Stalemate: Phil Jagielka’s injury time stunner denies Liverpool

The Merseyside derby draw was lit up by two incredible goals.

LONDON:

Phil Jagielka’s stoppage-time thunderbolt of a half-volley earned Everton a 1-1 draw in the 223rd Merseyside derby on Saturday after captain Steven Gerrard appeared to have secured a welcome victory for his side with a curling free kick.

Searching for the equaliser, Everton made a desperate late assault on Liverpool’s goal and when Aiden McGeady’s cross was headed clear, the danger seemed to have passed; only for England defender Phil Jagielka to send a 30-metre volley screaming past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet into the top corner. The goal stunned Liverpool, and it was Everton fans who were celebrating at the end, even though their 15-year wait for a league win at Anfield continues.

The home side enjoyed the better chances and deservedly went ahead after 65 minutes when Gerrard’s free kick nestled in the top corner, despite Everton keeper Tim Howard getting a firm hand on it.

New signing Mario Balotelli should have made it 2-0 moments later but struck the crossbar from close range after superb work from Raheem Sterling down the left-hand side, and Everton punished the hosts’ lack of killer instinct to earn a draw that leaves both sides still languishing in mid-table.

Howard was the busier of the two keepers, making two good saves before the break, one from Balotelli’s deflected shot and the other to deny Adam Lallana a goal in his first Merseyside derby.

However, despite failing to win, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was happy with his side’s performance. “The players were brilliant today [Saturday] and we were clearly the dominant side,” he said.

“Sometimes you don’t get what you deserve in football and if ever there was a day that warranted that, it was today [Saturday].”

Both teams had decent penalty shouts as Everton’s Romelu Lukaku appeared to have been brought down by Alberto Moreno in the area, while at the other end Gareth Barry was perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty when he blocked Sterling’s goal-bound shot with his arm. Barry could even have been sent off, having been already booked for a foul on Balotelli, but referee Martin Atkinson gave the midfielder the benefit of the doubt.

Despite his stunner, Jagielka was already looking forward to their next away Merseyside derby. “Hopefully, next time we come to Anfield we can go one better but a point is not the end of the world,” he said. “It has been a frustrating season so far, to go 1-0 down and keep knocking at the door showed tremendous character. We need to keep showing character.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2014.

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