Wednesday 28 December 2005 20:00 FA Barclays Premier League
"Everton"	2 - 2	"Liverpool"
	(2-1)
GOAL
Beattie 42		Crouch 11, Gerrard 18, Cisse 47
Team: 26. Nigel Martyn, 19. Nuno Valente, 5. David Weir, 4. Joseph Yobo, 22. Tony Hibbert, 14. Kevin Kilbane, 6. Mikael Arteta, 18. Phil Neville, 17. Tim Cahill, 8. James Beattie, 10. Simon Davies. Subs: 1. Richard Wright, 20. Matteo Ferrari, 21. Leon Osman, 11. James McFadden, 7. Marcus Bent.		Team: 25. Jose Reina, 28. Stephen Warnock,  3. Steve Finnan, 23. Jamie Carragher,4. Sami Hyypia, 7. Harry Kewell, 22. Mohamed Sissoko, 14. Xabi Alonso, 8. Steven Gerrard (c), 9. Djibril Cisse, 15. Peter Crouch Subs: 1. Jerzy Dudek, 17. Josemi Rey, 6. John Arne Riise, 10. Luis Garcia, 19. Fernando Morientes, 15. Salif Diao.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Davies (McFadden 57)		Crouch (Morientes 77), Kewell (Riise 80), Gerrard (Garcia 84)
OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS
Referee: Gramm Poll
Booked: Cahill 20, Neville 56, Beattie 72, Arteta 88 Sent Off: Neville 68, Arteta 90		Booked: Kewell 65, Alonso 70
VENUE		MANAGERS
Goodison Park (capacity 40,170) Attendance: 44,197		David Moyes (Everton) Rafael Benitez (Liverpool)

  Price:

  Notes:

- Liverpool concede their first league goal since against Fulham on 22nd of October.

- Phil Neville 67' and Mikel Arteta 90+4' sent off.

  By Ian Doyle at Goodison Park, Daily Post

  By Dominic King at Goodison Park, Liverpool Echo

  Official Match Analysis & Detailed Stats

  Peter Crouch rounds Nigel Martyn to give the away side the lead in the 202nd Merseyside derby



  In this file picture, Liverpool's Dijbril Cisse (2nd R) celebrates with team mates Momo Sissoko (R), Steven Gerrard (2nd L), Sami Hyypia (L) and Peter Crouch (C) after scoring against Everton

  DERBY JOY AS REDS WIN AGAIN

  Liverpool have made it nine wins out of nine in the Premiership after goals from Peter Crouch, Steven Gerrard and Djibril Cisse gave them a magnificent 3-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park tonight.

  Rafa's men remain 3rd in the Premiership and in keen dispute of Champions Chelsea after inflicting a fifth consecutive defeat on their City rivals. But after Monday's stylish win over Newcastle, this was a win that was earned with a blend of determination and the knack of scoring when it mattered most.

  Goals from Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard helped silence the Evertonians early; and after James Beattie had restored hope when making it 2-1, Djibril Cisse struck just after the break to make the points safe. Everton's cause wasn't helped by the 68th minute dismissal of Phil Neville after he collected a second yellow card for a foul on Sissoko.

  Thanks to a run of eight successive Premiership wins, Liverpool came into this 202nd Derby with more than just bragging rights at stake. Because while they might still be some way off Chelsea and the Premiership summit, they are as close to being Jose's title challengers as anyone.

   For Everton and their fans, still reeling from two successive 4-0 reverses, it wasn't just going to work tomorrow that was occupying their minds, the unlikely spectre of a New Year relegation fight was looming large like a festive hangover.

  Even with all that we never expect anything less than blood and thunder when the Merseyside rivals do battle and this game was no different.

  It was Liverpool who started the better, with Captain Steven Gerrard setting the tone for a fast start with a tough tackle on Phil Neville. And Gerrard was involved again in the 11th minute when this time his clever headed pass gave Peter Crouch the chance to round Nigel Martyn and give the Reds the lead.

  Gerrard has been a massive influence in the Reds' climb up the Premiership table and he stamped his authority firmly all over this game when doubling Liverpool's advantage after 18 minutes.

  Rafa Benitez had started Gerrard on the right to allow for the return of Momo Sissoko, but Stevie drifted inside to devastating effect to drill ashot that clipped Joseph Yobo passed Nigel Martyn from 25 yards.

  But despite their lead, the Reds never really came to terms with Everton's aerial threat in the first half. And it was from that route that the Blues got themselves back into the game after 42 minutes through Beattie.

  David Moyes' side had already served warning to their headed threat when first Cahill and then Kilbane and Yobo came close. But Beattie made no mistake with his chance after Kilbane had beaten Finnan at the far post to set him up.

  Everton kicked off the second half buoyed by Beattie's late strike, but they were soon rocked back when after 47 minutes, Djibril Cisse beat David Weir and brilliantly beat Martyn to make reinstate Liverpool's two goal advantage.

  Moyes took almost immediate action when replacing Simon Davies with James McFadden, but it was the Reds who would still carry the greater goal threat and Gerrard went close again with a free kick that just flew over.

  The home side were reduced to ten men on 68 minutes when Phil Neville was sent off for a second bookable offence, but you should take nothing away from this Liverpool performance.

  We've seen a lot of style and no shortage of guile as the Reds have sought to re-write the record books, but Rafa and his men knew exactly what was needed to earn this Derby win. It might not have been pretty, but it will certainly taste sweet.

  Teams

  Everton: Martyn, Valente, Weir, Yobo, Hibbert, Kilbane, Neville, Arteta, Cahill, Davies, Beattie. Subs - Wright, Bent, McFadden, Ferrari, Osman.

  Liverpool: Reina, Warnock, Hyypia, Carragher, Finnan, Kewell, Alonso, Sissoko, Gerrard, Cisse, Crouch. Subs - Dudek, Riise, Garcia, Morientes, Josemi.

  Referee: G Poll

Conditions: Cold & Dry

  Attendance:  44,197

  Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Steven Gerrard

  Breakdown

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