In the wake of Rafa’s rant, his side have stumbled to
two draws while United have taken a maximum nine points from three
games. It had seemed Liverpool were on the way back to the top when
Captain Fantastic Steven Gerrard smashed in a 68th-minute drive.
But Tim Cahill pounced three minutes from time stooping to head in
Mike Arteta’s free-kick to leave United still in front on goal
difference.
If there was any man who was going to rescue the night
for Everton, it was the battling Aussie. Cahill became the first
player since Dixie Dean in the 1930s to score for The Toffees in
three Merseyside derbies as David Moyes’ side made it seven games
without defeat and continued to perform miracles in the absence of
their injured strikers.
But Benitez invited them to come on to Liverpool by
taking off his two forwards Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane as
well as wide-man Albert Riera. This was Liverpool’s fifth draw at
home in the league this season and more vital points dropped.
Gerrard had done everything in his power to earn his
men the victory. Dogged by problems off the field he showed they
were not affecting him on the pitch. Taking a pass from Riera,
Gerrard had plenty of time to line up a 25-yard shot and buried it
in the bottom corner to send his adoring public into raptures.
It was Gerrard’s 14th goal of the season — and one he
enjoyed just that little bit more because it was against Reds’
bitter Mersey rivals, whose fans taunted the midfielder all night
about his pending court case.
Gerrard was a nine-year-old schoolboy who stood on the
Kop the last time Liverpool won the league title back in 1990. He
of all people knows it has been too long.
Cahill became the first player since the 1930s to
score for The Toffees in three Merseyside derbies.
But Cahill ensured his celebrations were nipped in the
bud and Liverpool were left to rue earlier missed opportunities —
particularly one from Torres.
The ball of the night from centre-back Sami Hyypia
produced a glorious chance for the Spaniard in the 28th minute.
Hyypia picked Torres out with a raking 60-yard pass which split the
Everton defence and sent the Liverpool hotshot clear.
You would have put your house on him scoring as keeper
Tim Howard looked powerless to prevent the inevitable. But, from
six yards, Torres surprisingly flicked a right-foot shot against
the post. He could not believe it — and neither could the freezing
derby crowd.
Perhaps there was a touch of ring- rustiness about the
£22million man who was making his first start since November 26
because of injury. But he would have expected to score a chance
like that.
This was a full-blooded Merseyside derby with players
on both sides getting battered and bruised. There were no shirkers
on view. Pepe Reina was the busier keeper early on saving Victor
Anichebe’s effort after just 35 seconds and then Cahill’s downward
header.
Steven Pienaar caught Torres with a flailing arm which
incensed the Reds fans — and so their Everton counterparts started
picking on a few targets in retaliation. Gerrard got it in spades
and they followed with the strains of “Rafa’s cracking up.”
Riera almost silenced them a minute before the break
when he intercepted Tony Hibbert’s attempted clearance, skipped to
his right and flashed a 25-yard shot inches wide.
Torres felt he should have had a penalty three minutes
after the restart as a back-tracking Phil Jagielka caught his right
leg. It was right in front of the Kop and, not surprisingly, their
opinion tallied with that of Torres. But referee Howard Webb was
not interested and waved play on.
Everton’s sheer belligerence was typified by Leighton
Baines. As Liverpool upped the ante a desperate Howard pushed
Gerrard’s shot across goal and Hyypia closed in to finish it off.
But full-back Baines made a magnificent saving tackle to deny the
Finnish defender.
After a not-too-convincing shout for a penalty by
Everton when Anichebe went sprawling under pressure from Martin
Skrtel, Gerrard struck. But then Cahill turned in Arteta’s
free-kick and you could almost hear the cheers in Manchester.
I wonder if Fergie poured himself a large one?
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel,
Aurelio, Kuyt, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera (Babel 89), Keane (Benayoun
67), Torres (Leiva Lucas 85).
Subs Not Used: Cavalieri, Dossena, Arbeloa, Mascherano.
Goals: Gerrard 68.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Jagielka,
Baines, Osman, Arteta, Neville, Pienaar, Cahill, Anichebe.
Subs Not Used: Nash, Van der Meyde, Castillo, Rodwell, Jutkiewicz,
Gosling, Kissock.
Booked: Pienaar, Arteta.
Goals: Cahill 87.
Att: 44,382
Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Player Rater man of the match: Liverpool's
Steven Gerrard on 7.12 (on 90 minutes).
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