Dirk Kuyt's last-gasp penalty gave Liverpool a dramatic 2-1 win over nine-man Everton at Goodison Park.
Reds leave it late to take derby spoils
Dirk Kuyt's last-gasp penalty gave Liverpool a dramatic 2-1 win over nine-man Everton at Goodison Park.
Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville both saw red for Everton as Liverpool came from behind to take all three points courtesy of two penalties from Kuyt.
Everton were gifted the lead in the first half as Sami Hyypia put through his own goal with a bizarre strike.
Liverpool drew level on 54 minutes when Kuyt scored from the spot after Hibbert was sent off for hauling down Steven Gerrard inside the box.
The game looked set to end all-square until Neville stopped Lucas Levia's shot on the line and the England international was sent off for the offence.
Kuyt kept his cool from the spot to score to get Liverpool back to winning ways in dramatic circumstances.
Problems
Liverpool had the early edge. Gerrard almost got on the end of a cross-field ball, dropping over Hibbert's head on the Everton right.
Liverpool exploited that same space on five minutes, when Yossi Benayoun broke down the flank and set up Andrei Voronin for a snap shot that Tim Howard half stopped before clutching the ball away from Kuyt.
But when Everton got their set-plays working, they caused problems. A couple of free-kicks and a corner were not cleared well and from one cross back in from Leon Osman, Alan Stubbs saw a header drop wide of a post.
Corners and free-kicks, swirling into the near post, were a constant source of danger as Victor Anichebe saw one header flash wide.
The Reds did hit back a minute later when John Arne Riise's 25-yard free-kick was deflected just wide.
But Everton's aerial threat was soon to produce a goal on 38 minutes. A Mikel Arteta corner was half-cleared, Stubbs turning to hook it back into the danger area before the ball eventually cannoned off Hyypia's boot high into the net for an own goal.
Lifeline
After the break Joleon Lescott, fresh from his England debut, was a threat on the left along with Arteta before Liverpool gained a lifeline on 53 minutes.
Gerrard set off down the left channel, stretching into Everton's half with Hibbert in pursuit.
The full-back was always a yard behind and when the pair reached the box the defender clipped Gerrard and referee Mark Clattenburg instantly awarded a penalty.
The official showed Hibbert the red card before Kuyt stepped up to drill home the spot-kick.
Everton could have had a penalty themselves when Steve Finnan manhandled Lescott in the box soon after, ahead of a Kuyt break that set up Riise for a shot over the bar.
Howard blocked a Voronin shot and Kuyt headed the rebound over the top, but Everton were still coming forward.
Surprised
Kuyt was booked for a flying lunge at Neville, and Yakubu saw a 30-yard shot go wide.
Benitez then took a very brave decision on 71 minutes to replace Gerrard with young Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva.
The Liverpool skipper looked surprised, but trotted off to allow Lucas into central midfield, with the substitute quickly supplying a pass for Voronin, who scuffed his shot wide.
Neville was then sent off on 89 minutes for handling a Lucas shot on the line, providing Kuyt with his second penalty.
Everton finished the game complaining to Clattenburg that they should have had a last-ditch penalty for Carragher pulling down Lescott.
He refused their claim and the official was booed off after being surrounded by home players.
| Everton |
Team Statistics |
Liverpool |
| 1 |
Goals |
2 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
Shots on Target |
7 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
9 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
| 9 |
Corners |
6 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 2 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 60.3 |
Passing Success |
79.4 |
| 24 |
Tackles |
24 |
| 75 |
Tackles Success |
79.2 |
| 38.6 |
Possession |
61.4 |
| 52.5 |
Territorial Advantage |
47.5 |
|
