An own goal from Yobo and a strike from Dirk Kuyt with ten minutes remaining secured Liverpool a 2-0 victory in Sunday’s Merseyside derby. Although Fernando Torres was left out of the Red squad for the short trip across Stanley Park, Liverpool collected a vital win with a cleansheet and a solid performance at Goodison Park. - Premier League Table -

The match started frenetically with chances for both sides, but it was the visitors who drew first blood. With just 12 minutes gone in the for the 212th Merseyside derby, a shot from Mascherano took a wicked deflection off Joseph Yobo. The ball flew past Howard and into the back of the Everton net.

Moments later the American keeper kept the Toffee men in the game with a good save to deny Gerrard. The Liverpool captain skipped past Distin on the edge of the area, but the midfielder’s effort was too close to the Everton shotstopper.

Bilyaletdinov missed a great chance for the home side on 18 minutes. The unmarked striker failed to hit the target from point blank range after a long thow-in from Tony Hibbert's found its way to the Everton marksman.

The home side continued to push forward and Jo had the ball in the back of the net just after the half hour mark. The goal though was ruled out for offside.

Everton started the second-half on top, and would have been level had it not been for two world-class saves from Pepe Reina. The Spaniard first blocked a Tim Cahill header before saving from Fellaini.

The Blues were made to pay for their missed chances when in the 80th minute Kuyt pounced on a loose ball in the box after Howard had only manage to parry a shot from Albert Riera. The Dutchman’s goal killed the game off as Everton’s heads dropped.


- Match stats: Everton 0-2 Liverpool

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Distin, Yobo (Neill, 86), Baines, Pienaar, Heitinga, Cahill (Yakubu, 82), Bilyaletdinov, Jo (Saha, 65), Fellaini

Booked: Heitinga

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Aurelio (Riera, 77), Gerrard, Ngog (Benaoyun, 74)

Goals: Yobo (o.g) 11, Kuyt 80