From
the 1984 league cup final where both the sides’ fans were singing "Merseyside, Merseyside", to the Heysel disaster, after which Liverpool fans were taunted
by the Blues, the Liverpool city has witnessed one of the greatest yet
friendliest derbies of all times.
Merseyside
was a constant place for domestic trophies in the 20th century.
1960’s was the most famous time when Liverpool and Everton went neck to neck to
claim what then was termed to be as the football league. However after this
lone period, it was Liverpool who than claimed every trophy that is possible in
the club football.
Everton
lost its galore and charisma at the same time when the KOP was blessed with the
arrival of Shankly era, with Shankly handling the Merseyside derby as a
connoisseur of wins for Liverpool and serve as a contrarious man for the
Evertonians in the rather one sided derbies during his famous spell.
So looking at the prospect of what has been
achieved in this rivalry of once top contenders for the title in the Premiership, history is maybe repeating itself as both Everton and Liverpool
are fighting for the Champions league spot.
At
start of this season, every bet was on Chelsea and City with Arsenal’s chances
bolstered with the arrival of Ozil, so both Everton and Liverpool were out of
the verdicts as the nemesis’ showdown in the transfer window let them down on
paper.
But
with the start of the new season and more than half of the season upon us, it
would not be exaggeration if we say that both LFC and Everton have exceeded the
expectations of the pundits and even their own fans in this roller coaster
season of the Premier League. So has the time come when Scousers once again can
claim their share hold of the Barclays Premier League?
Question
arises what had made this possible, maybe Suarez and Lukaku but most important
part played here is by the managers of the respective teams. Both managers have
come from lowly teams and each got his point to prove when it comes to face the
big boys in the premiership.
Roberto
Martinez hasn’t got a bright resume to be in the top four now, but his team’s
display has silenced the critics among the fans if there were any for
appointing a relegated club’s manager in charge at the Everton. Looking at the
resources available to him, it would not be fair not to applause a manager
whose team has conceded lowest number of goals this season without investing a
penny of money in defense.
Brendan
Rodgers has got his own style of being in the limelight and a more glittery one
as compared to his neighbor, Liverpool have scored 2nd most goals
this season a stat which is only bettered by City, and with the amount of money
invested in attack at Manchester City, it would be unfair not to applaud the
Northern Irishman.
They
say football is a game of two halves and with one half of the season behind us,
it would be interesting to see how the two teams fare in the next half of the
season and with players coming back from injuries in the world cup year, it
would be possible if the London sides have to face a two face arrow come end of
May.
Amir Bashir follow him on Twitter.
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