Mascherano celebrates the reds opening goal
Liverpool inflicted further misery on their local neighbours with a 2-0 victory with goals at either end of the game.
Fernando Torres was still unavailable for the reds who opted with the same team who won against Debrecen in mid week.
The game was on the whole a lifeless affair. The reds went ahead in the 11th minute – when a Javier Mascherano shot took a deflection and went past Tim Howard in the blues goal.
The reds were nervous mid-week when they took the lead in Hungary and here was no different. Everton pushed hard to get the equaliser and did manage to put the ball in Liverpool’s net before it was correctly disallowed for offside.
The reds eventually got a foothold back on the game in the final 5 minutes of the first half.
The second half started with Everton strong on the attack. Some defensive frailties caused Liverpool to give away needless corners and free kicks but the reds kept them at bay.
A fantastic double save from Pepe Reina signalled the turning point in the game. A couple of Liverpool changes, Yossi on for N’gog and Riera (making his 50th reds appearance) on for Aurelio.
Despite being a peripheral figure for most of the game, Steven Gerrard was involved with the reds second goal which Dirk Kuyt put in to the net to wrap up the game.
Everton’s players looked beaten, the Toffee’s fans headed towards the exits and Liverpool move to within 3 points of 3rd place in the Premier League.
Post Match Comments
Rafael Benitez:
“It was a great victory – everybody is really pleased. Today we worked so hard – they were tough and pushing and we did our job in defence and we had to play counter-attack.”
Stats
Possession: 48%
Shots: 9 (7 on target) [Everton – 12(8 on target)]
Corners: 4 [Everton – 6]
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Johnson, Kuyt, Leiva, Mascherano, Gerrard, Aurelio (Riera), Ngog (Benayoun)
Unused subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, El Zhar, Skrtel
Goals: Yobo own goal (12), Kuyt (80)
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Yobo (Neill 86), Heltinga, Bilyaletdinov, Heltinga, Distin, Pienaar, Cahill (Yakubu 82), Fellaini, Jo (Saha 66)
Unused subs: Nash, Coleman, Gosling, Baxter
Booked: Heltinga
Ref: Wiley
Att: 39,652
Our Man of the Match
His double save probably ensured we went on to win the game. Pepe Reina.