By Ellis Lander
This weekend saw Loris Karius once again involved in a moment to forget as he failed to keep out a Dimitri Payet free-kick that he seemed to have covered. It came just 7 days after the German spilled a tame Steve Cook effort that led to Bournemouth completing a miraculous comeback, condemning Liverpool to their first league defeat since August. So with two blunders in as many games, Karius has come under a lot of criticism from fans and pundits alike. It hasn’t been the most convincing start to the Liverpool career of the young keeper, who was signed off the back of a Bundesliga season that saw him high praise from experts of the German league. So why the sudden dip in form? I personally look the one man, John Achterberg. When the former Tranmere keeper became first team in 2011, he described it as a dream, but the reality for all Liverpool goalkeepers since that year has been nothing short of a nightmare. Let’s take a look at how the men between the sticks at Anfield have fared since Achterberg was brought.
Embed from Getty ImagesPepe Reina
Pepe Reina will go down as one of the best keepers in Liverpool history. The Spanish stopper was truly outstanding in a 5 year period that saw him win 3 golden gloves, a European Championship, a World Cup, and ultimately become a Liverpool legend. His success at Liverpool was partly down to his great relationship with his goalkeeper coach, fellow Spaniard Xavi Valero. When Valero left and was replaced with Achterberg, it was beginning of a major dip in form for Reina that eventually lead to his departure from Merseyside just 2 years later.
Embed from Getty ImagesSimon Mignolet
It was a convincing start to the career of Simon Mignolet, as he made a debut 90th minute penalty save which was followed by a string of clean sheets. But as time went on, questions started to be asked of the Belgian keeper as he gradually started making regular mistakes as Liverpool’s failed title bid was put down to their leaky defence. He lasted just two more years as first choice keeper at Anfield. In that time, he made a blunder in the League Cup final, was dropped temporarily for Brad Jones, and continued to look like a keeper lacking in confidence and ability. The biggest issue with Mignolet is that in his 3 years at Anfield, he has barely improved, gaining him the standard cliché title of ‘a good shot-stopper’. For a keeper to show little sign of improvement in 3 years, there has to be questions asked of the man who coaches him week in, week out.
Embed from Getty ImagesLoris Karius
After a highly successful spell at Mainz 05, Loris Karius was brought in with Jürgen Klopp believing he had found the long term solution to Liverpool’s keeper problem. Karius made a shaky start to his Anfield career, with a few unconvincing displays that had fans scratching their heads. But it wasn’t until the trip to Bournemouth that Karius made his first major mistake, which was then followed up with this weekend’s blunder that has seen the German come under scrutiny.
Embed from Getty ImagesIs this is all just a coincidence? I think not. Even Liverpool reserve goalkeepers have seen success since leaving Anfield. Brad Jones has just been awarded the Eredivisie Goalkeeper of the Year, whilst Péter Gulácsi is thriving in Bundesliga with RB Leipzig who are taking the league by storm. I get the opportunity to watch John Achterberg warm up the Liverpool keepers most weeks, and it is not an enjoyable experience. He struggles to kick accurately and he is not the most agile of men, which makes the pre match warm up look very awkward for Karius and Mignolet. With no European football to distract them, Liverpool have a genuine chance at their first league title since 1991. But with their keepers performing the way they are under the guidance of John Achterberg, they stand little chance. Surely it’s only a matter of time before Jürgen Klopp brings in a German goalkeeping coach he trusts to communicate with and guide Loris Karius to become the keeper he believe he can be.
Merseyside Derbies
Down the years, meetings between Liverpool and Everton have produced late drama, red cards and incredible goals. Despite the clash being dubbed ‘The Friendly Derby’, there is certainly no love lost between the two clubs, with the fight for bragging rights in the city a big factor when the teams meet.
Ahead of Monday night’s 227th Merseyside derby, I wanted to take a look at the top 5 greatest clashes between Merseyside’s two great clubs.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool 4-0 Everton – 28 January 2014
On a chilly night at Anfield, Liverpool ran out 4-0 winners to record their biggest win at home over their great rivals since 1972. It took 21 minutes for the reds to get off the mark as captain Steven Gerrard headed home from a Luis Suarez corner. This was then followed up with two fantastic Daniel Sturridge goals within three minutes of each other just after the half hour mark to send Liverpool into the break with a three goal lead. 5 minutes into the 2nd half, and the home side had a fourth thanks to a wonderful breakaway goal by Luis Suarez.
Embed from Getty ImagesEverton 3-0 Liverpool – 9 September 2006
On a disastrous evening for the reds, Everton recorded their biggest win over their rivals in 42 years. It was a day of defensive struggles for Liverpool as Tim Cahill took advantage of a struggling backline
to finish from close range just 12 minutes before Andy Johnson doubled Everton’s lead after a Jamie Carragher mistake. The away side’s misery was confirmed with just minutes to go as Pepe Reina fumbled a long range Lee Carsley effort to allow Andy Johnson to grab his second of the day.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool 2-1 Everton – 14 April 2012
On a sunny Saturday afternoon at Wembley, it was the Liverpool that emerged victorious as Merseyside’s two great clubs met for the first time since the stadium reopened. It wasn’t always looking that way though, as Everton took an early through Nikica Jelavić who slid a tidy finish past Liverpool third choice keeper Brad Jones. It took Liverpool until the hour to get the equaliser, which came courtesy of Sylvain Distin’s weak backpass that saw Luis Suarez run through on goal and beat Tim Howard. The winner came with three minutes to go as Andy Carroll glanced home Craig Bellamy’s inswinging free-kick to send the red half of the stadium into delirium.
Embed from Getty ImagesEverton 4-4 Liverpool – 20 February 1991
In complete contrast to the 0-0 the two sides endured just 3 days earlier, this FA Cup fifth round replay saw fans enjoy an absolute goal fest. A last minute equaliser from substitute Tony Cottee took the game into extra-time before John Barnes curled in a screamer from 30-yards. With only five minutes remaining in added time, it was Cottee who beat Bruce Grobbelaar for the second time to force another replay and ultimately end Kenny Dalglish’s first reign at Anfield.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool 3-2 Everton – 20 May 1989
It was an emotional time for Merseyside as almost the whole city descended on London just five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster. After much debate about whether the match would even go ahead, it was decided the fixture would enable a unique opportunity for the healing process of the great footballing city. It took just four minutes for Liverpool to take the lead through John Aldridge but it wouldn’t be until stoppage time that Stuart McCall would pop up to send the final into extra time. Ian Rush came off the bench to score two goals either side of a McCall screamer to send the cup to Anfield.
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