Goodison Park Enjoys Goalless Derby

Sports - Football - Premier League - EVE 0:0 LIV

Liverpool have taken their unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions against Everton - W8 D9 - their longest ever run without defeat against their Merseyside rivals after a goalless draw at Goodison Park in the lunchtime kickoff on Saturday.

Click here for my full ByTheMinute match coverage.

Jürgen Klopp made five changes for the Reds with their eyes on the Champions League second-leg clash against Manchester City next week.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were the most notable absentees, the prior due to injury, the latter dropped onto the bench.

Big Sam made just one change for the Toffees from the side that lost 3-1 to Manchester City last weekend, Tom Davies replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The visitors dominated throughout, hardly giving the home side any time on the ball, but pace was noticeably missing on both sides.

Toffee keeper Jordan Pickford denied Dominic Solanke point blank after just over quarter of an hour gone.

On the other side of the pitch, Loris Karius punched Yannick Bolasie's magnificent curl full-stretch out for a corner halfway through the first half.

After half an hour, man of the match James Milner took a chance from the left, what a take and stop it was, Pickford with another strong save.

As much as Liverpool had the ball, it got more and more frustrating watching kick-about after kick-about, nothing coming from it.

Sadio Mané put a chance high from outside the box just before the break and Virgil van Dijk missed a couple of chances as well,

Bolasie, skipper Phil Jagielka and Seamus Coleman were all guilty of being reckless with their tackling and wasting the rare chances the Toffees got, but the referee kept the book in his pocket.

Wayne Rooney wasn't happy coming off with just under an hour gone, Idrissa Gueye replacing him, but the home side actually improved afterwards and got more into the game.

Coleman and Danny Ings clashed, but referee Michael Oliver just had a word with both captains Jagielka and Jordan Henderson respectively, no cards, no nothing.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced Milner with just over 20 minutes to go and tried to replicate his Wednesday Champions League cracker from outside the box, but it wasn't quite the same, going out high for a goal kick.

Cenk Tosun, Theo Walcott and substitute Calvert-Lewin wasted chances from close range late on, Liverpool's defensive changes going for the draw.

It ended goalless, Everton finishing on a high after Liverpool rode the show - plenty of chances missed, wasted and went begging, frustrating to watch.

The second half saw no shots on target by either side and it was only the second Merseyside derby in PL history without a single booking, first since their opening clash in December 1992.

The home side will definitely have been happier with the point, the visitors' heads lost in Europe.

Two points dropped for the Reds, keeping them in third, one point behind the Red Devils in second before their evening kick-off against local rivals City.

HT Stats: EVE 0-0 LIV
Possession: 34%-66%
Shots: 3-7
On target: 1-3
Corners: 2-2
Fouls: 7-2

FT Stats: EVE 0-0 LIV
Possession: 38%-62%
Shots: 6-10
On target: 1-3
Corners: 3-2
Fouls: 12-7

Everton Team: 1 Pickford; 3 Baines, 4 Keane, 6 Jagielka (c), 23 Coleman; 2 Schneiderlin, 10 Rooney (17 Gueye 57'); 7 Bolasie (29 Calvert-Lewin 61'), 26 Davies (54 Baningme 79'), 11 Walcott; 14 Tosun. 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 15 Martina, 19 Niasse, 25 Funes Mori, 33 Joel.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 17 Klavan, 4 van Dijk, 6 Lovren, 2 Clyne; 6 Milner (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 68'), 14 Henderson (c), 5 Wijnaldum; 19 Mané (9 Firmino 74'), 29 Solanke, 28 Ings (66 Alexander-Arnold 89'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 22 Mignolet, 63 Masterson, 48 Jones, 64 Camacho.

Referee: Michael Oliver
Man of the match: James Milner
Ground: Goodison Park
Attendance: 39,220

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app, Twitter and SFR coverage.

Rooney Grabs A Point From The Spot

Sports - Football - Premier League - LFC 1:1 EFC

Here are my live match notes, stats and facts:

Pre-match surprise: Coutinho and Firmino dropped to the bench, part of six changes for the Reds!!! (See the full line-ups at the bottom of these live match notes.)

15' 76%-24% possession, Reds pushing, Toffees leaving too much space at times, Big Sam going ballistic on the sideline, even Jürgen Klopp was taken aback next to the big raging boss.

23' 93%-46% passing accuracy, quality and dominance but still no real danger nor breakthrough.

29' 5-0 attempts, 0-0 on target, on top but somewhat disappointing so far for the Reds.

36' first BOOKING of the derby goes to Sigurdsson for a late tackle on Henderson, studs on ankle, ouch.

42' second BOOKING Gueye, late tackle from behind on Senegalese team mate Mané, free kick for the home side on the left -

GOAL - Salah fights his way through from the right, lifts and swerves a beauty up, away and into the left corner with his magical left foot, keeper no chance, 1-0!

Two minutes added on.

MISS - Mané skips past the last Toffee, runs in from the left, has three other Reds free in front of goal to choose from, but the Senegalese striker puts it wide instead. Should have been 2-0!

HT LFC 1-0 EFC
Possession: 80%-20%
Shots: 12-1
On target: 1-1
Corners: 3-0
Fouls: 4-6
Yellow cards: 0-2

Two CHANGES made by Big Sam after the break, Lennon and Schneiderlin on for Davies and Niasse. Rooney has gone from useless right-back to up front. Will it bring Everton into the game?

49' Salah header JUST wide, brilliant Milner cross. Liverpool continuing the way they were going, on top, dominant.

50' Sigurdsson puts the ball wide from the left, no real threat.

52' Fifth corner to the Reds, looking dangerous, Toffees struggling, crumbling, sixth corner, headed away, threat still not cleared, all Liverpool at the moment.

55' Seventh and eighth Liverpool corner, Salah fires it high from the edge of the box. 15-1 shots, but just 1-1 on target.

63' 77%-23% possession, I don't know how that has gone down, it's still all Red, one-way traffic. 35-2 touches in the opposition box.

65' Pickford was just watching there as Gomez headed the ball over off a free kick on the left, close one.

67' First CHANGE made by Klopp, Firmino replaces goal scorer Salah. Calculated gamble by the German boss, the commentators ask.

73' 11-1 corners, first one for the visitors, the fans cheer as if they've scored, nothing from it.

76' PENALTY TO EVERTON Lovren pushed down Calvert-Lewin in the box, no one else near, no threat as they were running towards the corner, clumsy one, soft one, a present. The visitors' first penalty at Anfield since 1988!!!

77' ROONEY EQUALISES from the spot, his first EVER goal in the Merseyside derby, Liverpool punished for their misses and clumsiness.

80' CHANGE Klopp brings on Coutinho for Oxlade-Chamberlain in response to that equaliser, Lovren had been booked for the penalty offence.

82' CHANGE Solanke is replaced by Ings, final dice thrown by Klopp.

82' Last CHANGE for Everton as well, Rooney handing the captain's armband over to Jagielka.

85' Schneiderlin BOOKED for felling down Milner. Coutinho to take the resulting free kick, Pickford saves and collects it to his top right. 22-3 shots, only 3-2 on target.

88' Lovren heads another Liverpool corner high. He will be kicking himself for giving away the win.

Four minutes added on, Firmino on the stretch, ball goes out for a goal kick. Henderson fires high late on, disappointing.

Full time whistle blows, Lovren still protesting to the officials, but he can moan as much as he likes, he has given the win away with the penalty foul. 1-1 and one point each, all the dominance and chances don't count for anything!

Positive note: Liverpool remain unbeaten in the last ten matches in all competitions and have equalled their longest-ever unbeaten run against the Toffees in all competitions = 15 games, set between March 1972 and April 1978.

FT LFC 1-1 EFC
Possession: 79%-21%
Shots: 23-3
On target: 3-2
Corners: 2-1
Fouls: 8-11
Yellow cards: 1-3

Klopp's post-match interview!!! Wow! The German normal and usually smiley one didn't take the questions about the spot kick lightly!!! No matter how angry he is about the referee, he can't ignore his side's weaknesses and how they couldn't take the game away from Big Sam's side. Next: West Brom at Anfield on Wednesday!

Liverpool team: 22 Mignolet, 12 Gomez, 6 Lovren (booked 76'), 17 Klavan, 26 Robertson, 14 Henderson (c), 7 Milner, 21 Oxlade-Chamberlain (10 Coutinho 78'), 19 Mané, 11 Salah (9 Firmino 67'), 29 Solanke (28 Ings 82'). 4-2-3-1
Subs not used: 1 Karius, 5 Wijnaldum, 23 Can, 66 Alexander-Arnold.

Everton team: 1 Pickford, 43 Kenny, 15 Martina, 30 Holgate, 5 Williams, 17 Gueye (booked 42'), 29 Calvert-Lewin, 26 Davies (12 Lennon HT), 10 Rooney (c) (6 Jagielka 82'), 18 Sigurdsson (booked 36'), 19 Niasse (2 Schneiderlin HT, booked 85'). 4-3-3
Subs not used: 33 Robles, 4 Keane, 27 Vlasic, 31 Lookman.

Referee: Craig Pawson
Man of the match: Jonjoe Kenny
Ground: Anfield
Attendance: 53,082

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and Sky Sports live match coverage.

Premier League Picks Of The Week 30

Sports - Football - Premier League - Week 30

The 30th week of the Premier League action saw:

261 shots - most by Chelsea = 24
19 goals - most by Liverpool = 3
229 fouls - most by Liverpool = 17
41 bookings - most by Stoke = 4
0 red cards
1 penalty - 0 scored (Harry Arter missed that one for Bournemouth sky-high!)

What a game! The Merseyside derby was a feisty, competitive encounter that more than entertained. The goals were top quality, from Sadio Mané's stubborn, strong, low left-footer, to man of the match Philippe Coutinho's right-foot curler into the corner of the net. Matthew Pennington's first senior goal for Everton had not levelled the score for long. And substitute Divock Origi put the icing on the cake for Liverpool soon after coming on for an injured Mané, making it 3-1. Both Ross Barkley and substitute Gareth Barry were lucky to escape further bookings and dismissals with a lot of misplaced, mistimed, over-physical challenges. Any more chances Everton had, Simon Mignolet kept solid for the rest of the match. And the man in form Romelu Lukaku was kept mute throughout. Reds manager Jürgen Klopp is the first Liverpool boss to win his first three league derbies. Toffees boss Ronald Koeman left Anfield less happy, more annoyed with the officials, but his side were outclassed in the end and haven't seen an away win here since 1999.

What a team! Crystal Palace surprised everyone, especially Chelsea, recording their fourth consecutive league win against the league leaders. It was a top quality, mind-blowing performance. Everyone thought it would be an obvious result after Cesc Fàbregas opened the scoring and gave the Blues the lead. But man of the match Wilfried Zaha was scorer and then provider to Christian Benteke seconds later, turning the home defence, fans and scoreline on their heads in an explosive start at Stamford Bridge, which saw three goals in the opening 11 minutes! The Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey was outstanding too, keeping the scoreline at 1-2 and making Big Sam the first boss to win a Premier League match against Chelsea with four different clubs!

What a man! And United boss José Mourinho drew all the attention onto him again with a dismissive, bewildering post-match interview after his side's goalless draw against West Brom at Old Trafford. Yes, his side had more possession and chances. But, and that's a big but, they did not score! It's the Red Devils' 11th draw, a top-flight record. They are now 19 games unbeaten, but the Portuguese's points tally after 28 games doesn't read well against his predecessors at United = his 53 v David Moyes' 59 v LVG's 63! So, maybe that's why the Special One is being more like the Stroppy One!

What a goal! Both Leicester's goals against Stoke were fantastic! Wilfred Ndidi opened the scoring out of the blue with a cracking beauty, a right-foot shot into the top corner. Jamie Vardy doubled the score for the defending champions with his right foot, Potters defender Glen Johnson just standing and watching on like frozen. Both goals were set up by a glowing Danny Simpson. The Tigers keep flying high with their fourth consecutive win under Craig Shakespeare, making him the first British manager to win his opening quadruple and taking his side up to 13th.

What the hell?! Arsenal came back twice against Manchester City earning them a point with their 2-2 draw at the Emirates. Sounds good, competitive and quality, but it wasn't. The game was everything else but not good, competitive nor quality. The Gunners lost their coordination and connection, were just not on the ball, it was more than evident that something isn't right. The Sky Blues were not much better but seemed to be more content with the draw. Especially the first equaliser by Theo Walcott was peculiar as it did not cause much celebration. It didn't help that the home side conceded again seconds later, but the whole feel and atmosphere to the goal and the whole game... Weird... Bad... Sad... Just negative! Amongst the players and fans! They should be very ashamed! For or against Arsène Wenger, you should always be in it and play the game to win it. Reminds me a bit of Leicester and Claudio Ranieri this season. Shame on all of them!

My Predictions - Actual Results
Liverpool 3:2 Everton - 3:1
Burnley 1:1 Tottenham - 0:2
Chelsea 2:1 Crystal Palace - 1:2
Hull City 1:1 West Ham - 2:1
Leicester 3:1 Stoke City - 2:0
Man United 2:1 West Brom - 0:0
Watford 0:0 Sunderland - 1:0
Southampton 1:1 Bournemouth - 0:0
Swansea 0:0 Middlesbrough - 0:0
Arsenal 2:2 Man City - 2:2

Click here for last week's Premier League Picks.

All stats and pictures are taken from MOTD and the BBC match reports.

Liverpool thrash Everton 4-0 in derby thriller

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 4:0 Everton

Liverpool enjoyed their biggest Merseyside derby win since 1982, thrashing their local rivals Everton 4-0 in an enthralling encounter at Anfield.

The hosts came out all guns blazing from kick-off, countering any chances or flow of play by the Toffees with breath-taking speed and lethal combinations.

Skipper Steven Gerrard opened the scoring in the 21st minute, heading in a Luis Suarez corner in to the left corner of the net, a fine goal after a fine start in his 28th derby.

Any resistance by the Toffees was killed off when Romelu Lukaku was forced off injured, to be replaced by Steven Naismith, after just 25 minutes, before a Daniel Sturridge double, two goals in two minutes, sealed the three-point deal for the Reds.

The England striker first clipped one in past Tim Howard after a perfect slide-through ball by Philippe Coutinho, followed by a high loft over the forward running American keeper to make it 3-0 after 35 minutes.

Roberto Martinez's men created some chances but struggled to cope with the Reds' front line, their speed and power especially on the counter, and saw three bookings for their frustration.

Suarez added to the visitors' misery five minutes after the break, netting Liverpool's fourth of the day and the Uruguayan's 23rd of the season for the club, after a fine counter.

And it could have been worse for the Toffees, when Howard brought down Raheem Sterling in the box to give Sturridge the chance for a hat-trick from the spot, which the 24-year-old blew cringingly over the bar.

The win keeps Brendan Rodgers' men on track for the top four, on 46 points, three ahead of Tottenham in fifth and four behind Chelsea in third.

Liverpool goals: 1.: 21st min Steven Gerrard (8), 2. & 3.: 33rd & 35th min Daniel Sturridge (15), 4.: 50th min Luis Suarez (7).

Liverpool team: 22 Mignolet; 20 Cissokho, 37 Skrtel, 4 Toure, 38 Flanagan (34 Kelly- 73rd min); 10 Coutinho (6 Luis Alberto- 79th min), 14 Henderson, 8 Gerrard, 31 Sterling; 15 Sturridge (12 Moses- 71st min), 7 Suarez. 4-4-2 Subs not used: 1 Jones, 9 Aspas, 33 Ibe, 44 Smith.

Everton team: 24 Howard; 3 Baines, 6 Jagielka, 32 Alcaraz, 26 Stones; 18 Barry (booked 48th min), 16 McCarthy; 22 Pienaar (booked 38th min) (21 Osman- HT), 20 Barkley (7 McGeady- 76th min), 11 Mirallas (booked 51st min); 17 Lukaku (14 Naismith- 25th min). 4-2-3-1 Subs not used: 1 Joel, 2 Hibbert, 19 Gueye, 29 Garbutt.

Match stats 1st & 2nd half: Liverpool-Everton Attempts: 11-5 & 6-5
On target: 8-1 & 1-3
Offsides: 1-0 & 0-0
Corners: 2-4 & 3-4
Free kicks: 7-4 & 5-6
Possession: 41.6%-58.4% & 39.4%-60.6%
Passing success rate: 80%-84.8% & 78%-84.85%

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 44,450
Man of the match: Daniel Sturridge

Liverpool grab controversial derby win

Sports - Football - Premier League - Everton 0:2 Liverpool

Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 in an eventful Merseyside derby at Goodison Park after seeing Jack Rodwell being sent off for a challenge on Luis Suarez, Dirk Kuyt missing a penalty as Suarez was brought down by Phil Jagielka before Andy Carroll slammed home his first Premier League goal for the Reds and the controversial Uruguayan striker wrapped things up eight minutes from time.



Everton had started the brighter with Tim Cahill pulling out an athletic save from Pepe Reina who had to tip the Australian midfielder's shot over the top.

Referee Martin Atkinson hogged the limelight when he showed Rodwell the red card halfway through the first half for what replays showed was hardly a tackle on Suarez, giving Liverpool the advantage of an extra man and the Evertonians a very sour apple to bite on.

You could say justice was done when Kuyt's penalty was saved heroically by Tim Howard after Suarez once again fell down dramatically on the corner of the penalty area brought down by Jagielka just before half time.

Charlie Adam hit the bar with a strike from 20 yards out before Atkinson finally blew the halftime whistle, giving Everton the chance to regroup.

The homeside started the second half strongly under the circumstances, Louis Saha clearing Carroll's shot off the line on the one side and keeping Reina on his toes with a low effort from distance that ended up wide on the other side.

Howard had to save another Carroll attempt low at his post with more and more chances coming off set pieces and corners early on in the second half.

Kenny Dalglish rang the changes after 66 minutes replacing Adam and the subdued Stewart Downing by Steven Gerrard and Craig Bellamy as his side still seemed unable to take advantage of the extra man on the field.

The changes seemed to have their effect when with 20 minutes left Bellamy played in Jose Enrique whose cross was avoided by a ducking Kuyt and netted by a grateful Carroll from eight yards.

Ten minutes later, Suarez sealed the deal when he was able to take advantage of a mix up between Sylvain Distin and Leighton Baines to advance into the box and shoot low past Howard to make it 2-0.

The game finished with Everton furious and deflated, Liverpool the happier and more grateful for it. Dalglish said he did not see the red card incident, David Moyes feels understandably angered, it should not have been.

In the end, the incident spoilt what looked like a promising, competitive derby encounter and instead ended up a controversial, negative clash of opinions, incidents and referees' decisions. Shame.

Everton: Howard; Hibbert (Vellios 78), Baines, Jagielka, Distin; Coleman (Drenthe 59), Cahill (booked 27), Osman (Neville 69), Fellaini; Rodwell (sent off 23), Saha.
Subs not used: Mucha, Bilyaletdinon, Barkley, Stracqualursi.

Liverpool: Reina; Jose Enrique, Carragher, Kelly, Skrtel; Downing (Bellamy 67), Lucas (booked 50, Henderson 88), Adam (Gerrard 67), Suarez; Carroll, Kuyt.
Subs not used: Doni, Coates, Flanagan, Spearing.

Sky (& BBC stats:)
Everton-Liverpool
Attemps: 9-12 (& 12-15)
On target: 3-6 (& 4-6)
Offsides: 2-1
Corners: 5-9 (& 5-9)
Free kicks: 10-15 (& 9-15)
Possession: 36.3%-63.7% (& 40%-60%)
Passing Success: 76.4%-84.8%
Tackles/Success: 15/86.7%-17/52.9%
Territorial Advantage: 49.4%-50.6%

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Man of the match: Jose Enrique

Merseyside derby ends all evens at Anfield

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 2:2 Everton

Honours ended up all even at Merseyside after Dirk Kuyt's penalty earned King Kenny's men a draw in the derby with Everton, leaving both sides on 26 points, only four points clear of the relegation zone in 13th and 12th place respectively.

Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles took the lead for Liverpool on 29, driving the ball from 18 yards after Kuyt pulled a double save out of Tim Howard.

It was a deserved lead as Liverpool enjoyed most possession and chances, Dalglish coule be a happy man at half time onhis return to Anfield for the 215th Merseyside derby.

All the optimism changed for the Reds with the kick-off of the second half: Within 43 seconds Sylvain Distin headed in Mikel Arteta's corner at the back post, over Martin Skrtel and past Pepe Reina to make it 1-1.

Just over five minutes later, Jermaine Bedford completed the turnaround, smashing in Leon Osman's pass from close range and making Kuyt's and Fernando Torres' earlier close chances, including a crash against the post, count for nothing and seem meeningless as they weree to the scoreboard.

The guests looked well on top after that, Liverpool's play looking less organised and confident, more disrupted, making David Moyes the much happier since half time.

However, there was another twist in the tale: After all his saves, Howard turned from hero to villain when he clipped the legs of Maxi Rodriguez to bring the Argentine down and concede the penalty which Kuyt converted with cool composure to make the last 20-ish minutes the more interesting, tense and gripping.

Both sides pushed on, sharing chances, shouts and pressure, the result reföecting this fair and square.

Liverpool: Reina (booked 53); Kelly, Skrtel, Agger (Kyrgiakos 46), Johnson; Meireles (scored 28:24, Shelvey 81), Spearing, Lucas, Kuyt (booked 89) (scored penalty 67:21); Torres (booked 63), Maxi.
Subs not used: Gulacsi, Aurelio, Cole, Pacheco, Babel.

Everton: Howard; Neville, Heitinga, Distin (scored 45:38), Baines; Coleman, Fellaini, Arteta, Osman (Rodwell 78); Beckford (scored 51:34, Vaughan 74), Anichebe (Bilyaletdinov 82).
Subs not used: Mucha, Hibbert, Gueye, Baxter.

1st half stats:
Liverpool-Everton
Attempts: 10-4
On target: 6-1
Offsides: 1-0
Corners: 6-4
Free kicks: 7-9
Possession:
65%-35% (20-30 min)
53%-47% (HT)

2nd half stats:
Liverpool-Everton
Attempts: 3-2
On target: 2-2
Offsides: 3-0
Corners: 4-2
Free kicks: 9-9
Possession:
51%-49% (FT)

Sky Sports Stats:
Liverpool-Everton
Passing Success: 77.5%-73.4%
Tackles/Success: 20/90%-25/72%
Territorial Advantage: 48%-52%

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Man of the match: Fernando Torres

Everton take Merseyside derby spoils & points

Sports - Football - Premier League - Everton 2:0 Liverpool

American businessmen and new Liverpool owners John W. Henry and Tom Werner had to watch their new team struggle against their local rivals and start their reign with the Reds on the losing side and in the relegation zone, 19th position behind Wolves on goal difference.


Everton started with clear intentions and dominated the first half in possession and chances. Tim Cahill gave his side the deserved lead in the 34th minute with a fine right-footed turn-curl shot off a Seamus Coleman cross into the box, a solid strike over and past Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, giving Liverpool a lot to do and a lot to think and work on at half time.

It didn't take long though for things to get even worse for the Reds. Mikel Arteta's strike off a Laighton Baines corner, curled right past Reina from just outside the box after Sotirios Kyrgiakos headed the Everton corner back leaving Arteta with too much space and no cover.

Replays showed the Everton forward Ayegbeni Yakubu in an offside position, not involved in play but possibly and seemingly blocking Reina's view of the ball. It would have been harsh not to give the goal though.

This controversial setback seemed to finally get Liverpool going, pushing Everton back more, enjoying more possession and giving Tim Howard more to chew on than before. But it wasn't meant to be, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard drawing frustrated pictures of themselves, falling over and losing the ball or putting it out wide and high more than too often.

Roy Hodgson's late changes saw a little if some effect. Ryan Babel and Milan Jovanovic both caught Howard and his defenders out late on, but were not able to turn their advantages into the net and into goals.

The last mintues were tense but the home side held through - Jermaine Beckford walking on thin ice the last few minutes with some ill indiscipline, could have nicked another goal in to make it three but lost out to Reina in the end.

David Moyes and his side definitely ended up the happier though with two goals and three points in the bag, showing Liverpool that change takes time, a long time.

Hodgson, Henry and Werner must have gathered and should know by now that it is going to be a long road to walk on this season, that's for sure. Don't do anything hasty and stupid now, work and walk on.

Everton: Howard; Baines, Heitinga (Hibbert 72), Jagielka, Distin; Neville, Coleman, Arteta (goal 50; Beckford 74, booked 76), Cahill (booked 29, goal 34); Osman (Bilyaletdinov 46), Yakubu.
Subs not used: Mucha, Shokdran Mustafi, Magaye Gueye, Baxter.

Liverpool: Reina; Konchesky, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Skrtel; Raul Meireles (booked 31), Gerrard, Cole (Babel 80), Maxi (booked 19, Jovanovic 85), Lucas (Ngog 71); Torres (booked 88).
Subs not used: Jones, Aurelio, Kelly, Spearing.

Everton-Liverpool 1st half stats:
Attempts: 5-2
On target: 3-1
Offsides: 0-0
Corners: 5-2
Free kicks: 6-7
Possession: 54%-46%

Everton-Liverpool 2nd half stats:
Attempts: 3-8
On target: 1-6
Offsides: 0-0
Corners: 3-5
Free kicks: 3-3
Possesion: 44%-56%

Sky Sports stats:
Everton-Liverpool Passing Success: 67.9%-84.3
Tackles/Success: 29/72.4%-24/62.5%
Action Areas: Everton 10%-41%-49% Liverpool (first 10 minutes)
Territorial Advantage: 48.9%-51.1%

Referee: Howard Webb
Man of the match: Tim Cahill

Premier League Match Report: Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn - Justice for the 96

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn

Sonja Hodgson at Anfield

I was close to tears when "You'll Never Walk Alone" was echoing through Anfield, had goosebumps during the minute of silence and when the crowd cheered and fired on the Reds from kick-off, I was enchanted by the atmosphere.

On Wednesday the Hillsborough disaster will be 20 years ago. On the 15th April 1989, 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives. Services, open-to-all, will be held on Wednesday for friends, family and everyone in the football world to commemorate the loss. The victim's names are listed on the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield.

Yesterday's match, teams and fans were focused, themed and dedicated only to one thing: Justice for the 96. The Memorial was surrounded by fans before and after the match leaving their scarves, shirts, posters, cards and flowers.

And they got what they came for, a team and match showing heart, dedication, respect and honour. The Merseyside team started without their talisman captain Steven Gerrard, who lost his cousin in the disaster, and with Martin Skrtel and Fabio Aurelio also sidelined, there was a sense of tension, worry and nervousness around the ground from kick-off - but not of long last. Only four minutes into the game, Fernando Torres scored a beauty. Jamie Carragher crossed the ball to the Spaniard from the halfway-line, for him to control it with the first touch and put a right-footed shot up and over Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson with the second.

The fans remained demanding and critical - understandable having seen Liverpool throw away a 1-0 lead against Chelsea on Wednesday. But the worries were unfounded this time.

It should have been 2-0 when Dirk Kuyt made a break after Blackburn lost possession sloppily and passed it to Javier Mascherano who had made a great support run from the halfway-line, but missed for none-other than Torres to put the rebound high and wide from five yards. How he could miss that after he had put in the first beauty puzzled the Kop.

Robinson also saved a point-blank Kuyt header for this time Yossi Benayoun to scoop the rebound over the bar wastefully. Finally and deservedly so, Torres headed in a second goal from a Xabi Alonso free kick. It looked like it accidentally came off the back of his head, but give him the benefit of the doubt a player of his quality deserves once and again.

Albert Riera wasted promising chances, but at half time Liverpool sat comfortably in the driver's seat. Blackburn made their first change after the break and completed their three just after the hour-mark, trying not to concede more goals or even scrape something back and out of the match. Christopher Samba slipped their first and only chance to have it saved by Pepe Reina, leaving Liverpool on top.

After Nabil El Zhar and Mascherano had missed half-chances inside Blackburn's box and Alonso's corner was met by a fine Riera-header which cleared off the line by Samba, it looked like the third goal just did not and would not want to come for Liverpool. But Daniel Agger fired in a belter showing everyone how it is done, putting it past Robinson's right with his left foot. And it was all given a sweet topping for the Kop when Lucas received Carragher's diagonal ball on the left side of the box and headed across the goal for David Ngog to get the last touch to make it 4-0.

This is just what the doctor ordered for Liverpool to regain confidence after their Champions League defeat against Chelsea and to face their London rivals in the second-leg clash on Tuesday with a chance.

This was an indescribable experience for me. The atmosphere, the fans, the game, just everything. The sunset along the Mersey the evening before was just as breath-and-word-taking; the lady in the bus on our way to the ground with the Everton-ringtone on her phone was just as brave, daring and courageous; just as Liverpool will have to be on Tuesday to make it to the Champions League semi-final.

Unlinked photographs taken by Sonja Hodgson