Sean Dyche’s tracksuit energy shocks weary Liverpool into submission

It is little wonder Jürgen Klopp is running out of energy when he is having to come up with a new lineup every few days. For the Merseyside derby defeat to Everton there were six changes to follow on from the half-dozen made for Sunday’s win over Fulham. On this occasion, however, it did not work.

The latter weeks of the season are a tricky balance for any coach with so much at stake. Trying to maintain a rhythm and build momentum while keeping everyone fresh for crucial fixtures is an unenviable task. It cannot help a manager when hours before the match a starter withdraws but not even the riches of football can dictate when a mother-to-be enters labour.

Sean Dyche knew there was fatigue in the Liverpool ranks, considering Darwin Núñez was making his 50th appearance of the season for his club, in addition to the air miles involved for Europa League travel and the international breaks in South America. Everton’s most-used player is James Tarkowski, who has played 41 times, and not troubled Gareth Southgate in the process.

Now Dyche has ditched his suit to become a tracksuit manager, it seems more fitting that his team have increased their work rate and physicality under the gaze of their personal trainer, rather than a bouncer. The instructions were clear: to play on the physical and mental tiredness within the Liverpool squad.

In the early stages Everton pressed relentlessly, letting those in red know the game was unlikely to be enjoyable despite the 14-place and 38-point difference in the standings before kick-off.

A tired child, as Cody Gakpo is about to find out, is liable to get frustrated and angry as their bodies fight it, something Dyche wanted to exacerbate in Liverpool.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, recovered from injury sustained on Sunday, was tasked with being the irritant striker, chasing Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk, ensuring each press included contact. They were not fouls but, like a flea bite, the more received, the more irksome the matter became.

One key ploy for Everton was to buy free-kicks anywhere from the halfway line onwards. Two Dwight McNeil set pieces resulted in the goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Calvert-Lewin as Liverpool failed to deal with the height and power of Everton in the box. Andrew Madley obliged whenever a blue shirt was touched, much to Liverpool’s chagrin, explaining why Van Dijk’s remonstrating earned him a yellow. It was an accumulation of issues that saw the Dutchman vent at the referee.

Everton disrupted the Liverpool gameplan. The visitors became quickly distracted by the shock tactics on show from the repeated free-kicks into the box and the multi-ball system that ensured Liverpool could not switch off, even if their brains were eager for a rest and blue shirts buzzed around them. In midfield Liverpool’s trio were disjointed, unable to cope with the battle