 The pictures of him leaving the field weren't quite the publicity the campaign team had in mind, while fellow '08' James Beattie hardly helped with an anonymous second-half showing. The Everton striker had, however, been busy in the opening 10 minutes, causing Sami Hyypia problems as the visitors came close with two Cahill efforts, the first from six yards deflecting off Alonso into the grateful arms of Pepe Reina while an ambitious second struck the side-netting. Once Gerrard was dismissed, action was sparse at either end besides a speculative Garcia curler that landed on to the roof of the net. But seconds after forcing their first corner of the game, Liverpool's second on the stroke of half-time saw a wicked delivery from the right by Alonso towards the near post be glanced into his own net by Neville, sent off in the Goodison derby in December. Coming from a former Manchester United player, Anfield's delight was understandable. Two minutes after the break, that joy was heightened. Under instruction from Jamie Carragher, Reina launched a huge goal kick downfield and, after Crouch had beaten Stubbs to the flick-on, Garcia moved past an off-guard Gary Naysmith and lobbed the ball expertly home over Richard Wright, whose questionable rush from his goalline into no-man's land had made the Spaniard's mind up for him. After forcing their own first corner on the hour, Everton's second a minute later brought them back into the game when Cahill exploited slack marking in the Liverpool defence to head Leon Osman's left-hand cross in off the far post. However, the goal didn't alter the pattern of play, and it couldn't disguise a below-par performance from Cahill, who was maybe compromised by his 12th-minute booking. He wasn't alone, with only the busy Osman and overly-busy Stubbs emerging with any semblance of credit for Everton. The midfield, so often where these games are decided, was instead dominated by Liverpool. Alonso, despite his own first-half booking, pulled the strings while it is hard to believe Mohamed Sissoko's career was under threat just five weeks ago, given his typical all-action, energetic performance. Everton's defence, and David Weir in particular, found Peter Crouch practically unplayable while Harry Kewell rediscovered a spark to his game that has been missing in recent weeks. With Liverpool firmly in the ascendancy during the final quarter, Alonso struck the bar with a free-kick, Stubbs made a goal-saving challenge on Garcia, Kewell drew a good save from Wright and Hyypia headed in Alonso's free-kick only for the goal to be ruled out after Crouch had wandered off-side. But the coup de grace was eventually supplied six minutes from time when, after receiving Steve Finnan's short pass, Kewell, with minimal backlift, thumped a left-footed shot beyond Wright from 20 yards. Cue Benitez joining his players to rejoice after the final whistle. For Moyes and Everton, the sense of regret is the feeling that will linger longest. LIVERPOOL (4-4-1-1): Reina; Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise; Gerrard, Alonso, Sissoko, Kewell (Warnock 87); Garcia; Crouch (Morientes 90). Subs: Dudek, Kromkamp, Fowler.
BOOKINGS: Gerrard (dissent), Alonso (foul), Kewell (unsporting behaviour).
SENDING-OFF: Gerrard (second bookable offence). EVERTON (4-4-2): Wright; Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs, Naysmith; Osman, Cahill, Neville, Kil-bane (van der Meyde 68); McFadden (Ferguson 68), Beattie. Subs: Turner, Yobo, Davies.
BOOKINGS: Cahill, Kilbane, Weir, Ferguson, Neville (fouls), Stubbs (unsporting behaviour), Hibbert (dissent).
SENDING-OFF: van der Meyde (violent conduct). REFEREE: Phil Dowd. ATT: 44,923. NEXT GAME: West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool, Premiership, Saturday, 5.15pm. |
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