Taking Sides: Liverpool vs Everton

It hurts but not as much as two seasons ago (when a one-point advantage turned into a two-point deficit on Easter Saturday and we knew all was lost). I even exchanged texts with Jerry, instead of chucking myself under a 63 bus.

This might not really change things. The Olympiakos, Arsenal and Leverkusen victories didn't spark the classy surge Rednoses expected and I doubt this will (in fact, Bolton could take a point - or more - from Anfield in a fortnight) and I don't think Everton will simply dissolve into the pack either. I'm taking comfort from the memory of the 86-87 run-in when Liverpool 'had to win' the Anfield derby - they did but promptly lost at Coventry a week later, effectively ending their title challenge.

To play:
EFC (51pts, +3gd) - Palace, B'ham, Man U and Newcastle at home, West Brom, Arsenal, Fulham and Bolton away.
LFC (47pts, +12gd) - Bolton, Spurs, Boro and Villa at home, Palace, Man C, Portsmouth and Arsenal away.

Place your bets.

Probably Nunez's best game to date, thought Smicer was really awful and gave away the ball an awful lot, he's so weak! Thought Pellegrino was good today actually, which is unusual. Baros was great if he could just score. Very good match but god do we always make it hard for ourselves.

Everton 4/6
Liverpool 11/8
Bolton 7/1
Charlton 40/1
Middlesbrough 40/1
Newcastle United 50/1
Tottenham Hotspur 66/1

charlton fucked up in the most unbelievable fashion yesterday. they should look at themselves in the mirror. and say the word cunt.

Having hung round a couple of grubby online footy forums yesterday, trying to find a Blue-friendly London pub in which to watch the derby (something JtN seemed to find by accident), I treated myself to a skim through the whole four-year span of this thread late last night - it really cheered me up. Even 'crap bunglers that are ultra boring to watch' doesn't sting like it did.

We should be celebrating the fact that Everton and Bolton could qualify for the Champions League, not deriding it. Greece won Euro2004!

EFC now have 11 points from their last 11 games and still have to face The Arse, ManU and Newcastle... But Bolton are giving me the fear.

EFC now have 11 points from their last 11 games

True - post-Gravesen disintegration in full effect, as I predicted. But LFC took 7 from 7 prior to yesterday; I think we can take 12 from the last 8. If you lot take 16+, then fair enough (playing like yesterday, you will; displaying yr average 04-05 away form, you won't). Bolton taking 17 from 8 isn't that unlikely considering their run-in.

im glad they are out of it now

Before the Rooney sale that was the Everton situation too, of course (forcing Moyes to make careful, incremental, one-in-one-out improvements to the squad; alas, the first big money splash he was allowed in nearly three years has so far produced a couple of dodgy goals and a headbutt). The Liverpool coffers, on the other hand, seem to be bottomless.

Was it their mascot that got sent off the other day?

Chelsea: £218m
Man U: £139m
Arsenal: £73m
Everton: £28m
Liverpool: £75m
Bolton: £3m

So, hats off to Sam for making full use of Bosmans.

But Duncan Ferguson's been there much longer than Moyes?

Boro and Charlton to come (I really shouldn't be doing this...it's White Noise delivery day).

Markelby: ho ho.

White Noise looks very scary. I bet it is a voiceover nightmare. I am doing Jamaican patois.

Blimey! That surprises me, I must admit.

Charlton have 16 players in their squad who cost them something, but Boro only have five - all pricey sods, though. Ehiogu was £8m!

Inevitable post-Gravesen slump continues. Now starting to worry about Boro & Charlton. 8th seems likely. Liverpool hauling us in like in '64, '75, '78, '86, '03... Would quite like the Bianconeri to kick LFC to pieces on Tuesday.

Is anyone else planning on watching LFC v Juve in London Town on Tuesday evening?

Out of the local teams, I think I like Wycombe best. For no reason, obv.

I would have liked Palace to stay up, but I can't see it now. Blackburn are probably going to grind their way to safety with 0-0 draws till the end of the season. WBA are on a roll and might just make it, which probably means one of the Hampshire teams. Earlier in the season I would definitely have preferred Portsmouth, but post-Harry I don't really care if they go down.

palace
Portsmouth (becoming more and more of a delicious possibility)
Fulham

hmmm, hopefully two of those will happen, but Norwich have obviously scuppered me getting all three

can you narrow this down? i might pop along and schmooze.

But yes.