Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 1:0 Everton
Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt took advantage of an absent Everton defence when he headed in Steven Gerrard's inswinging corner past a very frustrated goalkeeper Tim Howard (55). His 50th goal for the club was enough to win Liverpool all three very crucial points in the battle for a Champions League place.
The match and result could have been so different after Sotirios Kyrgiakos controversially saw red in the first half for clashing with Marouane Fellaini. Both men went into the tackle rather recklessly, the Greek defender going in with both feet whilst the Belgian midfielder stepped on his leg.
However, down to ten men, Liverpool surprisingly took control. Everton were unable to take advantage of their extra man on the pitch, creating hardly anything. Tim Cahill put the couple of chances they had either high or wide, giving Pepe Reina not much to do. The Spaniard did make a crucial save late-on in the match though, keeping out sub Yakubu's fine strike to the his left.
All in all, it seemed like the Toffees just fell asleep and the Reds got their act together after Kyrgiakos' sending off. It was a good old rough-and-tough derby which could have seen a couple more red cards if the referee Martin Atkinson would have stayed consistent with his decisions.
Steven Pienaar was lucky to get away with a yellow card for a clumsy tackle against Gerrard (29; however, he got a second yellow eventually, in the last seconds of the match, for head-butting the Reds' skipper) and Fellaini should have left the pitch with Kyrgiakos because he went into the tackle just as reckless.
The win takes Liverpool up to fourth place in the Premier League, Champions League qualification, five points behind Arsenal who face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge tomorrow and the Reds at the Emirates next week. You never know, if Arsenal play anything like they did against Manchester United last weekend, Liverpool could make it up to third come Wednesday night.
Liverpool Reina; Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kyrgiakos; Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Rodriguez (Aurelio 91); Kuyt (Skrtel 91), Ngog (Babel 63). Bookings Kuyt 21, Carragher 30, Gerrard 85. Sendings Off Kyrgiakos 34. Subs not used Cavalieri, Degen, Riera, Aquilani.
Everton Howard; Distin, Baines, Heitinga, Neville; Fellaini (Arteta 40), Osman (Yakubu 72), Cahill, Pienaar; Saha (Anichebe 72), Donovan. Bookings Pienaar 29, Heitinga 56, Anichebe 85. Second Yellow Pienaar 91. Subs not used Nash, Senderos, Coleman, Bilyaletdinov.
Referee Martin Atkinson
Man of the Match Dirk Kuyt
BBC Stats
Liverpool-Everton
Attempts: 7-6
On target: 4-3
Corners: 8-8
Free kicks: 23-11
Possession: 54%-46%
Sky Sports Stats
Liverpool-Everton
Attempts: 7-6
On target: 3-3
Corners: 8-8
Free kicks: 24-11
Possession: 48%-52%
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