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29 March 2024

Moyes' Arsenal: How Man Utd turned Everton into new Liverpool

Marouane Fellaini of Everton holds off a challenge from Craig Gardner of Sunderland during the FA Cup sixth round match at Goodison Park in this March 17, 2012 file photo. (GETTY)

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By Staff

Liverpool remain a club that draws more headlines than most in the English Premier League.

This is as much for the fact that a club with as much silverware and heritage as this Merseyside outfit exists not in the top four, as it languishes towards the bottom half of the table.

Not having Liverpool at the top seems odd. Brendan Rodgers must know that only a top four finish will satiate the Kop hunger.

However, for neutrals on Merseyside another Liverpool club is taking its seat at the top table.

After threatening to for years, Everton finally seems ready to take on the Liverpool mantle.

The club has defied its own slow-start logic, surprised experts by staying true to form and unveiling a clutch of world-class talents in the squad that seem honed and ready for the big shift.

David Moyes is suddenly the new Arsene Wenger – buying smart, discovering talent and ready to win big.

What, or who, turned Everton into the new Liverpool.

Looking for single game seismic shifts is always tricky – but, consider the last two games Everton played against Manchester United.

In the 2011-2012 season Everton denied United the Premier League title, handing it to City. A seminal game if ever there was one.

The script reads United threw away a 4-2 lead.

Truth is, Everton staged a remarkable fightback.

The first trademark of a top four team – you never know when you’re beaten, so you never are.

Marouane Fellaini gave the world his first signal of things to come.

He first scored a fine volley, which looked to be a consolation.

On 83 minutes, the presence of Fellaini caused havoc in the United box and the ball bounced to the unmarked Jelavic, who swept the ball home from adjacent to the penalty spot.

Still Everton were not finished, and on 85 minutes they were level when United found themselves cut open once again. Neville played the ball into Fellaini and the big Belgian spun in the box before playing a beautiful square pass for Pienaar, who slotted the ball to the side of De Gea to make it 4-4.

Then came the opener of this season.

Robin van Persie started life at Manchester United with a defeat as Everton rocked at Goodison Park. And in a good way.

Everton's winning goal came from Marouane Fellaini, who tormented Manchester United.

The second sign of a top four team.

A great defence.

Jagielka and Sylvain Distin were magnificent, while United were hit by injuries and their makeshift defence looked broken.

If Everton are the Merseyside club to take their top four place, United gave them the mental strength to believe they can.

It’s the Blue era for Merseyside, then.