Everton 0-2 Liverpool

Liverpool triumphed in the 212th Merseyside derby as a Joseph Yobo own goal and a late strike from Dirk Kuyt wrapped up a 2-0 victory over Everton at Goodison Park.

It was the Reds' eighth win in their last 10 league trips across Stanley Park and revenge for their FA Cup exit when the clubs last met back in February.
 
However, the scoreline was undoubtedly harsh on Everton who bossed the game for long periods and missed a string of chances.
 
Only some woeful finishing and expert goalkeeping from Pepe Reina kept the hosts at bay before Kuyt's goal 10 minutes from time settled it.
 
Victory re-ignites the Reds' push for a top four finish and leaves the Blues dangerously close to the Premier League drop zone after a run of just one win in their last 11 games.
 
Both clubs went into the game having taken just five out of the last 18 points on offer and in desperate need of a boost.
 
Rafa Benitez kept faith with the side which beat Debrecen 1-0 in midweek, while David Moyes made four changes following the Blues' 3-2 defeat at Hull.
 
Toby Hibbert was preferred at right-back to Lucas Neill and Jo was recalled up front as the Everton boss reverted back to playing 4-5-1.
 
The home midfield was boosted by the return from suspension of Marouane Fellaini and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. Yakubu and Louis Saha dropped to the bench, while Jack Rodwell was ruled out with a groin injury.
 
In a typically frenetic opening chances came and went at both ends with David Ngog shooting tamely at Tim Howard, while Bilyaletdinov failed to convert at the back post after Tim Cahill flicked on Hibbert's cross.
 
However, it was Liverpool who made the breakthrough in the 12th minute.
 
Javier Mascherano let fly from 25 yards out and his shot took a wicked deflection off Joseph Yobo and left Howard helpless as it flew into the bottom corner.
 
The Argentinean midfielder couldn't contain his delight and raced to the other end of the ground to celebrate in front of the visiting fans.
 
Everton refused to let the goal deflate them and they responded positively to that setback.
 
Four minutes later they should have been level. Hibbert's long throw was flicked on by Fellaini and then brushed off Jamie Carragher's head.
 
It dropped perfectly for Bilyaletdinov at the far post but with the net gaping he fluffed his shot side.
 
Roared on by a passionate home support, the Blues continued to press and Liverpool rode their luck.
 
Glen Johnson had to scramble the ball behind after Pepe Reina failed to hold Jo's close range effort, while Steven Pienaar fired over from the edge of the box after good work from Fellaini.
 
Everton cranked up the pressure and forced a succession of corners.
 
Just past the half hour mark they thought they had restored parity.
Jo latched on to Bilyaletdinov's pass and slotted past Reina but his celebrations were curtailed by the assistant's flag. Replays suggested the Brazilian was marginally offside.
 
After going in front Liverpool had barely threatened but they almost doubled their advantage four minutes before the break.
 
Emiliano Insua met Johnson's cross with a bullet header which Howard did brilliantly to push away to safety.
 
On the stroke of half-time Everton had the ball in the net again but this time there was no debate over the decision. Jo turned in Baines' cross from a yard out but was clearly in an offside position.
 
The second half continued in a similar vein with Liverpool forced on to the back foot.
 
Reina was out quickly to save at Jo's feet, while the Blues had pleas for a penalty waved away after Jamie Carragher climbed above Fellaini in the box.
 
Just before the hour mark Reina couldn't hold Pienaar's fierce drive and the Reds keeper was relieved to gather the ball behind him at the second attempt.
 
With 24 minutes to go Moyes brought on Saha in place of Jo and it remained largely one-way traffic.
 
It took a stunning double save from Reina to keep Liverpool's lead intact on 70 minutes.
 
Cahill's header from John Heitinga's free-kick appeared destined to find the bottom corner but Reina somehow clawed the ball out.
 
The shot-stopper was then was up quickly to block Fellaini's shot from the follow-up and somehow force the ball behind.
 
Liverpool had barely threatened in the second half but with 10 minutes to go they wrapped up the points.
 
Yobo's error let Gerrard in and he teed up substitute Albert Riera. The Spaniard's low shot was parried by Howard but Dirk Kuyt was on hand to net the rebound.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the views or position of Liverpool Football Club.