Fernando Torres, who missed out on Liverpool’s win over their neighbours from Stanley Park earlier on in the season, opened the scoring with a fine finish as the Reds returned to winning ways against Everton with a 1-0 win at Anfield.

Liverpool made three changes to the side which lost at Old Trafford, with Lucas Leiva, John Arne Riise and Sami Hyypia coming into the line-up for Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Aurelio, with Javier Mascherano also missing the game through suspension. Torres headed the attack with Kuyt and Babel out on the wings.

The Reds took the lead in 8th minute with Premier League goal number 21 from the Fernando Torres. Xabi Alonso won the ball from Yakubu on the edge of the box, with the ball breaking to Kuyt. The Dutch striker fed the Spaniard, who controlled well before shooting past Howard in the Everton goal.

The Spaniard’s first-half strike helped the forward equal the club record of scoring in six successive top-flight home games. The feat had been achieved by Fred Pagnam (1919), Roger Hunt (1964), Ian Rush (1983) and Michael Owen (1999), and now leaves the Spaniard just two matches away from scoring in eight successive top-flight home games.

Torres was causing the Everton defence plenty of problems as the Spaniard broke clear again before cutting the ball back for Kuyt. Kuyt’s first effort struck a defender, and his second shot was pushed behind by Howard for a Liverpool corner.

Babel was inches away from doubling the Red’s lead following an excellent Riise cross. The Dutch attacker outpaced the Everton defence but failed to get a touch on the full-back’s left-footed delivery.

Gerrard, who was bossing the midfield, almost made it two with one of his trademark strikes. The Liverpool captain ran on to a Torres knock-down before cracking a volley onto the foot of the post with Howard beaten.

The Toffees were mere spectators as it was all Liverpool as their local rivals piled on the pressure. As a matter of fact, a long range effort from Arteta as early as the second minute was their only strike on goal.

The second half was a slightly more even affair as Everton pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Carsley flashed a header past the post from a corner, and Hyypia had to be alert to deny Yakubu with a last-ditch sliding tackle in the box.

The Reds were looking tight at the back and dangerous on the break. Babel flashed in a shot and Lucas Leiva had a goal-bound effort deflect off a defender and away. Torres then broke well on the right sprinting 60 yards before crossing into the box, but Howard dived down well stop Kuyt latching on to the ball.

First Kuyt and then Gerrard almost sealed the win with efforts from outside the box, but the Dutchman’s shot was deflected just past the post, and then Howard tipped the Liverpool’s captain’s drive over the bar.

The game’s only goalscorer was substituted with one minute remaining of normal time, and the Spaniard received a standing ovation from the Liverpool faithful as he was replaced by Pennant.

The victory is their six Premier League win in seven outings, and with both sides fighting for the final Champions League qualifying spot, the important win moves the Anfield club five points ahead of their neighbours.

Liverpool will now face Arsenal three times in the space of seven days, twice in the Champions League quarter-finals either side of a Premier League clash at the Emirates on April 5.


Match Stats: Liverpool 1-0 Everton

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Lucas, Gerrard (Crouch, 90), Alonso, Babel (Benayoun, 82), Torres (Pennant, 89), Kuyt.

Bookings: Torres

Goals: Torres, 8

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Neville (Baines, 70) Carsley, Pienaar (Fernández, 61), Osman, Yakubu

Bookings: Neville, Carsley, Pienaar, Jagielka