On Wednesday night, Everton dealt a possibly fatal blow to Jurgen Klopp’s ambitions of a grand Liverpool farewell, leaving you wondering if you had gone into some sort of ‘Life in Mars’ style time loop.
Some of the tackles at a packed Goodison Park were reminiscent of the past. Yes, firm, but also fair, but with plenty of anger.
The performances of Ben Godfrey, Vitaliy Mykolenko, James Tarkowski, and Jarrad Branthwaite felt like a throwback in an era where toughness is often criticised in sports.
A throwback to Bovril-scented terraces, mud-bath pitches, and a time ‘when men were genuine men’.
Everton defeated Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.
Klopp defended his decision to stick with Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and an uncoordinated Mo Salah, despite their missed chances on a night when Everton’s goal was largely unconvincing.
With Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo injured and ill, Liverpool’s only striker on the bench was 18-year-old Jayden Danns. And, despite Liverpool’s desperate predicament, Klopp had no intention of introducing a gifted but still-developing teenager into Everton’s blood-soaked penalty area.
“I know we had Dannsy on the bench,” Klopp told the Liverpool website. “But that is not a game for an 18-year-old boy.” Tarkowski and Branthwaite will murder you in these instances.
Tarkowski, who previously worked under Toffees manager Sean Dyche at Burnley, has limits. However, when it comes to winning aerial duels, whacking clearances up the pitch, and rattling the bones of neighbouring centre-forwards, the Premier League has few better ‘pure defenders’.
Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite combined for 17 clearances, while the former Clarets player also made five interceptions and three tackles (WhoScored).
Tarkowski’s centre-back partner handed Everton the lead in a messy fashion, while Branthwaite’s drive squirmed over Alisson Becker and spun over the line before Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored the hosts’ second, made it official.
Tarkowski and Branthwaite excelled at Goodison Park.
“A few weeks ago, people asked, ‘Do they care?'” They care. We care. Dyche was pleased with Everton’s win, which placed them eight points clear of the relegation zone and practically sealed their survival.
“Another clean sheet, which I am thrilled with. Jordan made a handful of pretty important saves. We’re a little lucky with the one that hits the inside of the post (Diaz in the second half), but we’ve produced plenty of opportunities ourselves.
“The side’s intensity, commitment to the purpose, and shape were all in place, as they must be when playing some of these sides. I think the overall performance was excellent, and the reward is a strong result against our local rivals.”
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