Clinical Lukaku matches SAS to share the spoils in match of the season contender Merseyside Derby

History tells us that the Merseyside derby is no ordinary fixture, red cards, goals and controversy aplenty are always on offer when Anfield or Goodison hosts both sides of Liverpool, blue and red. The 212^th Merseyside derby certainly did not disappoint, with Everton’s Goodison Park hosting a match which had it all, a match which caught the eye of both invested supporters and neutral lovers of the world game and had one and all wishing that the encounter would simply continue on and on. It didn’t take long for the match to come to life as a 5^th minute Liverpool corner was flicked on by Suarez to find Coutinho at the back post, who made no mistake in slotting past Tim Howard. The opening stages were lively as both sides created numerous opportunities, Liverpool’s lead was short lived as just three minutes later Kevin Mirallas found the net from close range and we were back on level pegging.

The goalscoring chances continued to flow for both sides, with Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho as well as Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku, looking lively for Liverpool and Everton respectively. It was a stunning Luis Suarez freekick from well outside the box which found a small gap in the wall and expertly into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The visitors led 2-1 on 17 minutes thanks to the Uruguayan, a lead they maintained until the whistle of Phil Dowd blew for half time. The first half saw two cautions for Evertonian players as Ross Barkley and Mirallas saw yellow, the former for a deliberate dive, and the latter for a shocking challenge on Suarez which could have been worthy of a red card, depending on which teams colours you are wearing.

Mirallas' contentious challenge on Suarez

The second half yielded more of the same, dominant periods for each side as the wrestle for dominance continued. It looked as though Liverpool were to seal a famous victory as the ball fell kindly for Joe Allen deep in the Everton box. With Luis Suarez in support and only Tim Howard to beat, it looked certain that the Welshman would either score or assist, leaving Liverpool what felt at the time an unassailable lead. It wasn’t to be, as the ex-Swansea man missed an absolute sitter, incurring legions of anger from Suarez, who had helped to manufacture the chance, and eventually costing Liverpool what would have been a valuable victory. However, it wasn’t to be, as on loan Chelsea striker Lukaku found the equalizer from close range after scrappy defending from Liverpool.

With a fluctuating score line, changes were made by both managers. Allen’s miss was not forgotten by Brendan Rodgers, and he and Lucas Leiva were soon replaced by in-form striker Daniel Sturridge who had started on the bench thanks to a dead leg suffered on England duty in midweek and Nigerian Victor Moses. With the SAS united it seemed as though Liverpool could snatch a winner, but the action was down the other end as Glen Johnson failed to track the flying Belgian Lukaku whose header from an 82^nd minute Mirallas corner found the top left corner as Goodison erupted. The Toffees had grabbed the lead for the first time in the match having come from behind twice, but in true Merseyside derby form, the game had a few more punches to throw.

Liverpool worked hard in an attempt for an equaliser until Victor Moses earned a freekick on the right wing which was quickly taken by Steven Gerrard whose gem of a ball found the head of Sturridge who nodded it home at the back post. Sturridge’s net-bulger saw the game once again equalized, this time at 3-3. It was not over yet, with Liverpool’s Suarez and Moses both spurning chances to grab the three points, whilst Everton’s Lukaku and Deulofeu did the same up the other end. The final score 3-3 as a famous fixture saw a brilliantly entertaining encounter which will go down as a match of the season contender. Both sides will be content with a draw as they continue to endeavor to maintain their positions at the summit of the table and look to secure European football for next season.

Man of the Match: Simon Mignolet

Liverpool’s Belgian shot stopper made a string of unbelievable saves to deny Barkley, Lukaku, Mirallas and Deulofeu at various points in the match, if it weren’t for him, Liverpool would not have taken a single point from this fixture.

That’s the Rosey Wrap on the 212^th Merseyside Derby,

Thanks for reading!

By Jake Rosengarten

It’s time to put away FIFA 13; the real deal returns: 5 Predictions for the Upcoming Premier League Season

1. Chelsea to lead after 6 rounds
   
   
   As the self-proclaimed ‘special one’ returns to the helm at the Blues after a 6 year hiatus he will be eager to send the message forth throughout the league… “I’m back.” José Mourinho never was one for modesty, and I believe that his star studded Chelsea side will ultimately be very hard to stop. They begin the season with matches against Hull City, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Everton, Fulham and Tottenham. This is no easy draw, facing three of last season’s top six within the opening six rounds. However, a side which possesses the likes of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard, both members of last year’s PFA team of the season, alongside new signing Andre Schurrle and the always dangerous Romelu Lukaku, can never be underestimated.
   
   

   I predict that Chelsea will burst out of the blocks, in a Usain Bolt-esque metaphorical first 100m of the Premier League season, despite these tough matches and sit atop the ladder after the first 6 rounds. Albeit, I do believe that Chelsea will, as per usual, run out of steam, and find themselves in their usual scrap for third or fourth by next April/May. If Mourinho is to scale the heights as Chelsea and work his magic once more he must keep hold of Barcelona target David Luiz and find a way to effectively rotate his strike force, which includes former football joke of the year Fernando Torres and the injury plagued Demba Ba. Roman Abramovich is not one to play the waiting game, trophies or its back to Spain with you José.
   
2. No Luck for Promotees
   
   
   The lucky Championship sides who earned themselves a berth in the premier league for this season are Cardiff, Hull City and Crystal Palace, whether they will consider themselves lucky when they are sitting on a lowly sub-35 point score come the end of next season is a different story. This is more directed at the quite under strength squads possessed by Hull and Palace  rather than a Cardiff side which boasts former Liverpool and Manchester City player Craig Bellamy and impressive new Chilean signing Gary Medel. I believe that Cardiff will hold their own and avoid relegation this season, whilst the other two promotees will not be quite as lucky. Put simply, I am rather skeptical of whether either of these two sides possesses the raw talent to win more than the odd game in a very competitive premier league competition.
   
   
   Thinking back to the struggles of Aston Villa last season, as well as the relegation of Community Shield 2013/14 participants Wigan Athletic, I can confidently say that the promotees will struggle as their sides are simply not up to the standards of even these struggling sides of yesteryear. Put simply, their managers must beef up their squads with some premier league quality additions or they will be back in the Championship quicker than ex-Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha signed his Manchester United contract.
   
   
3. Swansea to Challenge the Top 7
   
   
   A bold prediction I know, but I believe that Swansea really do have the squad that it takes to challenge the previously relatively stable top 7 sides of the competition. Led by Michael Laudrup, the Swans, who feature the talents of Spanish bargain Michu and new boy former Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony, will be a tough proposition for any team who come up against them. Liberty Stadium saw a trophy last year and will see European football this season, and there is absolutely no reason why they can’t secure it again for next season perhaps even through qualification from league places.
   
   
   

   If last season is anything to go by, the swans will be a force to reckon with, and no one will fancy a trip to their backyard, not even their opening round opponents and last year’s champions Sir Alex Ferguson-less Manchester United. Mark my words; do not underestimate Swansea this season.
   
   
   
   
4. Controversies Aplenty
   
   
   What is a premier league season without controversy? That’s like Theo Walcott without pace, Raheem Sterling without a stupid haircut, and well… Luis Suarez without controversy… it just doesn’t make sense! So I’m here to tell you don’t take your eyes off that screen because there will be controversies whether anyone likes it or not. In the past few seasons we have been privileged to some awful yet entertaining instances such as the Suarez-Evra racial row, the Suarez-Ivanovic biting incident and others that, I can’t believe it either, didn’t involve Luis Suarez!
   
   
   The controversies will be back in 2013/14, along with Suarez (in round 5), so don’t miss a minute of England’s premier footballing competition! I promise it will be more entertaining than anything non-football related you could possibly be watching, which might consist of, god forbid, something non-sport related whatsoever.
   
   
5. City to win the League
   
   
   I am making the call right now. Manchester City will bring the premier league trophy back to the Etihad Stadium at the end of season 2013/14, but it will by no means be pretty. Having brought in new manager Manuel Pellegrini and made more big money signings including Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetić and Alvaro Negredo, the citizens will have a squad unrivalled in depth and talent. Their only problem may well be keeping all the stars happy due to the fact that there simply isn’t enough places in the first team to fit them all in. Just simply looking at their strikers, along with new boys Jovetić and Negredo, they already have Sergio Agüero and last season’s top scorer Bosnian Edin Džeko on their books.
   
   
   With a squad like this, I just don’t see them being beaten, the league is theirs to lose as far as I’m concerned. In my eyes, their main challengers will be Chelsea and perhaps Manchester United if David Moyes can get his act together in time. Manchester City to be champions of 2013/14.
   
   

   

   
   
   
   
   That concludes Rosey’s predictions for the 2013/14 Premier League season,
   
   
   Thanks for reading,
   
   
   Jake Rosengarten

5 Players under 23 who would improve every premier league club

The Rosey Wrap examines some of the brightest young talent available...

1. David Alaba (Age 20)
   
   A 20 year old with a champions league winners medal around his neck is more wanted in world football than a Scottish to English translator is on the ESPN football coverage.  Bayern’s Austrian Left back David Alaba boasts just that. At 20 years old, he has already cemented himself as Bayern’s starting left back, won 2 bundesliga titles, a DFB Pokal title and secured 24 national team caps, after becoming Austria’s youngest ever debutant at 17 years old.  TransferMarkt.co.uk estimates his transfer value at roughly €22 million, reflecting just how valuable he has become, considering his age and experience on the biggest of all stages.
   
   
   The Premier league’s big spenders will surely have their eyes on Alaba with very few world class left backs plying their trade in England. This could well be a chance for clubs in the mould of Manchester City, Chelsea or Manchester United to sign a player they will expect to occupy a spot in their starting 11 for a solid decade. Do not be surprised if Alaba is linked to Manchester City and/or Chelsea for a ludicrous sum this window, however I would be surprised if he makes the switch.
   
   
2. Christian Eriksen (Age 21)
   
   Ajax midfield maestro Christian Eriksen has been linked with big money moves to Liverpool and Manchester United almost every transfer window in recent memory. The Dane is widely expected to leave the Eredivise this window as some of Europe’s biggest clubs lurk in the wings. At 21 years of age, he has already played over 100 games for Ajax as well as featuring 27 times for his country, winning a number of awards on the way, including 3 consecutive Eredivise titles, Danish talent of the year 2010 and Danish Football Player of the Year in 2011. Having seemingly achieved all he can for Ajax many tip that this will be the year which he moves to England, and with Liverpool’s interest already confirmed, they could well be his destination.
   
   
   Eriksen would represent a coup for whoever signed him, as is the case with most players on this list, he already boasts a large amount of top flight experience at a very young age, and this is what will ensure that clubs will be willing to offset a large amount of funds for his signature. 
   
   
3. Romelu Lukaku (Age 20)
   
   Massive Belgian Lukaku looks more like a wrestler than a footballer, his strength and eye for goal are his main assets as he showed in his loan spell with West Bromwich Albion this season. Scoring 17 goals in 35 appearances, Lukaku showed exactly what a force he can be and is widely tipped to secure a position in Chelsea’s first team squad on his return next season. Dubbed ‘the next Drogba’ he already has 19 national team caps under his belt and would command a transfer fee close to €20 million. He proved this season what a force he is, and would almost certainly be snapped up by one of Chelsea’s competitors should the opportunity arise. He would improve the final third capabilities of any and every premier league side as he possesses the attributes of a smaller player in a 1.9m tall frame. 
   
   
4. Mario Gotze (Age 20)
   
   New Bayern signing Mario Gotze is considered by some as the hottest youngster in world football. Commanding a transfer fee of over €30 million in his move from Borussia Dortmund to rivals Munich, Gotze managed 10 goals and 13 assists from 28 matches in this year’s bundesliga, stats which reflect just how good he is. A goal scoring midfielder is something needed by every club and there simply aren’t all that many at work in the premier league right now. At 20 years of age, he has already featured over 20 times for the German national team and is valued highly by Joachim Löw’s side.
   
   
   Considering his signing of a contract at Bayern for next season, he will not be moving to the premier league, he has been included on this list as he is quite simply a player who possesses all of the qualities needed to succeed in England and is a player who every premier league manager would jump at having in their side.
   
   
5. Mario Balotelli (Age 22 )
   
   The man who every Premier league fan misses, more controversial than drugs in sport, a worse haircut than Mister T and a rap sheet longer than O.J Simpson, it’s the Italian menace Mario Balotelli! The now 22 year old, collects the title of the most arrogant man in football and yet he is someone who you just cannot take your eyes off. Simply magnificent on the ball, the ex-Manchester city striker now with A.C Milan had a stellar start to his second stint in Italy, scoring 24 goals in 26 matches and proving himself unbelievably important for Milan.
   
   Despite his past controversies, including throwing darts at youth team players and almost burning down his house celebrating a victory before it happened with fireworks, he is still a player who would be well wanted at some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Scoring for fun in the serie A, City could well be kicking themselves for letting him go, and without a doubt he could add something to the forward line of every premier league club.