Post by gerrard on Jan 14, 2011 19:45:29 GMT
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Liverpool 2-2 Everton
Barclays Premier League
16th Jan 2011 * KO 14:00 * Ground: Anfield
Teams:
Everton: Howard, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Coleman, Fellaini, Arteta, Osman, Beckford, Anichebe. Subs: Mucha, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Vaughan, Gueye, Rodwell, Baxter.
Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Meireles, Spearing, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres, Maxi. Subs: Gulacsi, Aurelio, Cole, Pacheco, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Shelvey.
*lfc.tv
Dirk Kuyt rescued a point from the penalty spot as Kenny Dalglish's return to the Anfield dugout ended with a 2-2 draw in the 215th Merseyside derby against Everton on Sunday afternoon.
The Scot had looked on course to secure his first success at the third time of asking against the Blues after Raul Meireles's first goal for the club gave them a deserved interval lead.
However, two goals in seven second-half minutes from Sylvain Distin and Jermaine Beckford turned the game on its head and put David Moyes's men in sight of their first derby double since their 1984-85 title-winning campaign.
The Reds needed to respond and with just over 20 minutes to play they grabbed a share of the spoils when Kuyt converted from the spot.
There were many positives to be taken from the display but the result means Liverpool drop to 13th place in the Barclays Premier League standings, just four points above the drop zone.
The afternoon began with a dizzy sense of optimism as the spotlight was firmly centred upon Dalglish.
Indeed, one of the most iconic figures in the club's history was returning to the L4 dugout for the first time since leaving the post back in 1991 and in typical Kenny fashion, he marked the occasion by springing a surprise in his team selection.
With no Jamie Carragher of Steven Gerrard available, the Scot called upon youngster Jay Spearing to help provide the local passion in his side along with Martin Kelly who retained his place at right back.
For the supporters flocking towards Anfield it was one of the most anticipated derbies in years and it was no surprise to see the Reds attack from the off.
Kuyt flicked Daniel Agger's diagonal pass into the path of Fernando Torres who tested Tim Howard with a volley from a tight angle inside the first 30 seconds.
Everton responded and when Meireles failed to win a challenge with Seamus Coleman, the Toffees youngster raced towards goal and flashed a low shot wide of target.
Spearing then showed some early derby jitters when he presented Beckford with the ball 40 yards from goal and he was grateful to see the former Leeds man's attempted lob fly harmlessly into the Kop.
The fast tempo was exactly what you would expect in an all-Merseyside encounter and after a few nervy moments Kelly gave the crowd a lift with a marauding run down the right that saw him leave two Everton defenders in his wake before delivering a dangerous centre that was well cleared by the Blues rearguard.
Torres then capitalised upon a misjudgement by Sylvain Distin and raced goalwards on 17 minutes. The Spaniard dummied a shot and cut inside John Heitinga before sizzling a curling shot against the post. Kuyt was first to the rebound but saw his follow up brilliantly deflected over the crossbar.
Everton remained dangerous from set pieces but it was Liverpool that again came close to opening the scoring on 23 minutes when Daniel Agger's flick on from a left-wing corner was just missed by two red shirts at the far post.
There seemed to be a sense that a 'home' goal was on the cards and on 29 minutes they eventually got the breakthrough that King Kenny was hoping for.
Neat play by Spearing and Torres sent Johnson scampering down the left. The England full-back cut back onto his right foot and sent a delightful cross towards Kuyt at the far post. The Dutchman saw his header brilliantly saved by Howard before watching on in disbelief as the American stopper kept out his shot on the rebound. However, the 'keeper had barely returned to his feet in time to see Meireles's sizzling 18 yard strike whistle past him and into the left-hand corner of his net.
Anfield erupted and if there was ever any doubt about what it meant to our manager, then the clenched fist and beaming smile directed towards the watching John Henry said it all.
The goal inevitably gave Liverpool an extra spring in their step and just minutes later they should have been two up. Howard again produced a magnificent block to keep out Torres's thunderbolt before Maxi Rodriguez contrived to lash a loose ball into the Anfield Road end.
The impetus was clearly with the home side and Meireles came close to doubling his tally on 42 minutes when he raced onto Kuyt's well-timed through ball and fired in a fierce shot that Howard was forced to parry to safety.
A second goal prior to the interval would have been no more than Dalglish's side deserved and the visitors were again grateful to Howard for keeping them at bay as he was called upon to claim Maxi's low shot after Marouane Fellaini had inexplicably presented him with the ball on the edge of his area.
There was no doubt it had been an impressive first 45 for Liverpool but they were dealt a blow at the interval when they were forced to replace the ill Agger with Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
Dalglish would have expected a response from the visitors in the second half but any warnings were left unheeded by his players as Everton levelled within seconds of the restart.
A left-wing corner was delivered to the far post where Distin rose above Martin Skrtel to power a header beyond Reina and into the net via Johnson and the crossbar.
It was a huge blow for the home side and before they had fully recovered from the shock of conceding they found themselves behind on 52 minutes.
Victor Anichebe outjumped Kelly on the right flank, presenting Leon Osman with the ball just inside the penalty area. The diminutive midfielder showed some great feet to tee up Beckford who held off a challenge to steer a low shot past Reina from eight yards out.
Anfield was silenced and the Blues suddenly looked the more likely as the home side struggled to regain the authority that had seen them dominate early on.
The Reds were in serious need of a lift and on 68 minutes they got it when Skrtel's miscue at the far post resulted in Howard bringing down Maxi as they both raced for the loose ball.
Referee Phil Dowd pointed to the spot and up stepped Kuyt to coolly send the Blues stopper the wrong way from 12 yards out.
There was renewed belief in Liverpool's play and Torres maybe should have done better when he raced through, only to clip a shot wide of the near post from a tight angle.
Both sides continued to push for a winner in what was a pulsating finale but no-one could find the finish to secure the bragging rights.