Liverpool 2 Everton 1 | Going to Wembley Thrice | Opta Stats

April 14th 2012 will be remembered as an excellent day for any Liverpool FC supporter. The day when the neighbours were beaten at Wembley in the first FA Cup semi-final for 2012. It will also be remembered for a very good 2nd half performance from their £50m strike duo Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll. Both players found their names on the scoresheet and were the star performers that turned the game around for Liverpool.

It was an awful first half for Liverpool in which Everton punished their inter-city counterparts’ failures in defence. Apart from that moment there was nothing to write home about in the 1st half. A performance that lacked any ambition or drive in the first half was transformed in the second half with power and persistence. Liverpool didn’t take their foot off of the pedal and continued to pressure Everton’s goal. The pressure paid off with Distin making a poor passback which cost them. I was speaking to a few Everton supporters on the train journey back and they were blaming Tim Howard. They said that he was static and was too far back on his line. This was an interesting observation but I personally thought the pass lacked both power and direction. Liverpool’s number seven capitalised on the mistake just as Everton’s had done in the 1st half.

Andy Carroll had missed a gilt-edged chance at the start of the second half which could have come back to haunt him. However, the persistence I mentioned earlier is attributed to Andy as he didn’t give up and found himself in the right place at the right time and got on the end Bellamy’s excellent free-kick. It had only been four minutes since Bellamy had come on, Bellamy hadn’t even have attempted a pass just yet. He’d only made a couple of touches but not even attempted to pass the ball before he got the assist.

There was time for more and Maxi could have got his, now trademark, goal at the far post however somehow managed to find Liverpool FC’s trusted friend: The Post. Apart from the mistake they made for Everton’s goal (Agger & Carra), the three centre backs (playing in 4-4-2) played very well. Jamie Carraghar made a nuisance of himself to Everton attackers in the second half and Skrtel always remained on top of the strikers with clearances and headers.

Thanks to @OptaJoe and the Opta Sports team as they kindly provided us with some Match Stats for the game yesterday.

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Next Page: Full Liverpool FC Stats from the FA Cup Semi-Final Vs Everton.