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Liverpool won the 212th staging of the Merseyside derby 2-0 against Everton at Goodison Park courtesy of goals from Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt in the 12th and 80th minute respectively. Though Everton dominated possession for the majority of the game, luck favoured the Reds as they kept their first away clean sheet of the season (in the league). Liverpool had their keeper Pepe Reina to thank for the result as the keeper made a few crucial saves to ensure their poor run in the League came to an end.

Rafa Benitez named an unchanged line-up from Liverpool's 1-0 win away at Debrecen in midwee k. The in-form David Ngog started as the lone striker, supported ably by skipper Steven Gerrard. Dirk Kuyt started in his usual wide right position and Fabio Aurelio was on the left flank to provide some defensive cover to Emiliano Insua against Steven Pienaar on that side. Javier Mascherano and Lucas formed the combative central midfield partnership. Surprisingly, there was no room in the starting 11 for the influential Yossi Benayoun. Alberto Aquilani and Albert Riera were also on the bench.

For Everton, David Moyes gave a rare start to Jo, with a calf injury relegating Louis Saha to the bench. They had plenty of other attacking options also with Tim Cahill, Marouane Fellaini, Steven Pienaar and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov all starting at Goodison Park. Hibbert, Baines, Yobo and Distin formed the usual back four for the Toffees. Everton were banking on their aerial strength against a fragile Liverpool defence on set pieces this season to break them down.

The game got off to a feisty start as both sides came in ready to battle it out. The Reds got a huge stroke of luck in the 12th minute when a Mascherano long range effort found the back of the net courtesy of a cruel deflection off Yobo's left leg.

After going a goal down, Everton dominated the rest of the first half. Bilyaletdinov had a great chance from the edge of the six yard box in the 17th minute but the Russian scuffed his right footed effort. The move would have surely resulted in an equalizer had the chance fallen to his more preferred left foot. Fellaini's aerial prowess was causing Liverpool a lot of concerns and it was the Belgian's header in the 28th minute which led to a great chance for Jo. But the Brazilian striker could not find a finish from close range. Jo, then had the first of his 2 disallowed goals just after the half hour mark. After finishing expertly from Bilyaletdinov's through ball, the striker was rightly adjudged offside.

Liverpool's only goal scoring opportunity came in the 41st minute when Insua arrived late in the box to head Glen Johnson's cross towards the goal. But the Argentine was denied his first Premier League goal by a great reflex save from Everton keeper Tim Howard. Jo had another goal disallowed after straying a long way offside from a corner and Liverpool went into half time with their 1-0 lead intact.

The 2nd half started with both sides finding it difficult to find space and create chances. Everton boss David Moyes introduces Louis Saha in the 66th minute in the hope of providing more of an attacking threat. But it was Liverpool who created a great opportunity to double their advantage a minute later. Typically industrious work by Dirk Kuyt on the right flank led to a great chance for Ngog. But the Frenchman's effort was blocked.

Everton would have levelled proceedings in the 71st minute had it not been for Pepe Riena's awesome double save from Cahill and Fellaini. The Spanish shot stopper dived low to his left to keep out Cahill's header before getting up quickly to block Fellaini's shot from the rebound. The Reds sealed all 3 points in the 80th minute thanks to Dirk Kuyt's tap in, into an empty net after substitute Albert Riera's shot from the edge of the Everton box was palmed away by Tim Howard.

Benitez's side hung on without many problems for the remainder of the game for their first Premier League victory since the 2-0 success over Manchester United more than a month back. The three points picked up in this game also move Liverpool back up the table to 5th above Aston Villa and Manchester City and go a long way in resurrecting their 2009 campaign.

The Teams:

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo (Neill), Distin, Baines, Pienaar, Heitinga, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill (Yakubu), Jo (Saha).
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Aurelio (Riera), Ngog (Benayoun).

Final Score:

Everton 0-2 Liverpool

File Photograph Copyright: Ryu Voelkel