Liverpool vs Everton - Tactical Analysis

Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring with a free kick

It’s rare that a big game promises so much and actually delivers it, but Saturday’s pulsating 3-3 draw between Everton and Liverpool had almost everything. A Merseyside derby that both sides will feel that they could have won, a second half double from Romelu Lukaku turned the game on its head to put Everton 3-2 up after being 2-1 down before Daniel Sturridge levelled for Liverpool late on. Here’s the statistical story.

Key Stats

Liverpool were indebted to Simon Mignolet a number of times as Everton tested the Belgian keeper with 12 shots on target. Making notable one-on-one saves fromGerard Deulofeu and twice from Lukaku, Mignolet was far busier than his bearded counterpart Tim Howard. Liverpool proved to be clinical in front of goal, scoring their three goals from only five shots on target.

Simon Mignolett Saves vs Everton

Performance Score

Given the topsy-turvey nature of the scoring, it should come as no surprise that the performance score lead also changed hands several times over the course of the game. Liverpool’s early goal edged them ahead of Everton, before a tighter period until the 20th minute. Liverpool’s performance score gradually pulled ahead as the first half progressed, but was pegged back as Everton turned the game around.

Man of the Match: Kevin Mirallas

Perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch after a kung-fu lunge on Luis Suarez, Mirallas opened the scoring for Everton and also contributed the assist for Lukaku to score Everton’s third goal. The Belgian offered attacking threat throughout, providing four crosses and as many key passes as Liverpool managed throughout (three.)

Kevin Mirallas Key Passes vs Liverpool

Key Observations:

Everton peppered the Liverpool goal, both from range and within the box. They took four times as many shots from outside the area as Liverpool did, with four of them testing Mignolet. Another noteworthy observation is the number of blocks both sides made, which reflects the two sides contrasting styles. Everton made three blocks to Liverpool’s one, due to a combination of the defensive work of Gareth Barry and James McCarthy, and the away side’s slow build up play. Liverpool attempted to keep the ball when going forward, which when combined with the disciplined roles of Barry and McCarthy,  allowed Everton’s defence to sit deep, explaining the number of blocks made.

Everton, on the other hand, attacked directly and at pace. In Ross Barkley and Mirallas Everton possess two players who are always eager to run at the opposition, and they completed almost 55% more take-ons than Liverpool with 17 compared to 11.

Everton’s explosive speed of attack can be shown further by their key pass map. Many of their 12 key passes shown below are from deep areas, with seven from areas that are comfortably closer to the halfway line than penalty area.

Everton Key Passes

Everton may have scored three, but could have had even more but for Mignolet. They sprung the Liverpool defence multiple times, setting up three one-on-ones and several more positions in which they overloaded the away defence with a numerical advantage.

Liverpool’s central midfield often lacked the mobility to deal with this threat from Everton, and will be grateful for the clinical finishing of their three most attacking players to bail them out. Joe Allen won 100% of his tackles, but this still only amounted to two. Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva each completed one tackle from three attempts, as Everton’s attacking players consistently breezed past them as they broke at pace.