Merseyside on fire as Liverpool and Everton press on: Match Day 32 review – Sunday edition
Fulham 1-3 Everton
Everton bucked their trend of struggling away from Goodison Park as they traveled south to London and left with all three points after a visit to Craven Cottage and bottom dwellers Fulham. In a match that could see them only four points behind Arsenal for the last Champions League spot, the Toffees would respond with a second half goal flurry that would be enough to see their impressive season under Roberto Martinez continue. Despite their dominance of the ball, Fulham created far more chances while looking to hit Everton on the break – the match was topsy turvy all afternoon and Fulham could have easily come away with something. Everton would finish their chances far more efficiently at the end of the day but it would take an own-goal from Fulham keeper David Stockdale to kick-off the goal scoring. Fulham would draw level through Ashkan Dejagah in the 71st minute only for Everton to restore their lead through Kevin Mirallas eight minutes later. Substitute Steven Naismith would score deep into the half just three minutes from time to put the matter to bed. In what can only be a remarkable first year season for Martinez, he has already pushed Everton higher than his predecessor in regards to tactics, easy on the eye attacking football and he has brought real belief to the blue half of Merseyside that Everton can push the big boys finally.
Implications: The after match situation now reads that Everton are just four points adrift from Arsenal, with their next league match being at Goodison Park against the Gunners – there is plenty of life left in their push for fourth. Fulham’s season to forget will not be forgotten for some time should they fail to avoid the drop, and that loss means they remain bottom but only 2 points out of 18th and 5 out of 17th. However on their form, a rescue effort may never materialize.
Liverpool 4-0 Tottenham
Liverpool were in no need for motivation this weekend – a win and they go top after Chelsea mucked it up at Crystal Palace. In true Liverpool fashion this season, they put in a fantastic display at Anfield which saw them dismantle a poor Spurs side 4-0. It’s at this point in time where so many of us are running out of superlatives to attach to what Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers have done this season – this was a performance that proved yet again that they have what it takes to win the league, and with matches against City and Chelsea still to come, we all wonder if they will rise to the occasion or fall when it matters most. But what matters right now is that they are tops and goals from Luis Suarez (his 29th in the league, two away from tying the BPL record of 31 goals in a season – his goal also gave him Liverpools record for goals in a season, surpassing the great Robbie Fowler), Philippe Coutinho, Jordan Henderson after a Younes Kaboul own-goal kicked started Pool in the first two minutes would be more than enough on the day for the Reds – in truth they looked like scoring even more but saving their goals for crucial matches to come cannot hurt. Spurs, yet again, were spineless against a top side and amid rumors that Dutch legend Louis van Gaal is set to take over at White Hart Lane after the World Cup, Tottenham supporters will surely welcome that with open arms.
Implications: Liverpool are now top of the league after the results from todays match but with matches against City and Chelsea to come, their time to stand up and be counted has yet to truly come. Spurs are still in the thick of it for the fight for a top six finish and remain in 6th, but on the form they are in, you have to think that United’s rise in performances as of late will see them miss out.
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