Review of the Year: March 2010

31 December 2010 00:00
LANDON DONOVAN bids an emotional farewell to Everton. The American may have only spent 12 weeks on loan at Goodison Park, but his impact is undeniable. A goal on his last home appearance, against Hull City, is an apt send-off.[LNB]There is an international debut for Blues left-back Leighton Baines, who turns out for England against Egypt at Wembley, whilst David Moyes closes in on the signing of Portuguese whizz-kid Joao Alves. Everton complete the double over big-spending Manchester City with a 2-0 win at Eastlands, whilst Moyes and Roberto Mancini record a draw in a petty touch-line squabble late on.[LNB]Liverpool march on in the Europa League, as they defeat French side Lille 3-1 on aggregate to set up a quarter-final clash with Benfica.[LNB]The in-form Fernando Torres - the newly crowned ECHO Sports Personality of the Year --is again on target.[LNB] Midfielder Alberto Aquilani, a £17m summer signing from Roma, also enjoys a productive month. Derided by many as one of manager Rafael Benitez's white elephants, the Italian scores his first Liverpool goal in a 4-1 win over Portsmouth.[LNB]There are, again, mixed results for Reds fans however; a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford hurts, but Torres scores one of the goals of the season as Sunderland, and Steve Bruce, are brushed aside at Anfield.[LNB]Albert Riera causes a stir with a cutting assault on Benitez, claiming his manager's communication with his players is 'absolutely zero'. The Spanish winger is later involved in an alteraction with a young reserve team player, and his time at Anfield looks up. He would never play for Liverpool again.

Source: Liverpool_Echo