10 man Liverpool put Everton to the sword to win the 213th Merseyside derby and ensure Everton’s wait for a victory at Anfield stretches to 11 years.
A pre-match interview with Alberto Aquilani highlighted the player’s continuing injury struggles, as he admitted he is still suffering with pain.
It was no surprise to see Lucas and Mascherano start in what was sure to be a ferocious Merseyside derby. Maxi Rodriguez took the left wing berth from Albert Riera, with Daniel Agger also returning to the line up – replacing Martin Skrtel who moved to the bench.
The first half was filled with fouls and little football, however both sides had chances to break the deadlock.
Steven Pienaar was exceptionally lucky to stay on the pitch after a disgraceful over the ball tackle on Mascherano.
Fellaini also appeared to aim a kick at Dirk Kuyt’s head after the player had been felled.
But in the 35th minute the reds were reduced to 10 men. Kyrgiakos and Fellaini had been battling all game and the reds greek defender went in for a tackle sliding with both feet. Fellaini jumped and appeared to stamp on Kyrgiakos in the challenge.
Kyrgiakos was sent off and went down the tunnel to receive some stitches in his leg. Fellaini was eventually replaced by Arteta before being given the all clear.
But with the reds down to ten men, they only looked stronger.
Many fans would have been concerned but Liverpool dominated the second half and the pressure told when the reds went 1-0 up.
Gerrard taking the corner in front of the rabid Evertonians fired in the cross, Kuyt beat both Tim Howard and Phil Neville to head the ball in to the net.
The reds continued to search for a second, and Babel was wrongly given offside when he was clear. It could have been the chance.
Everton struggled to muster any decent chance on target despite their one man advantage and eventually, in injury time, Steven Pienaar finally saw red when he got his second yellow card.
Liverpool now have 17 points out of the last 21. We have two exceptionally difficult games coming up at Arsenal and Man City both away, but the fight shown today with 10 men will ensure Liverpool fans maintain the Merseyside bragging rights for a while.
Video
Dirk Kuyt, 1-0
Post Match Comments
Steven Gerrard
“Derbies are all about passion, commitment and fight, and we’ve beaten a good Everton side here with 10 men, so we should be proud and enjoy this.
Our attitude prevailed, we stuck together and then took our chance when it came. I don’t think the challenges crossed the line – we’re not complaining and I don’t think Everton will either. Like I say, this is what derbies are about.”
gerrard is absolute lethal hahaha get in
Moyes says there is not a great deal between the two clubs on the pitch well Bart we have just come thru one of the poorest periods in recent times and we are still 12 points above you in the table so that puts that little theory to bed .On the game itself as Stevie said the blood and thunder aspect of it was great from our point of view and you could tell that from the atmosphere in the ground , no complaints with Sotirious walking but screech should have gone as well , as for Pienaar the ref was 5 yards away and only produced yellow for some reason but all in all I thought we well deserved it for the battling qualities we showed after going down to 10 men so early in the game
proper team dispaly…everything clicked…..i think babel’s biggest problem is his touch…loses the ball far too much…but his running was good yesterday….wonderful performance…the closing down was good, we kept our shape so there wasnt really much wrong with our center…glad rafa’s still in charge…i hope the injuries continue to fade out….looking good for next season….i know we’ve sung that song for quite a while now but its all about belief….a wounded arsenal next……everyone’s gotta be sharp…unbelievable that we’re only 5 behind them now…everyone here (uganda) wrote us off a long long long time ago…who’s smiling now? come on you reds!
That was a great game from Kuyt, Kyrgiakos and Gerrard. If we play with this sense you will be in third place im sure.
We are counted as lucky… The whole squad looks weak especially the two center midfielder… I hope some1 can replace Lucas… He is a noob…
No torres, No benayoun, No johnson,
Maxi still bedding in, in only his 2nd game,
Aquilani on the bench,
reira, didnt play at all,
everton had pretty much a full team out.
still havent beaten liverpool in over a decade! – oh dear,,,,
the redmen have smashed you blues twice this year and twice last season..,
your a small club, Sir Rafa called it right, we have had a bad season and lfc have had huge problems and the blues still, can not beat us… ha ha ha ha… how fcuking funny is that,
NOW FUCK OFF YOU BLUE CUNTS
I told you everton would never beat lfc.never beat us in a
Decade and won’t in the next. Rafa was right
Everton are a small club and thats
proof because.
They coudnt even beat a 10 man team.