EVERTON Reserves followed up their Barclays Premiership derby success with victory in the mini-derby over Liverpool Reserves at Halton stadium.
The game was a lively affair with Jerzy Dudek was sent off for throwing a punch at Everton's Victor Anichebe.
Lee Molynuex put the Everton ahead with a spectacular free-kick from 20 yards out after just eight minutes of the Barclays Premiership Reserve League Northern Section fixture. He curled the ball around the helpless Dudek to the delight of the large crowd.
Liverpool were level just before the half-hour mark when Moroccan Nabil El Zhar scored his first goal for Liverpool from the penalty spot after being brought down by Mark Hughes.
The young Moroccan stepped up to fire past Richard Wright.
Liverpool should have taken the lead before the break when Bolo Zenden was also brought down in the box.
El Zhar looked to be taking the penalty before Zenden took the ball off him and then missed the spot-kick.
Anichebe thought he should have been awarded a penalty in the second half but the referee waved his protests away.
Just after Liverpool were down to 10 men when Dudek was sent off and again it involved young striker Anichebe.
The Everton striker stretched for a ball and the polish international was not happy, he raised his hands to the striker's face and a red card followed abruptly.
A 10-man brawl followed that incident and the referee handed out six yellow cards in all.
Everton made their numerical advantage pay soon after, as teenager James Vaughan latched onto a long kick from Wright to slide the ball past substitute goalkeeper David Martin.
El Zhar tried in vain to level the game but Everton stayed strong to earn the victory.
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