FEBRUARY 2
Gerrard
thwarted, but vows to fight on
By Chris Bascombe - Liverpool Echo
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is still in a state
of disbelief after missing out on the chance to be a
derby matchwinner.
Gerrard peppered Nigel Martyn's goal with shots during
Saturday's 0-0 draw, only for superb goalkeeping and the
woodwork to deny him a couple of goals.
The midfielder is relishing a more attacking role in
Reds' line-up and is certain he'll break his duck from
open play if he keeps playing as he is.
"I had three or four good chances," admitted Gerrard.
"Nigel Martyn made some great saves, I hit the post and
I rolled one just wide, but I'll keep trying.
"If I keep getting in the right positions I'm sure I'll
get one sooner or later. You have to be disciplined when
you play against Everton but the system we are playing
allows me to get into the box more, running from deep.
"I'm enjoying it as it's very attacking. I had a few
chances and I'm sure I'll score soon. Martyn had a great
game and we could easily have won if it wasn't for him.
"I thought we deserved to sneak it."
Liverpool are now looking ahead to their trip to Bolton
next weekend having reduced the gap between them-selves
and fourth-placed Charlton.
JANUARY 31
Boss: The best
derby in years
LFC Official Website
Gerard Houllier reflected on the entertaining
goalless draw against Everton at Anfield and insisted:
"That was the best derby in years."
Both sides felt they did enough to take all three points
at the end of an enthralling clash, but Houllier says
both goalkeepers deserve great credit for preserving the
stalemate.
Houllier said: "That was a great game of football and
was the best derby in years, certainly the best since I
came to Liverpool.
"Both teams had good chances to score but I think you
have to accept that the two goalkeepers played very
well. Nigel Martyn made good saves for them and I
thought Jerzy Dudek was magnificent for us.
"I'm a bit frustrated with the draw because I felt we
could have won it, but I'm not disappointed at all with
the performance.
"Our passing and movement was good, especially in the
second half, but we just couldn't score."
JANUARY 31
Moyes upset
over Hyypia incident
Ananova
David Moyes insisted that Liverpool defender Sami
Hyypia should have been sent off during his side's 0-0
derby draw at Anfield.
And the Scot also claimed that his side should have had
a penalty when Jamie Carragher looked to have handled.
A hugely entertaining Mersey battle hinged on two first
half incidents.
Hyypia looked to clip Tomasz Radzinski as the Canadian
raced away, and Carragher appeared to handle just before
an Alan Stubbs header was brilliantly saved by Jerzy
Dudek.
Moyes said: "I do not like seeing players sent off, but
certainly Hyypia should have got a red card. Radzinski
was through and Hyypia was the last man.
"It may have looked accidental to some, but I have seen
the replay and Hyypia definitely has a look at our
player before it happened.
"And as for the penalty, I have seen that too and it
looked like hands. If you are going to win at Anfield
you have to have the decisions going for you, and they
did not with those two incidents."
Gerard Houllier saw things differently. He said: "I do
not see either instances the way David did.
"It seems that whenever we play well someone comes up
with claims like this. We could have had a couple of
penalties too, and do you think Everton deserved to win?
"We had the better chances, certainly in the second
half, and had a couple kicked off the line.
"It was the best derby I have been involved with, we may
not have won the game but it was another excellent
performance from our side.
"Nigel Martyn was outstanding. It is something he always
seems to do to us at Anfield. I recall him having a
blinder for Leeds when he was with them."
Moyes also praised Martyn. He said: "His performance was
wonderful, he is certainly still good enough to play for
England.
"And Alan Stubbs was a colossus at the back. When you
are involved in games like this, you need people to
stand up and be counted, and he certainly did that."
JANUARY 31
Liverpool held in derby
BBC Sport Online
Liverpool and Everton played out a pulsating deadlock
at Anfield.
Everton's veteran goalkeeper Nigel Martyn was the hero
with a string of outstanding saves to earn a point.
He denied Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard twice,
tipping one drive on to a post, and also saving well
from Dietmar Hamann and Jamie Carragher.
Everton also had chances, with Duncan Ferguson heading
wide of an open goal and Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy
Dudek making two fine stops from Alan Stubbs.
Everton opted for an attacking formation, with Wayne
Rooney starting alongside Duncan Ferguson and Tomasz
Radzinski.
And the positive intent of both sides showed in a
sparking first 45 minutes highlighted by brilliant
displays from Martyn and Liverpool counterpart Jerzy
Dudek.
In the opening minutes Dudek dived bravely at Ferguson's
feet, then Martyn showed brilliant agility to turn
Hamann's drive over the top.
Gerrard was driving his side forward, and he was the
player who suffered most at the hands of the veteran
Martyn.
He raced on to Michael Owen's pass but was denied by a
fine Martyn save, and was cursing the 37-year-old again
eight minutes before the interval when he turned a shot
on to a post.
But Everton were more than matching Liverpool, and they
were furious when Sami Hyypia appeared to impede
Radzinski but referee Steve Bennett waved away their
appeals.
Then as half-time approached, Ferguson missed a simple
header from close range following Rooney's pinpoint
cross.
Dudek emulated the feats of Martyn with a stunning save
from Alan Stubbs' header as Everton pressed for the
opener.
Everton started the second half on the attack and Rooney
shot just over the bar after working his way past three
defenders.
But Gerrard was not to be overshadowed by his close
friend and England team-mate, and he was then narrowly
off target.
Liverpool's in-form midfield man Bruno Cheyrou, with
four goals in five games, was off target after 54
minutes when he flicked Anthony Le Tallec's cross wide.
Le Tallec then almost broke the deadlock, only to see
his effort scrambled off the line by Ferguson.
Dudek still had to turn aside Stubb's fiercely-struck
free-kick from 30 yards as Everton still posed a threat.
Everton were under the cosh, and as time ran out Moyes
replaced Rooney with the more defensive-minded Steve
Watson after bringing on Francis Jeffers for Tomasz
Radzinski.
Liverpool continued to press, but Everton were resolute
to the end and will be delighted with a point.
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