Daniel Sturridge's late header ensured a pulsating 221 Merseyside derby ended all square as Liverpool FC and Everton FC played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Sturridge struck in the 89 minute, after Everton looked to have won the game through Romelu Lukaku's second-half brace.

Earlier Philippe Coutinho had given the Reds the lead, only for Kevin Mirallas to reply. Luis Suarez's stunning free-kick restored Liverpool's lead before the break.

Brendan Rodgers made two changes to his starting line-up, with Sturridge deemed fit enough only for the bench after his midweek international exertions.

He was replaced by Joe Allen, making his first Premier League start since March, whilst Jon Flanagan was preferred to Aly Cissokho.

In a typically frantic beginning, it was Liverpool who struck first on five minutes as Steven Gerrard's corner from the left glanced off Suarez's head and fell to Coutinho at the back post. The Brazilian took a touch and prodded home, despite the best efforts of James McCarthy on the line.

Everton, though, were level within three minutes, as the Reds failed to deal with Leighton Baines' inswinging free kick, allowing Mirallas to nip in and finish from close range.

Simon Mignolet had to be out quickly to smother at the feet of Lukaku soon after, after Gerrard had lost out to Steven Pienaar in midfield, but Liverpool would retake the lead on 19 minutes as Suarez, felled by Gareth Barry, bent a stunning 25-yard free kick round the Everton wall and into Tim Howard's bottom left hand corner for his ninth goal of the season.

Mirallas was fortunate to escape with only a booking after raking his studs down the side of the Uruguayan's leg before half time, while Mignolet made a good save to keep out an ambitious Ross Barkley strike.

After the break Mignolet made good saves to deny substitute Gerard Deulofeu and Lukaku, whilst Allen sidefooted wide of a half-open goal after Suarez had burst through.

Mignolet was at it again to keep out Lukaku's deflected free kick on 72 minutes, but Everton kept the ball alive and the big Belgian was free to force the ball home from Mirallas' deflected cross.

And when Lukaku rose above Flanagan to head home a Mirallas corner eight minutes from time, it looked like the game was up for Liverpool.

But Sturridge, off the bench, had the final word as he glanced home Gerrard's brilliant free kick from close range. Sturridge then had a goal ruled out in a breathless finale, whilst Suarez almost won it with a fierce volley that Howard did well to keep out at the near post.

Source: Liverpool Echo