Liverpool held to draw by small club

Not a game for the purists. Everton will feel that they won the match 0-0 on Sat morning. There was lots of passion but little quality on show. Everton showed no ambition to win the game and were happy to have 10 men behind the ball in their own half. They had no interest or ability to hold onto the ball and gave up possession like it was going out of fashion. But I have to say fair play to them as they put the challenge up to us to break them down. We weren't on our best form and weren't able to pick the lock of their packed defence. A good few of our players like Riise and the normally dependable Alonso weren't at their best. We didn't vary our play enough and our lack or top quality defenders cost us. Pennant was ok and got by Lescott a few times but didn't cross to any great effect. Yobo and Stubbs did well for them in the centre. Everton will be happy that they took 4 points from us this season. Congrats to them. But unlike them we are a big team and 38 games matter to us rather than just the 2 derbies.

It's a trip to the Toon for us next Sat. They have added Gooch Onyewu from Liege during the transfer window. I think that he's a decent young defender and was once of the few American players who did well during the world cup. Newcastle were beaten by Fulham at the weekend which is good news for us. I hope that we can make up for the frustration of the derby. Xabi is suspended for this match so it's fingers crossed that Javier Mascherano's been given permission to play by then. Looking forward to seeing him turn out in the red. The premier league seem to be dragging their heels on it so I wouldn't be surprised if we see Momo or Zenden back in the midfield.

In later transfer news we found out that Ronald Huth was signed before the window closed. He's a 17 year-old defender and comes Paraguay but has an Italian passport.

On the takeover front the DIC deal has collapsed and it looks like a deal with Tom Hicks and George Gillett is nearing completion. Initially I was very annoyed that the DIC move fell through. But when I heard that Gillett said that he wasn't in favour of a groundshare, my fears were eased over Gillett. Chris Bascombe wrote a great article on it in the Liverpool Echo last week. Like Rafa I hope that there is a quick conclusion to it so that work on the new stadium begins next month.