Everton 0 Liverpool 2: Andy Carroll Silences Critics at Merseyside Derby
by Neil JohnstonFiled under: Everton, Liverpool, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Andy Carroll went some way towards silencing his critics as the £35 million striker's first league goal of the season helped earn Liverpool victory in a controversial and incident-packed Merseyside derby.
Tim Howard looked like being Everton's hero after denying Dirk Kuyt from the penalty spot at the end of the first half.
David Moyes's side were forced to play with 10 men for more than an hour after midfielder Jack Rodwell was harshly sent off midway through the first half for what appeared at worst a yellow card challenge on Luis Suarez.
But Carroll's first goal in 10 league appearances in the 71st minute put Liverpool in control before Suarez made the game safe nine minutes from the end following poor defending by Everton.
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THE GOALS
71mins: That's a quality finish from a player who has found himself under pressure for his lack of goals. Jose Enrique's pull-back from the left is hammered home from 12-yards by Carroll after Kuyt cleverly ducks to get out of the way. (0-1)
82mins: Leighton Baines and Sylvain Distin get themselves in a tangle trying to clear the ball - allowing Suarez to pounce from close range. (0-2)
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
9mins: Suarez is presented with a golden opportunity to net his fourth league goal of the campaign but somehow heads straight at Howard following Kuyt's cross.
10mins: Everton respond immediately through Merseyside derby veteran Tim Cahill, but the Australian's header from Seamus Coleman's pin-point centre is tipped over the bar by Pepe Reina.
11mins: Great foot-work by Distin opens up the Liverpool defence, but the defender's powerful effort flies narrowly over the bar.
22mins: That's embarrassing. Referee Martin Atkinson shows Rodwell a straight red after the young midfielder wins the ball before catching Suarez. A booking, maybe. Not, repeat, not, a red.
43mins: More controversy as the referee points to the penalty spot after Phil Jagielka's challenge on Suarez. This time Everton can have few complaints, but Kuyt's spot-kick is brilliantly kept out by Howard at full-stretch.
45mins: Deep into stoppage time, Charlie Adam's powerful 20-yard effort crashes against the Everton bar.
52mins: Louis Saha comes to Everton's rescue as he clears Carroll's goal-bound header following Adam's corner.
REACTION:
Everton manager Moyes failed to mask his anger when asked about the decision to send Rodwell off:
"I'd have been disappointed if it had even been a free-kick. And if he had been shown a yellow card, I would have asked 'what has he given that for?' I don't know if you can (appeal a red card). I don't really know what the situation is. Jack's a young man making his way in the game. It's a big day for him. Maybe some people thought it could have been a free-kick, but it certainly wasn't any more than that. But we have to move on from it."
On his team's performance:
"At the end of the day it wasn't the referee that lost us the game. It was ourselves because we made a couple of defensive lapses. It was hard enough playing Liverpool 11 against 11. It was a really tough game for us and in the end it became tougher.
"But I thought the players kept at it. We made a couple of defensive lapses which cost us. We were beignning to grow into the game. At 11 versus 11 it wasn't a bad game, and we were doing quite well."
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish refused to get drawn into the debate about Rodwell's sending-off:
"I've not seen the incident and I don't know whether he deserved red or not. After they went down to 10, we were very professional, composed and thorough in what we were trying to do. Sometimes it's difficult to play against 10. You know what you're going to get from Everton. They put in a great of effort to try and keep it at 0-0, and they even tried and win it for themselves.
On the prospect of Steven Gerrard, yet to make a start after injury, being called up by England for the Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro:
"It's another step forward for Steven - coming on in the derby and getting a few more minutes under his belt. I think Steven put forward his views yesterday (about England) and I don't think there's anything I need to add."
On Carroll's goal and Kuyt's penalty miss:
"What was pleasing was the reaction of Dirk Kuyt after missing the penalty. It didn't seem to affect him which is the sign of a strong character. I think Andy was very unlucky before his goal.
"We said when we signed them (Suarez and Carroll) that is was a great bit of busines for the club and there's no reason for us to change that opinion. We're delighted with them, the big one has worked really hard in training and he's getting his reward on the pitch."
WHAT IT MEANS
Liverpool head into the international break with 13 points from their opening seven games after a fourth win in six league games. Carroll's goal could be the kick-start he so desperately needs, particularly after coming in such an important fixture for Liverpool. Everton have now lost back-to-back league games for the first time in almost two years. They have every right to feel upset about Rodwell's dismissal. But it was not only the referee who was guilty of making a mistake as Everton's defensive failings contributed towards their downfall.
EVERTON 0 LIVERPOOL 2 (Carroll 71, Suarez 82)
PLAYER MARKING:
Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard 7; Hibbert 6 (Vellios 78, 5), Jagielka 6, Distin 6, Baines 6; Coleman 6 (Drenthe 59, 6), Fellaini 6, Rodwell 6, Osman 6 (Neville 69, 5); Cahill 6; Saha 6.
Subs (not used): Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Stracqualursi, Barkley.
Liverpool (4-4-2): Reina 7; Kelly 7, Carragher 7, Skrtel 7, Enrique 7; Kuyt 8, Lucas 7 (Henderson 88), Adam 7 (Gerrard 67, 6), Downing 7 (Bellamy 67, 7); Suarez 7, Carroll 7.
Subs (not used): Doni, Coates, Spearing, Flanagan.
REFEREE: Martin Atkinson
ATTENDANCE: 39,510
NEXT UP:
- Everton v Chelsea (away), Premier League, 15/10, 1730 BST
- Liverpool v Manchester United (home), Premier League, 15/10, 1245 BST
Premier League Text Commentary: Everton v Liverpool As It Happened
by Howard SwainsFiled under: Everton, Liverpool, Premier League, Football, Min-By-Min Reports
Minute-by-minute commentary from Goodison Park.
Live Premier League Text Commentary: Everton v Liverpool
by Howard SwainsFiled under: Everton, Liverpool, Premier League, Football, Min-By-Min Reports
Minute-by-minute commentary from Goodison Park.
Everton v Liverpool Preview: Kenny Dalglish Plays Down Goodison Return
by Neil JohnstonFiled under: Everton, Liverpool, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: GOODISON PARK, SATURDAY OCTOBER 1, 2011: KICK-OFF: 1245 BST
The last time Kenny Dalglish stood in the Goodison Park dugout as Liverpool manager, he watched his side throw away the lead four times in an epic FA Cup tie.
Two days later an exhausted and emotional Dalgish confirmed he was stepping down as manager in an announcement which sent shockwaves around the footballing world.
Fast forward 20 years and a rejuvenated and refreshed Dalglish returns to the home of Liverpool's neighbours relishing the opportunity of adding another Merseyside derby success to the many he enjoyed as both player and manager.
Dalglish was reluctant to discuss the extraordinary events of 1991 ahead of this game, the Anfield icon insisting that enough had been said in the past.
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The Liverpool manager is clearly keen to look to the future, not dwell on the past.
His side start three points ahead of Everton, who have played a game less, but Liverpool have lost their last two away games - Tottenham and Stoke - without finding the net.
Everton scored four past Pepe Reina last season as David Moyes's side took four points off Liverpool, who have not defeated the Toffees since Emiliano Insua and David Ngog were in the side in February 2010.
But two of their scorers - Mikel Arteta and Jermaine Beckford - have moved on, and Moyes will be hoping he possesses the ammunition to enable Everton to retain local bragging rights.
Key Match-up: Tim Cahill v Pepe Reina: Everton's Cahill is winning his fitness battle as the Australian looks to feature in his 14th Merseyside derby. The Australian has yet to score in a Toffees shirt this season but has proved a real nuisance to Liverpool's defence over the last seven years after scoring five times against Everton's neighbours. Liverpool keeper Reina goes into the game seeking a first clean sheet in five league games.
Form Guide: With Chelsea next after the international break, Everton need to return to winning ways after last week's 2-0 defeat at Manchester City. Liverpool entertain Manchester United after this game. Yet they make the jounrey across Stanley Park looking to avoid a third defeat in four league games.
Odds: Everton 21/10, Liverpool 7/5, Draw 11/5
EVERTON:
Cahill is relishing the opportunity of adding to his impressive goal tally against Liverpool - if he recovers from a shin injury in time.
The long-serving Cahill has scored five times in 13 Merseyside derbies since joining from Millwall seven years ago.
"I think it is one of the biggest (matches) other than playing for your country in a World Cup," said Cahill.
"The derby is magical.
"It is not only the day of the game, it is after, it is before, it is the grudges, the banter. For those 90 minutes the whole of Liverpool stops and you have countries around the world watching.
"Going into the game, whether you are injured or you have little problems whatever, it is forgotten.
"Everything is left on the pitch and for me, coming from Australia, I feel the same sort of attitude.
"I found it hard to get here, I have this opportunity so I just don't want to miss a second on the pitch - I want to try to affect it, hence why I've had so much joy in the derbies.
"For the fans and for me it means everything because it is part of my life now."
Cahill has been receiving treatment for a bruised shin he suffered during Everton's 2-0 defeat at Manchester City last week.
But he remains confident of being available for the derby.
Strategy: Past derbies have been decided by the team which dictates the tempo and controls the midfield. This will be no different. Leon Osman and Phil Neville will be key to a home success as Moyes is again likely to opt for one up front, with Marouane Fellaini playing just behind Cahill.
Injury Update: Providing Cahill is passed fit, Moyes has a near full-strength squad to select from with Victor Anichebe (groin) the only likely absentee.
LIVERPOOL:
Dalglish will not rush influential captain Steven Gerrard back into Merseyside derby action.
Gerrard is desperate to lead out Liverpool at Goodison Park for one of his side's biggest games of the season.
But manager Dalglish has hinted that his captain, who has not started a game since March 6, might have to be patient.
England international Gerrard has made two brief substitute appearances since recovering from a groin problem.
"The game's not the important thing. Steven Gerrard's more important and as I have said before, we'll manage Steven as well as we possibly can," said Dalglish, who has praised the work opposite number Moyes has done at Everton.
"Moyesy's done a fantastic job," added Dalglish. "We have a great deal of respect for him and also for Everton. He's a good lad and we know him well.
"But come Saturday the two of us will be rivals and that's the way it should be. Afterwards we'll have a drink and move on.
"We know Everton are going to stand up and be competitive. We've got to match them."
Strategy: Does Dalglish stick with the side which overcame Wolves last week or does he bring Dirk Kuyt and Gerrard back into the starting line-up? Gerrard's influence cannot be under-estimated in this fixture while Kuyt's work rate is exceptional. Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll all started against Wolves, but none have appeared in a Merseyside derby before.
Manchester City 2 Everton 0: Mario Balotelli Ends City’s Everton Blues
by Graham ChaseFiled under: Everton, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Mario Balotelli came off the bench to score the goal that ended Manchester City's miserable run against Everton and maintain the pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table.
Everton, who had beaten City in seven of their last eight matches, looked set to frustrate Roberto Mancini's side and take a point until Balotelli came on to score his first Premier League goal of the season before James Milner added a second late on.
THE GOAL
67 mins: Sergio Aguero drifts in-field and pulls back for Balotelli, who finds the bottom corner from 20 yards.
88 mins: David Silva slips a pass through for Milner to double the advantage.
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
4 mins: Jack Rodwell tries his luck from 20 yards as Everton dominate the early possession.
10 mins: Samir Nasri drills wide with a cross-shot from the edge of the box.
18 mins: Aguero clips a shot just past the top corner after being picked out by Yaya Toure's pass.
33 mins: Edin Dzeko clips a shot high and wide from a Micah Richards cross.
37 mins: Dzeko drives wide shortly after Gareth Barry has a shot saved.
49 mins: Leon Osman has a shot saved in a rare Everton attack.
54 mins: Tim Cahill glances a header wide from Seamus Coleman's cross.
69 mins: Silva hits the post after Balotelli's cross picks out the Spaniard.
REACTION:
Mancini was pleased with his team's patience:
"We played a fantastic game against a strong team, I'm really happy.
"It's better but it was difficult because we played very well and Everton defended all the game behind the ball, it wasn't easy for us to find a solution, this game was really difficult but over 90 minutes, in the end we deserved to win and I'm very pleased with my players."
On Balotelli:
"Mario didn't play for three or four games but he worked well and didn't say anything and waited for this moment. I enjoyed it for him, he scored an important goal. Now it's important that he continues to improve.
"I needed player that can also play wide because we needed to open their defence and Carlos stayed there and because Mario can play against Munich on Tuesday.
"Mario is a good guy, After his behaviour is so so but he's a good guy he likes Manchester City and English football and he was really happy, Sometimes when he scores he's unhappy but he knew that was an important goal.
"I'm sure because we improved from last year and I'm happy that Mario can improve in the team."
Vincent Kompany told Sky Sports that City were rewarded for failing to panic:
"We showed a lot of positive things and we're really happy with the performance.
"Maybe on any other day we might have got frustrated but they did exactly what Napoli did and it wasn't' a surprise.
"With the quality we have sometimes it's just a matter of patience and the goal will come.
"Maybe we didn't impress but we did what we needed to do and it's another step forward."
David Moyes made no apologies for his team's approach at the Etihad Stadium:
"We've seen them have some big results against some good teams so we were going to do what was right for Everton to get a result.
"We did a lot of really good things and for long period we kept them at bay."
On Rodwell man-marking Silva:
"It was important that we did because we did a job on David Silva and did it well, He's a big part of what they do, the biggest part, and we did a good job on him."
On Cahill's injury after a challenge with Kompany:
"It looks like it's just a bruised shin but it was a terrible tackle foot goes right on his shin, it was disappointing it wasn't spotted."
On City:
"They've got a really talented team, an excellent team, can change play really good team. They will be contenders, no doubt."
WHAT IT MEANS: After last weekend's draw at Fulham, this was a key test and City had to stick to their game-plan to find a way through. Many teams will come to the Etihad Stadium and play like this but few will do it better than Everton so it was significant that City still came away with the victory. Everton can take plenty of credit for their stubborn performance and this may be the way Moyes has to approach such fixtures until he can add a striker in January.
MANCHESTER CITY (Balotelli 68, Milner 88) 2 EVERTON 0
Premier League Commentary: Manchester City v Everton As It Happened
by Daniel HarrisFiled under: Everton, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Min-By-Min Reports
Minute-by-minute commentary from Eastlands.
Man City v Everton Preview: Roberto Mancini Seeks First Win Against Toffees
by Darren WitcoopFiled under: Everton, Manchester City, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: ETIHAD STADIUM, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011. KICK OFF: 1245 BST
Given their well publicised financial woes, few Premier League clubs would swap their boardroom position for Everton's.
Yet when it comes to facing Manchester City on the pitch, there would be no shortage of takers seeking the secret to their winning formula.
After achieving an unlikely double last season, David Moyes has enjoyed five wins from the last six games against the cash-rich club.
It's a record nobody in the top-flight can rival. In this meeting between the haves and the have nots, then there is no doubt that Everton has repeatedly struck a blow for the underdog.
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Manchester City continue to spend money freely - while Everton's resources see them forced into the bargain bucket of the loan market.
But as Moyes' side have proven, there's no substitute for a good work ethic and strong team spirit. And Mancini's side can testify to this, having been on the receiving end in recent times more than most.
Key Match-Up: Vincent Kompany v Tim Cahill: Kompany hasn't hit the heights of last season and he will have to be on his guard with Cahill's marauding runs from midfield. The Australian has the knack of find the net against most teams, but he seems to thrive more than most against Manchester City. He has scored four times in total against them, including last season's opener in their 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.
Form Guide: Manchester City dropped their first league points of the season last time out, letting slip a two-goal advantage to draw at Fulham. Everton's financial woes have been well documented, but they have not let off-field troubles disrupt their start and lie in seventh spot.
Odds: Manchester City 2/5, Everton 6/1, Draw 7/2
MANCHESTER CITY:
Mancini is understandably keen to end Everton's hoodoo over Manchester City.
He said: "In football it can happen. But it's time to change that.
"We deserved to beat them twice last year. But they are a strong team who work to the end.
"They have good players and a good manager.
"Everton, for me, are one of the best teams in the Premier League. They work from the first minute to 95 minutes. They have good players."
Owen Hagreaves' Carling Cup debut for Manchester City, and his subsequent claim he was treated like a "guinea pig" by former club Manchester United, has hogged the headlines.
But the return of Kolo Toure, after a serving a six months drugs ban, has largely gone unnoticed.
And Mancini said: "It wasn't easy for Kolo as it was his first game back against Birmingham.
"He is an experienced player, and he could play in one of the next two games."
Strategy: Mancini will be desperate to lift the Everton curse and the best way to ease any doubts, given their poor run against them, will be an early goal. If Everton take the lead, those doubts could creep back in. So expect Manchester City to start well and look to open up an advantage - and then ensure they don't squander a lead like they did at Fulham.
Injury Update: Nigel de Jong (foot) is close to a return after a six-week absence. But Adam Johnson (ankle) has emerged as an injury doubt while Hargreaves won't be risked.
EVERTON:
Tim Howard is confident the spirit and determination oozing through Moyes' side will again see them triumph against the world's richest club.
The financial gulf between the two clubs could not be more different, with Moyes forced to endure a summer of financial restraint while Mancini drafted in the likes of Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero.
Yet Moyes' team are looking for a fifth straight win at City - a remarkable achievement considering where the two clubs are placed in football's rich list.
And Howard believes the Toffees can again upset their big-spending hosts after last season's eye-catching 2-1 win at City.
"Manchester City will be a difficult task," said the United States international keeper.
"But we need to go there and dig in and be resilient. It has worked for us in the past. Last season you could see the elation on all the players' faces. It was such a cold night and our fans were out in their thousands.
"That win really galvanised the club.
"I think that players and fans really embraced that win and it showed that it is not all about money. It is about performance and spirit. We talked about having spirit but we proved it that night."
Strategy: This is the start of a daunting run of fixtures for Everton but you can bet that Moyes and his players are relishing the forthcoming games against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. They head to City in confident mood after a five-match unbeaten run. City have scored seven without reply in their two home league games this term. But Everton have players in the shape of Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell who are capable of creating their own problems.
Injury Update: Victor Anichebe remains sidelined with a groin injury while Louis Saha could be available after being left out of the last two squads.
Everton 3 Wigan 1: Vellios is Everton’s New Hero After Late Winner
by Graham ChaseFiled under: Everton, Wigan, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Apostolos Vellios and Royston Drenthe scored late goals to end Everton's wait for a first home victory of the season against Roberto Martinez's Wigan.
The visitors took the lead when Franco Di Santo's scruffy effort beat Tim Howard, only for Phil Jagielka to equalise just two minutes later.
THE GOALS
31 mins: Di Santo collects a short corner and turns Leon Osman before hitting a deflected shot inside the far post (0-1).
33 mins: Osman's corner is headed on to the bar by Tim Cahill before Jagielka heads in the follow up (1-1).
84 mins: Vellios heads in from a Tony Hibbert cross to seal the points for Everton.
90 mins: Drenthe races on to a Vellios flick to add Everton's third.
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
3 mins: Jack Rodwell shoots wide from just outside the area.
6 mins: Leighton Baines crosses from the left and Seamus Coleman's header is turned wide by Ali Al Habsi.
10 mins: Di Santo drives well wide from 30 yards after a quick Wigan break.
25 mins: Osman curls a shot over from 20 yards as Everton continue to press.
29mins: Coleman picks out Marouane Fellaini but the Belgian's close-range effort is blocked by Cahill.
35 mins: Baines misses with a free kick from just outside the area.
45 mins: Cahill heads over from a hanging Hibbert cross.
47 mins: Coleman's dangerous cross is deflected wide of goal.
61 mins: Hugo Rodallega is well off target with a free kick from 25 yards.
73 mins: Patrick van Aanholt's shot is deflected wide with Howard stranded.
85 mins: David Jones hits the bar as Wigan look for another quick equaliser.
REACTION:
David Moyes was relatively pleased with the contribution of his substitutes:
"If you judge them on goals I would have said 'Great' but the performance, 'no'. We needed to try something and we just ran out of ideas midway through the second half and we were looking for solutions to see how we could cause Wigan some more problems."
On signing Vellios from Iraklis for £50,000 in January
"I don't take credit for it. Docherty got me Seamus Coleman for £60,000 and the Greek boy for less than that so I have to give him the credit for that.
"If the scout's really think they're worthwhile then we bring them in. It's a lot for us to expect these boys to be Premier League players and it's very few you can turn intot that.
"Thankfully the one or two we've got have given us some competition, I think the Greek boy has got something. He's got a bit to do yet but he's certainly got something.
"He recommended the two players. Those two boys, because of the price one was £50,000 or £60,000."
On starting with Cahill and Osman in attack:
"That tells you a little bit about what we think because we are starting with Cahill and Osman because they've still got something to offer.
"They got between the lines and caused problems. We know we're short. We don't have someone at the moment who is a 15 or 20 goal a season centre forward but the ones that have come on have given us something to think about."
On collecting seven points from three games:
"I'm not going to get carried away. People always talk about the start but I don't when the 'start of the season' is over. We've got a couple of wins, we can play better and we have played better but I think it was an important game to win because I've said before we have to make sure we get the wins and go from there."
On Louis Saha tweeting about his frustration at being left out:
"He wasn't in the 18 and I like it when they're upset when they're not involved. I've got no problem with that at all.
"Everybody reports for the game and then we tell them the subs, they knew the team.
"I don't know whether he went home and I'm not really that bothered. I was more interested in the 11 players and that's what everyone should have been concentrating on."
Martinez expects to be without Rodallega for several months:
"It's really too early to say. We're going to assess him but I think it's going to be the medial ligament in his right knee. We're going to do the scans but it isn't good at the moment. He looked sharp.
"He took time after the Copa America to get back to his level and he's looked back to his level so that will be a real blow.
"In our football club any player not available is a real blow. We had Emmerson Boyce and Antolin Alcaraz missing, as well as Steve Gohouri, and that is a big hole in the squad.
"When someone with the experience of Hugo Rodallega who has been scoring an average of 10 goals a season and it is a real blow but in football those things happen.
"It's a real blow to lose someone of his status and stature."
On his team's performance:
"You come place like Goodison and you have to deal with two basic things -- the height in set-plays at the way they attack them and then just the crosses.
"Apart from the two where we were heavily punished, we controlled the game, we felt comfortable. We had a couple of good opportunities.
"It was one of those days where you don't get the result the performance deserves.
"Ninety per cent of our performance was what we wanted and that little 10 per cent, not stopping two crosses from the right back. I feel that we got heavily punished.
"If we played this game 10 times we'd get something out of it in nine of them."
WHAT IT MEANS: Everton can breathe a little easier after collecting seven points from three games but Moyes concedes that his attack is still a work in progress. More of a problem than the defeat for Wigan, will be coping without the threat of Rodallega for much of the season. The Columbian has been their main striker for the past two years and will take some replacing.
EVERTON 3 (Jagielka 33, Vellios 84, Drenthe 90) WIGAN 1 (Di Santo 31)
PLAYER MARKING:
Everton (4-4-2): Howard 7; Hibbert 7, Jagielka 9, Distin 7, Baines 8; Coleman 7 (Vellios 67, 8), Rodwell 8, Fellaini 6, Bilyaletdinov 7 (Drenthe 59, 6); Cahill 7 (Stracqualursi 83, 6), Osman 7.
Subs (not used): Mucha, Heitinga, Neville, Barkley.
Wigan (4-2-3-1): Al Hasbi 7; Lopez 6, Caldwell 7, Figueroa 6, Van Aanholt 8; Watson 7, McCarthy 7; Gomez 5 (Jones 71, 6), Moses 6, Rodallega 5 (Maloney 90, 6); Di Santo 7.
Subs (not used): Pollitt, Thomas, Crusat, McArthur, Sammon.
REFEREE: Peter Walton
ATTENDANCE: 31,576
Everton v Wigan Preview: A Real Must-Win Game for David Moyes
by Neil JohnstonFiled under: Everton, Wigan, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE, GOODISON PARK, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011: KICK-OFF: 1500 BST
Must-win games are nothing new to David Moyes.
After all, Everton opened the season with a must-win fixture to lift the mood after a summer of financial restraint at Goodison.
Defeat to QPR ensured the next game at Blackburn became another must-win game.
While Moyes' side came away from Ewood with three points, Everton's failure to defeat Aston Villa in the next match means Wigan's visit has suddenly become a game the Toffees have to secure maximum points from.
Failure to win another league game at home could spell trouble as four of Everton's next five games after this are against Manchester City (away), Liverpool (home), Chelsea (away) and Manchester United (home).
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Wigan will certainly not make it easy for the hosts.
Back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Crystal Palace, in the Carling Cup, has resulted in Latics manager Roberto Martinez demanding an immediate improvement from his players.
But it will not have escaped Moyes' attention that Wigan were one of only two clubs who managed to stop his side from scoring at Goodison in the league last season.
Key Match-up: Tim Cahill v Ali Al Habsi: Wigan keeper Al Habsi managed to keep a clean sheet on his last visit to Goodison and he will be desperate to frustrate Everton again after conceding three at Manchester City last week. Cahill has yet to score for Everton this season but that will not fool Wigan as the Australian has a history of doing well against them.
Form Guide: Since winning their final four home games of last season, including victories over Manchester City and Chelsea, Everton are still awaiting their first Goodison league success of the new term. Wigan have lost two of their last six top-flight away games.
Odds: Everton 1/2, Wigan 6/1, Draw 3/1
EVERTON:
Seamus Coleman insists the arrival of Royston Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi has helped create a 'buzz' in the Everton dressing room.
Netherlands left-sided midfielder Drenthe could make his first league start after signing on loan from Real Madrid.
And Coleman said: "There is a buzz in the dressing room, particularly with the new lads coming in, and everyone is pumped up for Saturday.
"We are expected to win our home games.
"It is good to get on top of the opposition early on and that is something we will try and do again against Wigan.
Irish winger Coleman has urged fans to recreate the atmosphere they created in the 2-2 draw with Villa last week.
He added: "The fans were amazing.
"It was really loud, especially when Royston came on. The atmosphere was great and that is what we are all about here - we need to work together. We will do everything we can on the pitch.
"Last season against Wigan was a game we should have won. But it was last season and we don't want to dwell on that.
"We have a good season to look forward to this year and hopefully we can get the three points this time round."
Strategy: Drenthe is pushing for his first league start after scoring for the reserves in midweek. And the presence of the Dutch midfielder will certainly add pace to the side. Pace was the one thing Wigan failed to cope with at Manchester City last week. Yet Everton must be wary of the counter-attack threat posed by the visitors.
Injury Update: John Heitinga is hoping to return after missing the last game with a calf injury.
WIGAN:
Shaun Maloney has promised fans a response following the team's surprise exit from the Carling Cup in midweek.
The Premier League club crashed out of the competition against Championship opposition - their second straight defeat.
But Maloney, who is set to make his Latics league debut after completing a £1 million move from Celtic last month, insists there will be an improvement at Goodison.
The Scottish striker said: "We know we'll have to play a lot better when we go to Everton.
"They're all massive games in the Premier League but Saturday is even more so now after Tuesday.
"Everton are around us in the table and these are the games you have to be looking to win if you are to do anything."
Former Aston Villa striker Maloney is anxious to put memories of the Palace setback behind him and show fans that he can cut it at this level.
He added: "I need to improve and the team as a whole needs to improve, because we'll have to if we are to compete in the Premier League.
"It's a cliche that we can concentrate on the league now, but we don't really have a choice in the matter.
"We just need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible."
Strategy: The likes of captain Gary Caldwell, Hugo Rodallega, Victor Moses and Mohamed Diame are set to return after sitting out the cup tie in midweek. Martinez needs to go back to basics. After an impressive seven match unbeaten league run, the Spaniard has now seen his side lose two on the bounce.
QPR proved that Everton are vulnerable at home, but Wigan will have to be firing on all cylinders if they are to secure their first win at the Merseyside venue for six years.
Everton v Wigan Preview: A Real Must-Win Game for David Moyes
by Neil JohnstonFiled under: Everton, Wigan, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE, GOODISON PARK, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011: KICK-OFF: 1500 BST
Must-win games are nothing new to David Moyes.
After all, Everton opened the season with a must-win fixture to lift the mood after a summer of financial restraint at Goodison.
Defeat to QPR ensured the next game at Blackburn became another must-win game.
While Moyes' side came away from Ewood with three points, Everton's failure to defeat Aston Villa in the next match means Wigan's visit has suddenly become a game the Toffees have to secure maximum points from.
Failure to win another league game at home could spell trouble as four of Everton's next five games after this are against Manchester City (away), Liverpool (home), Chelsea (away) and Manchester United (home).
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Wigan will certainly not make it easy for the hosts.
Back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Crystal Palace, in the Carling Cup, has resulted in Latics manager Roberto Martinez demanding an immediate improvement from his players.
But it will not have escaped Moyes' attention that Wigan were one of only two clubs who managed to stop his side from scoring at Goodison in the league last season.
Key Match-up: Tim Cahill v Ali Al Habsi: Wigan keeper Al Habsi managed to keep a clean sheet on his last visit to Goodison and he will be desperate to frustrate Everton again after conceding three at Manchester City last week. Cahill has yet to score for Everton this season but that will not fool Wigan as the Australian has a history of doing well against them.
Form Guide: Since winning their final four home games of last season, including victories over Manchester City and Chelsea, Everton are still awaiting their first Goodison league success of the new term. Wigan have lost two of their last six top-flight away games.
Odds: Everton 1/2, Wigan 6/1, Draw 3/1
EVERTON:
Seamus Coleman insists the arrival of Royston Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi has helped create a 'buzz' in the Everton dressing room.
Netherlands left-sided midfielder Drenthe could make his first league start after signing on loan from Real Madrid.
And Coleman said: "There is a buzz in the dressing room, particularly with the new lads coming in, and everyone is pumped up for Saturday.
"We are expected to win our home games.
"It is good to get on top of the opposition early on and that is something we will try and do again against Wigan.
Irish winger Coleman has urged fans to recreate the atmosphere they created in the 2-2 draw with Villa last week.
He added: "The fans were amazing.
"It was really loud, especially when Royston came on. The atmosphere was great and that is what we are all about here - we need to work together. We will do everything we can on the pitch.
"Last season against Wigan was a game we should have won. But it was last season and we don't want to dwell on that.
"We have a good season to look forward to this year and hopefully we can get the three points this time round."
Strategy: Drenthe is pushing for his first league start after scoring for the reserves in midweek. And the presence of the Dutch midfielder will certainly add pace to the side. Pace was the one thing Wigan failed to cope with at Manchester City last week. Yet Everton must be wary of the counter-attack threat posed by the visitors.
Injury Update: John Heitinga is hoping to return after missing the last game with a calf injury.
WIGAN:
Shaun Maloney has promised fans a response following the team's surprise exit from the Carling Cup in midweek.
The Premier League club crashed out of the competition against Championship opposition - their second straight defeat.
But Maloney, who is set to make his Latics league debut after completing a £1 million move from Celtic last month, insists there will be an improvement at Goodison.
The Scottish striker said: "We know we'll have to play a lot better when we go to Everton.
"They're all massive games in the Premier League but Saturday is even more so now after Tuesday.
"Everton are around us in the table and these are the games you have to be looking to win if you are to do anything."
Former Aston Villa striker Maloney is anxious to put memories of the Palace setback behind him and show fans that he can cut it at this level.
He added: "I need to improve and the team as a whole needs to improve, because we'll have to if we are to compete in the Premier League.
"It's a cliche that we can concentrate on the league now, but we don't really have a choice in the matter.
"We just need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible."
Strategy: The likes of captain Gary Caldwell, Hugo Rodallega, Victor Moses and Mohamed Diame are set to return after sitting out the cup tie in midweek. Martinez needs to go back to basics. After an impressive seven match unbeaten league run, the Spaniard has now seen his side lose two on the bounce.
QPR proved that Everton are vulnerable at home, but Wigan will have to be firing on all cylinders if they are to secure their first win at the Merseyside venue for six years.
Everton 2 Aston Villa 2: Agbonlahor Earns Share of Points in Thrilling Draw
by Chris BreretonFiled under: Aston Villa, Everton, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Aston Villa twice fought back from a goal down to earn a barely deserved point at Goodison Park.
The home side were by the far the brighter and more attractive side but David Moyes's men could not kill Villa off and they were eventually punished for it.
Leon Osman gave Everton the lead following Tim Cahill's stunning pass left him unmarked and the home side appeared poised to score a hatful.
However, Stiliyan Petrov's brilliant long-range equaliser proved that Alex McLeish's side had some fight in them.
In a thrilling end to the game, Leighton Baines gave Everton the lead again from the penalty spot but Gabriel Agbonlahor then found a late equaliser to ensure the points were shared.
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THE GOALS:
19 mins - Osman slots past Shay Given for a brilliantly simple opener for the home side.
63 mins - Petrov lets fly from 30 yards and beats Tim Howard with a stunning strike.
68 mins - Fabian Delph fouls Phil Jagielka in the area and Baines converts from 12 yards.
83 mins - Agbonlahor is left unmarked in the Everton box and he punishes the home side with a clinical header.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
7 mins - Jagielka has a header cleared off the line by Darren Bent.
8 mins - Osman's close range shot is well saved by Given.
33 mins - An Osman shot looks to be heading for the bottom corner until Given gets across to block.
34 mins - Marouane Fellaini fires over from 25 yards.
41 mins - A Jack Rodwell effort takes a huge deflection and just goes wide with Given stranded.
51 mins - Baines is tripped in the box by Barry Bannan but the furious claims for a penalty are waved away.
60 mins - Jagielka should score from just six yards out but heads over the crossbar.
74 mins - Cahill has an effort from 12 yards blocked.
WHAT IT MEANS:
Everton will be gutted that they did not manage to hold on while Villa will know they got away with murder on Merseyside.
Everton v Aston Villa Preview: Pressure Builds on Toffees Owner Bill Kenwright
by John PercyFiled under: Aston Villa, Everton, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE, GOODISON PARK, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1500 BST
Everton will welcome Aston Villa to Goodison Park yet all eyes will be on what happens off the pitch.
Fans' group The Blue Union are planning a protest march ahead of the encounter to underline to Everton owner Bill Kewnright just how unhappy they are with the status quo.
£485 million was spent in the summer transfer window - but not one penny of that was spent by David Moyes after another barren and unproductive close season.
Everton's fans have had enough of the situation and are planning an uncomfortable afternoon for Kenwright while Alex McLeish will be planning something similar.
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However, Everton won a fortnight ago against Blackburn Rovers to show that although there is precious little optimism surrounding the club, Moyes can still get the best out of his squad of players.
Key Match-Up: Phil Jagielka v Darren Bent. These England colleagues will produce some serious fireworks on Saturday. Jagielka is one of the best defenders in the Premier League while Bent was red-hot last season. Expect a titanic tussle.
Form Guide: Everton have won one and lost one this season while Villa have won one and drawn their other two games.
Odds: Everton 9/4, Villa 3/1, Draw 6/1
EVERTON:
Everton's chief executive Robert Elstone has felt compelled to go public on Everton's desire to find new owners in a bid to down the growing unrest among the club's fans.
Kenwright has gone from a local-boy-done-good to a pariah with an increasing number of the club's supporters and the stand-off between the two groups could become more fractious unless resolved quickly.
And Elstone has done his best to dampen down the discontent by again repeating that Everton is for sale - it is simply that no one wishes to buy it.
He said: "Everton Football Club is for sale, despite accusations to the contrary.
"This has been the case for three years and it will remain the case until such time as someone is found with the finances capable of ensuring we can compete at the very highest level of the game both at home and in Europe.
"Whilst the club is for sale, we have also overseen substantial and tangible progress in the last five years both on and off the pitch. We have signed record sponsorship deals, and hugely increased our income alongside achieving an average league position of sixth.
"In terms of the number of games played, it has also been the most prolific period of European football in the club's history and we have invested in building our best squad of players since the mid-1980s."
Strategy: With Mikel Arteta now a distant memory, Moyes will need Jack Rodwell and Tim Cahill to come to the fore while new boys Royston Drenthe and Denis Stracqualursi are both likely to start and will be eager to make a good impression.
Injury Update: Seamus Coleman (ankle) and Leighton Baines (hamstring) are both major doubts.
Andrei Arshavin Talks a Good Game But When Will He Next Play One?
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Sunderland, Euro 2012, Champions League, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
You can rely on the international break for a foreign footballer to say something interesting and most of these revelations, once they have been translated for speedy repackaging to the UK, are usually either eyebrow-raisingly indiscreet or entertainingly self-deluded.
A few years ago, your average international import might, on being quizzed by a few friendly journalists on his his return to his homeland, might complain about his club manager not giving him enough respect/playing time (delete where applicable) of hint that the people of England/Scotland/Wales, including almost all of his team-mates and every female in a 50-mile radius, drinks more than he had previously imagined humanly possible.
That would be more often than not followed by a hasty denial on his return to the British Isles, claiming his actual words had been 'lost in translation' at some point on the journey.
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Now, it seems, you get a better quality of international break musings. Or at least you do with Andrei Arshavin of Russia and Arsenal, who will be hoping to help his nation move closer to Euro 2012 qualification at the Republic of Ireland's expense before resuming bench-warming duties at the Emirates Stadium.
Where, he has revealed, he has been engaging in insightful conversations on the Gunners' prospects with fellow under-performer Nicklas Bendtner. In which he claimed that losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri was "catastrophic" as neither could be replaced. Which will be sure to go down well with Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun, the men signed on deadline day to replace them.
"At the moment, losing Fabregas and Nasri is a catastophe,' Arshavin told Russian newspaper Sport-Express. "Watching the Udinese match I said to Bendtner that now we have no-one so comfortable with passing the ball to Robin van Persie or who ideally utilises the qualities of the other forwards.
"He smiled and replied, "Yes, the only player who could properly replace Cesc is probably Xavi". I'm very glad that I was able to play in the same team as Fabregas - he is a truly class footballer.
"When people say no-one is irreplaceable I don't agree. With Arteta or whoever replaces those who have left, we will play different football, not as we played with Cesc and Samir."
Arshavin did give a thumbs up to the recruitment of defenders Per Mertesacker from Borussia Dortmund and Andre Santos from Fenerbahce but lost potential brownie points with Arsene Wenger by insisting his manager should have also added Rennes' Yann M'Vila to bolster the midfield.
"I know a bit about Mertesacker, he is a good defender who should definitely help us," he added. "I know nothing about Andre Santos other than that he plays for Brazil - but this in itself shows credentials.
"Arteta and Benayoun have long proved themselves in the Premier League, they're not bad signings. And we needed strengthening in those positions. Perhaps another holding midfielder wouldn't have hurt and, as far as I know, we were trying till the last minute to get M'Vila, but unfortunately we weren't able to buy him."
One piece of business Wenger was able to do before the transfer window closes was to send Bendtner out on loan to Sunderland and he could be forgiven for wishing he had packed Arshavin off somewhere as well.
Does the Russian appreciate the irony of having pontificated about his team's strengths and weaknesses from the vantage point of the bench, where the players who are not good enough to make the starting line-up must sit? Perhaps that is too difficult to translate from the original Cyrillic script but the view of most Arsenal supporters isn't difficult to guess. They would prefer it if Mr Arshavin put in more impressive performances on the pitch at some point in the near future.
As for Bendtner, he was on the end of an international duty flaming himself, from Havard Nordtveit, the Norway defender who wasn't even good enough to make even a handful of appearances while at Arsenal.
The 21-year-old, who is now at Borussia Monchengladbach, was happy to tell Danish channel TV2 Sport how unlovable Bendtner was - and lazy too.
"You could not say much to him because it doesn't take much for him not to like you,' he said. "He has his own way of doing things, but he could have made more of an effort in training when he was at Arsenal.
"It was disappointing for Bendtner to have so little time on the field in the last half year but Arsene Wenger always wants to play with his best players and that's what he did."
I wonder if Wenger's best player pool will include Arshavin this weekend. We shall soon find out.
Why Missing Out on Mario Gotze Was a Blessing in Disguise For Arsenal
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Champions League, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
An 8-2 thrashing at the hands of one of your biggest rivals is the kind of wake up call even the most stubborn manager cannot ignore at most Arsenal fans will have been impressed, in the main, by the quality and quantity of Arsene Wenger's deadline day signings.
Indeed, as was rumoured at the time and since confirmed by reports in Germany, Wenger's plans to revitalise his stalled side had included the allocation of around £35 million for a replacement for Cesc Fabregas, who, had he been signed, would almost certainly have condemned Mikel Arteta to remain at Everton.
The player in question is Mario Gotze of Borussia Dortmund, whose athleticism, speed of thought and technical ability have propelled him into the world class category in a short space of time.
Dortmund refused point blank to part with their best player and so Wenger had to look to Goodison Park and also borrow Yossi Benayoun from Chelsea to fill he gap left by Samir Nasri's departure.
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Gotze, who is already an integral part of the Germany national team having made his debut last year, may well go on to join Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the blue chip superstar bracket but Arsenal fans may have cause to be grateful he did not join them earlier in the week.
For he is just 19 and if such a huge chunk of the transfer kitty had been used upon him then he would surely have been doomed to be haunted by the ghost of Fabregas, forever being the best player in a team that didn't win anything.
There never was a team that needed an injection of experience more than Arsenal and every one of the new arrivals provided just that. Arteta, for his part, was desperate to get the deal done because he knew he would never get another chance. "I am 29 years old, so I haven't got much time left to take a chance like this one," the Spaniard explained.
Benayoun is 31, Per Mertesacker and Park Chu-young are both 26 and Andre Santos 28. If you need to build a new team then you need seasoned internationals not wonderkids. Arsenal have tried enough of those already.
And talking of youngsters who had their chance but weren't good enough, it seems Nicklas Bendtner has vowed to stay away from the Emirates Stadium once his loan spell at Sunderland expires.
"I will never go back to Arsenal. If I can have it my way, I will never play for them again," the Dane, angry at being snubbed so often, was quoted in The Sun. "I am really looking forward to playing for Sunderland and then we will see next summer. I will find a new club - but I will not go back to Arsenal, that's for sure."
Many Gunners fans are hoping he will keep that particular promise...
Deadline Day Round-up: Craig Bellamy In, Raul Meireles Out at Liverpool
by Brendan McLoughlinFiled under: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Brom, Wigan, Wolverhampton, QPR, Norwich, Swansea, Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Liverpool were the focus of a dramatic end to deadline day after Craig Bellamy and Raul Meireles completed 11th hour moves in and out of Anfield.
Meireles' departure to Chelsea on a four-year deal for a £12 million fee came as a particularly surprising development after news the Portuguese star had handed in a transfer request came little over half an hour before the 11pm deadline.
Meanwhile, Wales striker Bellamy, who spent last season on loan at Championship side Cardiff, is back at Anfield four years after leaving the Merseyside and will wear the No. 39 shirt.
QPR and Stoke had appeared in the frame to sign Bellamy earlier in the day, however the chance to return to the club where he spent a controversial year in 2007 proved too good to turn down for the 32-year-old.
Further developments in a breathless day at Anfield saw Joe Cole snub late interest from Aston Villa to join Lille on a season-long loan, Christian Poulsen join French side Evian and David Ngog make a permanent move to Bolton.
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Sunderland signed Nicklas Bendtner from Arsenal on a season-long loan, while Villa signed Jermaine Jenas and Alan Hutton on a respective season-long loan and permanent deal from Tottenham.
Spurs managed to keep hold of one of their key men in Luka Modric, whom manager Harry Redknapp claimed was the subject of a rejected £40 million bid from Chelsea, althought a move for Bolton's Gary Cahill failed to materialise for the White Hart Lane outfit.
They did, however, succeed in landing Football Writers' Association Player of the Year Scott Parker in a £5 million move from West Ham.
David Bentley has headed in the opposite direction on a season-long loan, while the Hammers also signed Henri Lansbury from Arsenal on a similar deal and Guy Demel from Hamburg.
Manchester City completed their shock move for free agent Owen Hargreaves, with the former Manchester United midfielder arriving on a one-year contract, while Carlos Tevez has remained at the Etihad Stadium.
QPR signed Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City and Anton Ferdinand from Sunderland.
Scott Dann left Birmingham for Blackburn in a £6 million move which could rise to £8 million.
Rovers also recruited striker Yakubu from Everton, who have attempted to offset the loss of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal by signing Royston Drenthe from Real Madrid and Argentine striker Denis Stracqualursi from Tigre on season-long loans.
The Toffees also sold striker Jermaine Beckford to big-spending Championship side Leicester in a £3 million transfer.
Wigan signed Shaun Maloney on a two-year deal from Celtic for £1 million as well as signing Chelsea's 21-year-old Dutch left-back Patrick van Aanholt on a season-long loan. The Blues also allowed Gael Kakuta to join Bolton on loan.
Fulham fought off late competition from Newcastle to land Costa Rica forward Bryan Ruiz from FC Twente in a move worth around £10.6 million.
The Cottagers also signed experienced Juventus defender Zdenek Grygera and former Porto player Orlando Sa on free transfers and allowed Rafik Halliche to join Swansea on loan for the remainder of 2011.