• Date: Sun 30 March 2008
  • Venue: Anfield
  • Ref: Webb, H
  • Attendance: 44,295

Liverpool vs Everton

Team Lineups

Liverpool

Jose Manuel Reina
Sami Hyypia
Martin Skrtel
Jamie Carragher
Steven Gerrard (Peter Crouch, 90)
John Arne Riise
Leiva Lucas
Xabi Alonso
Ryan Babel (Yossi Benayoun, 82)
Dirk Kuyt
Fernando Torres (Jermaine Pennant, 89)

Everton

Tim Howard
Joleon Lescott
Phil Neville (Leighton Baines, 72)
Joseph Yobo
Tony Hibbert
Phil Jagielka
Mikel Arteta
Steven Pienaar (Henriques Manuel Fernandes, 61)
Leon Osman
Lee Carsley
Ayegbeni Yakubu


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

Liverpool hold on to record a crucial win against their city rivals, who created very little

90
Substitution
 

Peter Crouch replaces Gerrard in the closing seconds

90

Into stoppage time and Everton look like slipping five points behind their rivals

90

Gerrard controls Reina's long ball on his chest, swivels and hits a fierce shot towards the top corner. Well saved by Howard. Corner is cleared

89
Substitution
 

Jermaine Pennant comes on for goalscorer Torres

89
Yellow Card
 

Fernando Torres is booked for kicking the ball away

88

Dirk Kuyt breaks free on the break and has a shot deflected behind. Everton clear

86

Everton pour forward, leaving Lescott alone at the back. Reina again rushes out to claim a cross but makes no contact. Nervous times for the home side

85

Jagielka has stayed up front as Everton seek the breakthrough from a setpiece. Liverpool are not quite holding on but they are carrying little theat themselves

82
Substitution
 

Yossi Benayoun replaces Ryan Babel

81

Everton make progress with a series of throw-ins down the right

79

Liverpool mount a counterattack but Torres loses possession - the Reds' star man has seen little of the ball this half

77

The visitors are showing more urgency in their search for an equaliser with Jagielka briefly joining Yakubu in attack

74

Reina makes a terrible attempt at a punch from Arteta's corner but the whistle goes for a foul by Yakubu

72
Substitution
 

Phil Neville is replaced by Leighton Baines

71
Yellow Card
 

Phil Jagielka catches Gerrard with a high boot

69

Gerrard takes on Yobo, who concedes the corner

68

Another good block by Yobo, this time from Lucas. Better stuff from Liverpool

67

Xabi Alonso latches onto a loose ball but has his shot blocked by Joseph Yobo

66

Liverpool break swiftly but Ryan Babel wastes a good position after good work by Gerrard

64

The visitors continue to press without creating clear chances

61
Substitution
 

Henriques Manuel Fernandes replaces Steven Pienaar

61

Yakubu is challenged well by Sami Hyypia as the Nigerian prepares to shoot

59

Everton enjoy a succession of free kicks in Liverpool's half but the reds absorb the pressure

57

Tempers flare as Jamie Carragher and Phil Neville fly into each other. The game is scrappy with little fluency in passing

54

The hosts will be cursing those missed chances as this half is much more even

52

Yakubu is seeing more of the ball this half but the big striker is crowded out. Liverpool are not in their stride yet this half

50

The Blues are looking more threatening and release Yakubu, who shoots over, but the whistle has already gone for a foul by Carsley

48
Yellow Card
 

Another Everton player goes in the book - Pienaar cynically hauls back the breaking Ryan Babel

47

Everton win a corner through Yakubu. Arteta's delivery is punched clear by Reina

Second half
 

No changes at the break as the second period begins

Half time
 

Liverpool totally dominant. Everton need to improve drastically after the break

45

Riise lines up a trademark piledriver, but it is deflected behind. Sami Hyypia doesn't connect properly with Gerrard's cross

44

Torres slips in Dirk Kuyt but the Dutchman misses the target. Liverpool will feel that they should have a healthier lead

42

Yakubu holds up the ball, waits for support but can't find Pienaar. The striker is very isolated for the visitors

39

Steven Gerrard picks up a loose ball 25 yards out and hammers a shot against the post

38

Ryan Babel breaks quickly but Tony Hibbert clears for a corner with Torres awaiting the cross. Everton clear the danger

37

Everton appeals for handball are waved away as Lescott attacks a dangerous ball into the box

36

Mikel Arteta works some space and finds Steven Pienaar in a good position, but the South African miscontrols. That sums up Everton so far

33

Everton will already be eyeing half time - they just haven't got going

31

A rash tackle by Phil Jagielka on Torres gifts Liverpool a free kick in a dangerous position. Gerrard nearly finds Lucas but Lee Carsley intervenes

28

Another chance goes begging for the home side! Ryan Babel can't connect with Riise's cross under pressure from two Everton defenders

26

Leon Osman is crowded out after a spell of passing by the Blues

24

Neville clears Riise's cross behind for another corner. Howard comes and misses the cross but Dirk Kuyt can't convert an easy chance from close-range. Should be 2-0

21

Everton win a corner through Joleon Lescott down the left. Arteta's delivery is cleared by Riise

19

A rare Blues foray into Liverpool territory peters out when Yakubu is caught offside

17
Yellow Card
 

Phil Neville catches Lucas with a late tackle and earns a booking

16

Liverpool nearly score again as Torres and Kuyt go close in quick succession. Neat save from Tim Howard. The reds are dominant

12

Babel takes on Tony Hibbert and whips in a good cross. Cleared for a corner that Phil Jagielka deals with

11

The Toffees are looking shaky after that early setback and cannot retain possession

9
Yellow Card
 

Lee Carsley sees yellow for a high challenge on Torres

8
Goal
 

Fernando Torres opens the scoring with a fine strike after Yakubu was caught in possession

6

Ryan Babel breaks quickly down the left but his pacy run is let down by a poor cross

4

It could be a congested midfield battle today - Torres and Yakubu have started off as lone strikers

2

Everton have the first shot, Arteta forcing Reina into a regulation save with a left=footed shot from the edge of the area

1

Liverpool press first but Torres can't control Gerrard's pass

Kickoff
 

Referee Howard Webb get us underway at Anfield

Awaiting Kickoff
 

These games have seen more red cards (16) than any other Premier League fixture

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Two points separate these rivals in the battle for fourth place; Liverpool have lost only two of the last 16 Merseyside derbies

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Everton line-up: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Carsley, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Arteta, Yakubu

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Liverpool team: Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Lucas, Gerrard, Alonso, Babel, Kuyt, Torres

Awaiting Kickoff
 

A crucial Merseyside derby sees the Reds replace the suspended Javier Mascherano with Lucas Leiva. Stephen Pienaar has recovered from illness to start for Everton