed a new centralised sponsorship strategy, meaning the league will no longer have a named sponsor. “From next season we will move away from title sponsorship and the competition will be known as the Premier League, a decision which provided the opportunity to consider how we wanted

Liverpool's Klopp host Jose's United

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp : "Apart from the table, it's a very important game. I know about the history, I like the special stories. The whole world will watch this game, it's a big honour to be part of it. "At the end, it's up to us to perform to our best. You cannot and should not ignore the special circumstance of a game like this. You have to be ready. "They have big quality and we have to respect this, as we do. But this is Anfield. We have to show this. We have had a few nice atmospheres but I'm open for the best atmosphere. We need everybody in a Liverpool shirt in this game." Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on concerns over disrespectful chanting at the game: "In football we have some football tragedies, if you can say that, which is a big match that you lost, the mistake that some player did, this kind of thing, and you can make fun of it in a positive way. "But the human tragedy i

Ronaldo keeps on winning - Fifa Best Player Award

Cristiano Ronaldo was named the world's best player at the inaugural Best Fifa Football Awards in Zurich. Real Madrid and Portugal forward Ronaldo, 31, beat Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann to the prize. Ronaldo also won the Ballon d'Or in December, with both honours recognition for success in the Champions League with Real and Euro 2016 with Portugal. 2016 was quite a year for Ronaldo. As well as scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout to win the Champions League, rescuing Real with a hat-trick in the final of the Club World Cup, captaining Portugal to Euro 2016 glory and being recognised with a fourth Ballon d'Or, he now has something Messi does not - the honour of being named best Fifa men's player. The former Manchester United forward had been the favourite for the award, following a year in which he continued to deliver. The stats don’t lie: 44 games, 42 goals, 14 assists. The third best minutes-per-goal

Search This Blog