Source: Liverpool_Echo
West Ham 1 Everton FC 1: Greg O'Keeffe on the Blues' draw
David Moyes 300[LNB]FROM frozen pipes to frozen ambitions - Everton's hopes of a surge towards the top of the table continue to flatter to deceive.[LNB]Where recent history suggests there is no holding the Blues back when they turn a corner, as against Manchester City, this season's corners lead only into cul-de-sacs.[LNB]Victory against a West Ham United side which has defended poorly all season could have propelled the Blues to tenth in the table - and above Liverpool for 24 hours at least.[LNB]But instead, they played like a team who badly needed the momentum and confidence, that playing on Boxing Day so soon after that satisfying night at Eastlands, might have afforded them.[LNB] The curse of Groundhog Day returned; during a campaign that mirrors the Bill Murray comedy where he wakes up to find every day is the same.[LNB]First, Tony Hibbert produced another unfortunate own goal in this fixture after doing exactly the same last season.[LNB]Then Everton's attacking play mirrored practically every other game of this campaign, Manchester City aside, whereby it all went smoothly until the final ball.[LNB]This time, even the much-maligned strikers were blameless - because there were none on the pitch for the first 61 minutes.[LNB]David Moyes surprised everyone by keeping all three of his frontmen on the bench, and starting with Tim Cahill leading the line alone, in front of a fluid midfield which was instructed to assist him at will, with only Marouane Fellaini sitting deep in front of his back four.[LNB]Understandably, Moyes was reluctant to drop any of the players who glittered at Eastlands, while also keen to restore Mikel Arteta to the side.[LNB]So with Victor Anichebe suspended, he eschewed any striking presence and hoped the host of talented ball players in a packed midfield would conjure the right formula.
