A show of unusually resolute defending from both Liverpool and Everton meant only two fantastic captains’ goals made the scoring. Liverpool looked the more likely to notch in the first half creating 16 chances to Everton’s three but it took a free kick not long after the hour mark to open the scoring, and who else but Steven Gerrard to answer his critics with a splendid strike. The game looked as if it would fizzle out to a 1-0 Reds win and then out of nowhere Phil Jagielka struck an absolute barnstormer, from around 30 yards out, to swerve into the top corner of the net at the Kop end and stun the Liverpool faithful. It’s one of those games that will feel like a loss for the Reds but a win for the Toffees.

Liverpool 

Simon Mignolet 6-

The Liverpool stopper was barely tested throughout the game and could do little about the goal he conceded.

Javier Manquillo 6-

The young Spaniard showed prowess bombing down the right wing. Although at times his delivery was dangerous, at times he may have crossed too much rather then exploring inside. Defensively he didn’t have much to deal with as the Everton left wingers rarely tested him.

Martin Skrtel 6-

Skrtel did his job in front of Mignolet and even showed some promise up front at times. A solid performance tarnished by a goal he could do nothing about.

Dejan Lovren 7-

Making an array of important blocks and clearances, Lovren played very well on Saturday. He commanded his defense and was unfortunate not to keep a clean sheet.

Alberto Moreno 6-

Although slightly quieter than he has been in recent weeks, Moreno still put in his shift and bombed up and down the left flank as well as dealing with Lukaku quite well, subduing his influence on the game.

Steven Gerrard 8 (Man of the Match)-

The Liverpool skipper answered his critics today. Alongside performing solidly in front of the defense, his cross field passes were up to his usual standard and of course he scored a wonderful free kick to take the lead for his side.

Jordan Henderson 7-

Henderson has fast become an essential part of this Liverpool 11, seeming to put in good performances week after week and this game was no different. His usual work rate coupled with some excellent defense splitting passes gives him a solid 7 rating.

Lazar Markovic 5-

The Serbian international seemed to lack confidence and belief in his ability, deciding against shooting and lacking the desire to take people on that he had at Benfica he was largely ineffective Saturday.

Adam Lallana 7-

A word to sum up Lallana today? Desire. Constantly striving to get in to the box and make things happen as well as some neat touches, he looks to be a good addition to the Liverpool squad.

Raheem Sterling 6-

It’s possible that playing the full 120 minutes in midweek against Middlesborough effected Sterling on Saturday. The teenager didn’t look as sharp as he usually does and, although finding some dangerous crosses and causing trouble for Hibbert, you feel there could have been more out of him in this game.

Mario Balotelli 7-

The Italian arguably had his best game in a Liverpool shirt. His determination to keep shooting and response to Brendan Rodgers in his desire to get in to the box and be more mobile was evident. When Daniel Sturridge returns they could definitely establish a lethal partnership.

Subs- 

Philippe Coutinho 5-

The Brazilian was brought on to make an impact and didn’t particularly succeed. He didn’t do a lot wrong but also didn’t create much.

Rickie Lambert n/a-

He wasn’t on the pitch long enough to encourage a rating.

Everton 

Tim Howard 8-

The aging American was Everton’s best player today. If it wasn’t for a free kick which was difficult to keep out, Howard would have been able to add a clean sheet to a solid goalkeeping performance including a fantastic fingertip save from Balotelli’s close range effort.

Tony Hibbert 6-

The Everton stalwart came back into the side after Seamus Coleman failed a late fitness test and was hit and miss with keeping Sterling at bay. He was substituted on the 72nd minute.

John Stones 7-

The young Englishman held Liverpool at bay in a solid first half performance and did well considering he had to fill the boots of experienced centre back Sylvain Distin.

Phil Jagielka 8-

The rating would have been very different if, for instance, there had been no stoppage time. He put in a strong performance, captaining the side to a good defensive display and the out of nowhere fires of a remarkable half volley on the up rise to rescue a point for the toffees, a definite goal of the season contender.

Leighton Baines 6-

The usually gallivanting Everton full back seemed to be more restricted in his attacking efforts today, probably in a tactical ploy from Roberto Martinez. He defended well against Markovic and kept him out of the game.

Gareth Barry 6-

Discipline is the word as the experience-laden Gareth Barry managed to resist getting a second yellow card for 89 minutes of the game, proving usually solid in that time and protecting his back four.

James McCarthy 6-

McCarthy was quiet throughout the game but did his job, helping Barry to subdue the Liverpool attack.

Romelu Lukaku 6-

In a tactical plan that we’ve seen before from Martinez, the big Belgian striker was deployed, or at least seemed to drift, on the right side and looked uncomfortable and less ineffective as he may have been through the middle. Despite showing his remarkable strength, Liverpool’s Moreno kept him at bay.

Steven Naismith 6-

After a fruitful start to the campaign for the Scot, he couldn’t get involved in this game, testing the keeper only once with a powerful strike.

Kevin Mirallas 5-

It’s slightly unfair awarding Mirallas this rating as he had to withdraw after 30 minutes through injury but he was quiet and ineffective within this time.

Muhamed Besic 6-

In his first Premier League start, the Bosnian did okay. He showed good character recovering from the confidence knocker against Chelsea and put in a solid performance.

Subs- 

Aiden McGeady 6-

The Irishman was relatively quiet although showed some promise coming down the left flank, at times looking dangerous in a difficult game to come in to.

Tyias Browning 6-

In his short time on the field, the Everton youth academy product played well, muscling Raheem Sterling off the ball in his first action of the game.

Samuel Eto’o n/a-

The Cameroon striker didn’t have long enough to affect the game.

The Liverpool squad have touched down in Boston ahead of four games across the United States, to prepare them for the upcoming Premier League season. Liverpool is among nine Premier League clubs playing friendlies across the United States this summer.

For Liverpool fans in the Boston area, the club will give fans the opportunity to see the Reds practice on the pitch at Fenway Park at a special open training session on July 22 at 6:00pm on the eve of “Football at Fenway,” the club’s July 23 match versus Italian giant AS Roma. Liverpool FC legends Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler will also be in attendance at the historic ballpark and participate in a meet and greet with select fans.

Fans will watch the action from seating sections near the Red Sox Dugout. All net proceeds will benefit the Friends of Liverpool FC Foundation, a nonprofit public charity that provides tailored programs that inspire positive change and build better futures for young people and adults. The $15 general admission tickets are available now at redsox.com/footballatfenway or on the day of the event at Gate D at Fenway Park beginning at 5:00pm on Tuesday, July 22.

Liverpool faces stiff competition in America from the likes of Roma, Olympiacos and Manchester City. Plus if they win their group, they’ll play in the final against possibly the likes of Real Madrid or Manchester United on August 4.

Having already visited Brondby and Preston North End in their pre-season ventures, Liverpool will be adamant to kick on when visiting the States and when facing the tougher test of big European names.  Stand out performer and starlet Jordan Ibe is likely to feature after notching three assists in the two aforementioned games in which Liverpool lost 2-1 and won 2-1 respectively.

Although Ibe has starred alongside Kristoffer Petterson among others, the Reds will probably showcase some of their more established talent in the face of sterner opposition as the games will be more competitive.

Liverpool face Roma, Olympiakos, Manchester City, and AC Milan in the space of 10 days; the latter three fixtures as part of the Guinness International Champions Cup.  They then return to Anfield to round off their pre-season schedule against Borussia Dortmund before beginning their Premier League campaign at home against Southampton.

Anfield has already seen Southampton duo Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana sign for the club, alongside prospects Emre Can and Lazar Markovic. The Premier League outfit have also been linked with another Saint in Dejan Lovren, along with high profile Real Madrid pair Angel Di Maria and Isco. Divock Origi and Loic Remy also look set to sign imminently and soon don the famous red shirt. Remy is reportedly heading to Boston to take his medical before signing with the club, so he can participate in the summer tour.

Former Fulham player Brian Ruiz hammered the final nail in England’s coffin earlier today during a shocking 1-0 victory over a one-dimensional Italian side. It is now impossible for the Three Lions to qualify for the last 16 of the tournament.

Costa Rica have been the embodiment of this year’s World Cup spirit and surprised all when they advanced after only two group games at the expense of England. Today’s result sets up a winner-takes-all affair between Italy and Uruguay in Natal on Tuesday but for England their time in the competition is up.

As always, expectations were high back home with most fans believing wholeheartedly that England would come through the group stage relatively comfortably but the inability to hush the star players of Italy and Uruguay has cost them.

Simple defensive errors for Balotelli’s winner and Suarez’s brace will be a scar on the face of what was, a bold attacking approach by Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson gave a statement of intent to the England faithful when he selected a squad laden with youth players but the mistakes made throughout their short stay in the tournament were often from the older, more experienced members of the squad.

Players such as Sterling and Barkley have impressed but it can be argued that Gerrard, Cahill, Jagielka and Johnson all experienced tournaments to forget.

Costa Rica may not have the quality of players that England have but their work ethic and spirit have helped them achieve remarkable victories over two of the world’s best international outfits. Despite having no less than 3 former World Cup winners in their group, Los Ticos have managed to progress leaving bookmakers and pundits scratching their heads.

On reflection one underachiever is surpassed by an overachiever. The most harrowing thought for any England fan now is if they were to beat Costa Rica in their final group game on Tuesday.

Ever since Bobby Charlton and his men led England to victory in the 1966 World Cup, the English national team has never quite been able to return to successes achieved on that day. Year upon year and tournament upon tournament, the whole country is tormented by unrequited hope and overly ambitious expectation. But not since the days of Charlton has an England team made the final of a major competition since.

Where does the problem lay? It’s not the players. The players play in the best league in the world and produce some of the best footballing spectacles on the planet. It’s unlocking the full potential and ability of these players and none more so is it obvious than in this year’s bunch.

The side are not short of talent and, on their day, players like Gerrard, Rooney, Hart and Cahill could be considered as one of the strongest spines to a team in world football. And the others aren’t bad either: Lampard could have been argued as world class only a year ago, the much improved and confident Sterling, the industrious Henderson, the sturdy Jagielka, etc.

But singing praises of players ‘on their day’ is not what top class English football is about. It’s about reproducing those good days, making them more frequent and making those ‘off days’ hardly noticeable.

Paul Scholes was recently quoted, to the surprise of Manchester United fans, describing how England should play more like Liverpool if they are to do well in this year’s World Cup. Even the most stubborn United fan should see some logic in that. Liverpool achieved the second highest goals tally in this season’s Premier League just behind Manchester City who, of course, lack English players. Liverpool notched up 102 goals from everywhere on the pitch, coming from all angles and all positions. Significantly 49 of Liverpool’s tally were netted by English players.

Coupling the fruitful Englishmen on Merseyside with England and United stalwart Rooney in a pacy attacking line-up could be the key to unlocking some of those more stubborn world stage defenses. The speed of play obviously contributes heavily to the Liverpool set-up but another feature of their success this term was Brendan Rodgers’ tactical know-how.

One of the more successful of Rodgers’ formations was that potent midfield diamond he deployed throughout the season and this is where England can take a helping hand from Rodgers and the wise words of Scholes.

This is what the diamond formation would do for England:

DEFENSE

Likely to consist of Hart, Baines, Cahill, Jagielka and Johnson, the defense wouldn’t change notably. Hodgson is renowned for building his team very solidly at the back, so this would not involve to much ingenuity, a simple well organized line of four.

MIDFIELD

The holding midfielder’s job, in England’s case Gerrard, is to pull those all important strings and keep everything flowing smoothly as well providing protection for the back for and entertaining Roy’s love for defense.

Then it gets somewhat fancy for a usually dull England side. This is where part of the difference is made: the terriers. Wilshere and Henderson are my preferences for the terrier roles but obviously Lampard could still do the job and even James Milner is a possibility for the role. These roles involve being ridiculously multifunctional and versatile, as well as being fit and able to contribute to all areas of the field, and these qualities are visible in Wilshere and Henderson.

Wilshere is a clever footballer. He’s not only fit but has a decent turn of speed, can dribble and can think fast to turn defense into attack as well as run fast to get back from attack into defense. Similarly in Henderson, he is industrious and dynamic, he may not be as dainty as Wilshere or as cute in his play but the lad can attack, can defend and could run for days on end, both of them showcase the qualities of a good box-to-box midfielder.

ATTACK

Kicking off the all important attacking phase of play is the attacking midfield position and this goes to anyone really. Take your pick from Lallana, Barkley, Sterling, maybe even Oxlade-Chamberlain. All of these players offer something different and the sort of spark that England need in the hole behind the strikers.

Lallana offers a controlled, measured approach were as Sterling and Oxlade-Chamberlain are more about dazzling the opposition with pace and then for a touch of everything with the added benefit of strength and, what would be, my pick for the attacking midfielder role is Ross Barkley.

The Everton starlet has come alive this year under Roberto Martinez. He has the energy and pace to trouble a defensive midfielder and allow him to run at the centre backs, coupled with the guile and craft needed to unlock a defense and then the more brash side to trouble even the strongest of central defensive players.

Then we arrive at the front two. A lot has been said about how Daniel Sturridge cannot find his club form in an England shirt but a lot of this has to do with a skillful Uruguayan named Luis Suarez. Rooney has also had difficulty in hitting his club heights with England as he has failed to score at both of the side’s last major tournaments.

When Sturridge has somebody right up the pitch with him he is a better player but the current England system means he is abandoned up top with Rooney trying to create just behind and Lallana pushed out wide. In this new system a more natural attacking midfielder can play behind Sturridge, who is obviously better with a partner, and Rooney who, in my opinion, has never quite been used to his full ability when he’s pushed further down the field and is more at home in the striker role.

The deployment of Rooney in his natural position and the assistance to Sturridge, along with a creative yet dynamic midfield and Hodgson’s trademark defensive set-up will surely make for a more complete and entertaining outfit and would bring the best out of the world class players that England do have.

The admirable but quiet mid-table Southampton and Newcastle teams have reached their limits this season but do the finances available to these clubs hinder their progression?

Southampton in particular have played some fantastic soccer this season and have a few notable results on their record. They’re the only team to beat Liverpool at Anfield this season. They gave Newcastle a drubbing, and gained a point at home to Manchester City — all this by playing a resilient brand of English football. Pochettino has steadied the ship, staved off second season syndrome and instilled a free-flowing and creative feel to a Saints side brimming with English talent, not to mention the plethora of excellent youth players they’ve produced and continue to come through its system.

Likewise Newcastle, at least until the departure of Yohan Cabaye coupled with Pardew’s headbutting antics, had been casually picking up enough points to see them safe from relegation long before now. They also claimed their fair share of scalps, the clean-sheet wins against Chelsea and Manchester United to name but a few, but where do they go from here?

Both clubs are clearly not challenging the likes of Tottenham and Everton on the outskirts of the Champions League and would only get into Europe’s secondary competition through the Fair Play table, a fortunately positioned team winning a trophy above them or if one of the big teams ‘did a Liverpool’ (of the past) and finished 8th. The clubs above your average Southampton and Newcastle have considerably more financial resources and you get the feeling that’s what English football is coming to nowadays.

By this point you may be thinking: ‘Hang on, didn’t Newcastle make it into Europe a couple of seasons ago?’ And you would be correct but this was the same season in which the teams below them were Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool and Fulham in that order respectively, an unusual season to say the least and as you can probably tell things have changed since and all of those clubs have gone off in completely different directions.

But not Newcastle. Newcastle still sit idly in mid-table with no threat of relegation but no threat of European qualification all the same. They’re being joined by Southampton, Mark Hughes’ revolutionary Stoke and, in my opinion, a stable Swansea side.

Looking at the teams above them there is no shortage of funds. Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United obviously are loaded, then the North London and Liverpudlian pairs aren’t necessarily swimming in cash but there’s definitely no shortage of it.

What makes matters worse for Newcastle is that they’ve become the whipping boys in the Premier League. With nothing to play for, they’ve suffered defeats in recent weeks to Swansea, Stoke, Manchester United, Southampton and Everton. And now in the next two weeks, they face Arsenal, Cardiff and Liverpool. And in turn, they could end up putting in more woeful performances that will help Arsenal clinch fourth place, give Cardiff a lifeline and help Liverpool win the league on goal difference if the Newcastle defense plays anything like they’ve done recently.

How do these 8th-12th placed sides, like Newcastle, improve in the future? Do they need to be rewarded with more significant player and team bonuses to encourage them to play for money? Or will clubs like Newcastle drift aimlessly along for the last few weeks of each season?

Nowadays it seems that any tackle with a slight lashing of malice is scrutinized and condemned. With the increase of baby-faced and wrapped-in-cotton-wool footballers who refuse to be fouled as to protect their luscious and gelled infrastructure they call their hair, the ancient art form of the tackle is being clamped down to the point when you can barely touch your opponent anymore.

Last year’s Premier league season (2012-13) saw the lowest red card return since 1996. This highlights the modern day confusion surrounding a good tackle. Referees up and down the country ‘umming and ahhing,’ many of them convinced and conformed by the crowd. Let’s be honest. You don’t give a penalty against Manchester United at Old Trafford. A ref just doesn’t have the balls, and usually it’s hard to tell whether the United players are diving or not anyway.

That’s another thing, diving. Avoiding the classic comparison with Tom Daley when taking a tumble, the Red Devils are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to diving. In the table of simulation bookings since 2008, Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez are in the top 5 and Adnan Januzaj is in third despite playing in his first Premier league season. Yes the United players are quite happy to gaily skip around the field until they see a 6ft 4’ bald-headed steam train charging at them to which they must jump out of the way. It’s not a bullet they’re dodging nor should they feel aggrieved to take the tackle, it’s a part of soccer after all.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the modern day flow and the skill it takes to be a footballer, the guile and creativity needed and the dedication to the cause. It entertains me each week but I can’t help thinking some of that passion, expressed through tackling, squaring up to each other and such, is diminishing and it’s largely due to the crippling claw of the modern day rulebook.

The Merseyside derby needs a harsh tackle or two to spruce it up and to send the fans into uproar, which in turn sparks gloating and a fast paced game. Then it becomes about heart. You start to feel the desire to win the game on both sides and the fans begin out-singing each other and watching the camera shake uncontrollably when either team scores, then to see the marauding fans leaving their seats and tumbling down the stairs in order to get a man hug from the goal-scorer. This is passion. This is heart in football. And it begins with loosening up the shackles a little bit.

You might be questioning me at this point; ‘why would you stand in the way of a 6ft 4’ steam train?’ It’s a cliché nowadays to say ‘that tackle would have been fine ten years ago.’ Ahh the bliss of ten years ago. The promise land of the past. The days when Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t exist to most of the world and a good-old-fashioned tackle was accepted no matter how strong as long as they won the ball. There was none of this tomfoolery about catching players on the follow-through. If you were in the way, that was your fault. These were the days of bludgeoning centre midfielders such as Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and the budding but brutal Lee Cattermole.

But I think you have to look further than ten years back, further than Alan Shearer and further than the Premier League’s birth, and further still back through Liverpool’s domination of England and Europe to the days of Bobby Charlton and co. These men were proper footballers. They didn’t so much glide as your modern day Oscar or Messi, but rather plodded around the pitch like elephants or an overweight toddler.

The reason I’ve taken you through the years is to sample the story of Bert Trautmann. The German goalkeeper was playing in the FA Cup of 1956 and broke his neck. Your modern day footballer would go kicking and screaming off the pitch, perhaps compared to the aforementioned toddlers when they aren’t allowed anymore cake, but not this guy. Despite having a broken neck, he carried on and fittingly saw his team win the game 3-1 albeit from a crooked angle.

I also cite the story of Terry Butcher, the England centre back who famously played on after smashing his head open and looked like someone out of a low-budget seventies horror film. In the modern game when a player gets the tiniest sprinkle of blood on the shirt, the type of stain that could be mistaken for splashing a bit of ketchup from the pre-match hot dog, he is made to change it. But not Butcher, he looked like he’d been shop bought as a prime cut of English beef and still with all that blood squirming around the packaging. Maybe today’s footballers should keep their bloodied shirts on. It might inspire some fight seen in our Celtic ancestors.

My point is: players these days are wimps and thespians. Nobody can take a tackle anymore nor take one then not make a meal of it or avoid having a good moan if they get substituted. A lot of this stems from footballers playing for the money and not for the love of the game. A lot of footballers have turned into divas who, of course, must be given the most special treatment available to any human being. And why shouldn’t they be like that. Some footballers have the luxury of sitting on the bench each week and watching a game but getting paid £50,000 for it.

It takes a true lover of football to want to play every game and maybe even take a pay cut to do so. Although this version of the passionate, loyal footballer remains, we are witnessing the beginning of the end of it. More and more players are moving clubs to have another few million in their bank each year and this is slowly sucking the heart out of football.