David Prentice's team for 2013 isn't that contentious. One of the most interesting things about it is that the entire back 5 is drawn from Everton. Anyone disagree? I don't think I do. It is somewhere we desperately need to improve.
TIM HOWARD
After a Nigel Martyn/Pepe Reina dominated era, Tim Howard made his first entry into the Ever-Pool line up last year. He keeps his place after a supremely consistent 2013 when he kept more Premier League clean sheets than any other top flight goalkeeper (16). If Simon Mignolet maintains the form he showed in the first 22 matches of his Anfield career throughout 2014, he will surely challenge, but for now Howard is the first name on the teamsheet.
SEAMUS COLEMAN
Started 2013 with a wonder goal in the FA Cup at Cheltenham, then proved week after week after week that it was no flash in the pan. Adventurous going forward, Coleman’s defensive displays have been even better. Glen Johnson was his only serious rival, while Andre Wisdom enjoyed a bright initial introduction to top flight football – but neither could match the quality or consistency of Coleman’s displays in 2013.
PHIL JAGIELKA
Established himself as one of his country’s first choice centre-backs, seamlessly inheritted the responsibility of club captaincy from Phil Neville – and oozed consistency throughout 2013. Martin Skrtel lost his Liverpool place for the middle chunk of 2013, Daniel Agger lost his in the final segment, while Kolo Toure briefly looked the part, but throughout the calendar year Jagielka rolled out immaculate performance after immaculate performance – and even added a couple of goals.
SYLVAIN DISTIN
Like the finest claret of his homeland, Distin is getting better with age. A footballing Robocop, Distin started 42 of the 43 matches Everton contested in the calendar year – only illness ruling him out of a February trip to Old Trafford – and like his defensive partner oozed consistency.
LEIGHTON BAINES
Not just Merseyside’s best left-back of 2013, but the country’s. Baines kicked off 2013 with a staggeringly stunning goal at Newcastle, one of seven he scored last year, while his defensive displays were also excellent. Bryan Oviedo proved a more than reliable deputy during a month out with a broken toe, while Jose Enrique briefly enjoyed a return to his early Anfield form – but neither could challenge the peerless Baines.
KEVIN MIRALLAS
After a disappointing end to 2012, Mirallas came alive in 2013 – ending the 2012/13 season with six goals 13 appearances, including a wonderful individual effort against Stoke. His performances in the second half of the campaign haven’t matched that brilliance, but he has still produced greater consistency than challengers like Raheem Sterling, Stewart Downing and Iago Aspas.
STEVEN GERRARD
The only name who featured in my original Ever-Pool line up – and the only name who has featured in, almost, every selection since then (an injury hit year from hell in 2011 saw Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell keep him out . . . how times change!) Eight goals and 13 assists proved that Gerrard is just as influential as ever. Which is why he’s still the Ever-Pool captain, too.
JORDAN HENDERSON
An acquired taste for some people – including his manager who considered swapping him for Clint Dempsey in 2013 – but now Brendan Rodgers wouldn’t be without the Wearsider who, according to another misguided manager, runs funny. Henderson ran plenty in 2013. I watched him produce a monumental performance at Arsenal in January – and he built on that display throughout the year. Darron Gibson was enormously influential for half-a-year, Gareth Barry and James McCarthy even more influential for second half of the year – but Henderson was consistently excellent throughout.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO
Steven Pienaar enjoyed a polished end to 2012/13 – but throughout the calendar year Philippe Coutinho sparkled. Technically brilliant, the Brazilian still needs to add goals to his repertoire – five in 2013 was solid but not exceptional for a player of his craft – but his movement, his intelligence, his abilty and his delivery nails down an Ever-Pool place in his first year on Merseyside.
SUAREZ and STURRIDGE
Sturridge hit the ground running in 2013 with five goals in his first six appearances of the year – and maintained that standard, injuries apart, throughout 2013. But even his impressive goal ratio was blown out of the water by the astonishing Luis Suarez.
Just look at his figures for 2013 – 33 appearances, 33 goals, three hat-tricks – and 19 assists.
The competition for places up front wasn’t exactly intense – Nikica Jelavic scored once in the calendar year, while Romelu Lukaku only arrived on Merseyside in September – but even if Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres were back on Merseyside they wouldn’t edge out these two. Perhaps the easiest decision of the entire selection.
TIM HOWARD
After a Nigel Martyn/Pepe Reina dominated era, Tim Howard made his first entry into the Ever-Pool line up last year. He keeps his place after a supremely consistent 2013 when he kept more Premier League clean sheets than any other top flight goalkeeper (16). If Simon Mignolet maintains the form he showed in the first 22 matches of his Anfield career throughout 2014, he will surely challenge, but for now Howard is the first name on the teamsheet.
SEAMUS COLEMAN
Started 2013 with a wonder goal in the FA Cup at Cheltenham, then proved week after week after week that it was no flash in the pan. Adventurous going forward, Coleman’s defensive displays have been even better. Glen Johnson was his only serious rival, while Andre Wisdom enjoyed a bright initial introduction to top flight football – but neither could match the quality or consistency of Coleman’s displays in 2013.
PHIL JAGIELKA
Established himself as one of his country’s first choice centre-backs, seamlessly inheritted the responsibility of club captaincy from Phil Neville – and oozed consistency throughout 2013. Martin Skrtel lost his Liverpool place for the middle chunk of 2013, Daniel Agger lost his in the final segment, while Kolo Toure briefly looked the part, but throughout the calendar year Jagielka rolled out immaculate performance after immaculate performance – and even added a couple of goals.
SYLVAIN DISTIN
Like the finest claret of his homeland, Distin is getting better with age. A footballing Robocop, Distin started 42 of the 43 matches Everton contested in the calendar year – only illness ruling him out of a February trip to Old Trafford – and like his defensive partner oozed consistency.
LEIGHTON BAINES
Not just Merseyside’s best left-back of 2013, but the country’s. Baines kicked off 2013 with a staggeringly stunning goal at Newcastle, one of seven he scored last year, while his defensive displays were also excellent. Bryan Oviedo proved a more than reliable deputy during a month out with a broken toe, while Jose Enrique briefly enjoyed a return to his early Anfield form – but neither could challenge the peerless Baines.
KEVIN MIRALLAS
After a disappointing end to 2012, Mirallas came alive in 2013 – ending the 2012/13 season with six goals 13 appearances, including a wonderful individual effort against Stoke. His performances in the second half of the campaign haven’t matched that brilliance, but he has still produced greater consistency than challengers like Raheem Sterling, Stewart Downing and Iago Aspas.
STEVEN GERRARD
The only name who featured in my original Ever-Pool line up – and the only name who has featured in, almost, every selection since then (an injury hit year from hell in 2011 saw Marouane Fellaini and Jack Rodwell keep him out . . . how times change!) Eight goals and 13 assists proved that Gerrard is just as influential as ever. Which is why he’s still the Ever-Pool captain, too.
JORDAN HENDERSON
An acquired taste for some people – including his manager who considered swapping him for Clint Dempsey in 2013 – but now Brendan Rodgers wouldn’t be without the Wearsider who, according to another misguided manager, runs funny. Henderson ran plenty in 2013. I watched him produce a monumental performance at Arsenal in January – and he built on that display throughout the year. Darron Gibson was enormously influential for half-a-year, Gareth Barry and James McCarthy even more influential for second half of the year – but Henderson was consistently excellent throughout.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO
Steven Pienaar enjoyed a polished end to 2012/13 – but throughout the calendar year Philippe Coutinho sparkled. Technically brilliant, the Brazilian still needs to add goals to his repertoire – five in 2013 was solid but not exceptional for a player of his craft – but his movement, his intelligence, his abilty and his delivery nails down an Ever-Pool place in his first year on Merseyside.
SUAREZ and STURRIDGE
Sturridge hit the ground running in 2013 with five goals in his first six appearances of the year – and maintained that standard, injuries apart, throughout 2013. But even his impressive goal ratio was blown out of the water by the astonishing Luis Suarez.
Just look at his figures for 2013 – 33 appearances, 33 goals, three hat-tricks – and 19 assists.
The competition for places up front wasn’t exactly intense – Nikica Jelavic scored once in the calendar year, while Romelu Lukaku only arrived on Merseyside in September – but even if Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres were back on Merseyside they wouldn’t edge out these two. Perhaps the easiest decision of the entire selection.
