FT: Everton 0 Liverpool 2

90 + 3 Full-time: Liverpool restore a morsel of pride in a disappointing season with a 2-0 victory over fierce Merseyside rivals Everton, who continue to struggle, at Goodison Park on Sunday. Stay with us for all the post-match reaction.

90 We are into injury time and there is very little happening as we await the conclusion. Liverpool fans are in fine voice.

89 The reds play the corner short to run down the clock.

88 Everything has gone a bit flat as we limp towards the final whistle. Liverpool will not be complaining about what will be a massive win. Riera wins a corner.

86 Everton bring on Lucas Neill, who once almost joined Liverpool, in place of Yobo.

85 Liverpool fans are now cheering every pass as they run down the clock with the game apparently won.

84 Heitinga goes in the book for chopping down Lucas and he will be suspended for the match against Tottenham.

That is curtains for Everton. Gerrard does well to hold off Hibbert and find Riera. The Spaniard's shot is palmed by Howard and the ball falls straight to Kuyt for a simple tap-in. Everton bring on Yakubu Aiyegbeni for Cahill.

80 GOAL KUYT (0-2)!!!

79 Time is running out for Everton and it shows as they are becoming frustrated, with Pienaar fouling Johnson.

77 Saha turns well, but then passes to the invisible man wide on the left, much to the disappointment of the frustrated home fans. While the ball is out of play, Liverpool replace Aurelio with Albert Riera.

75 Ngog has had a thankless task in the lone, front role. But he continues to mature with every game and can be satisfied as he makes way for Yossi Benayoun.

73 Gerrard looks to play a ball to the always energetic Kuyt. However, the pass is poor. The Reds skipper does not look fit to me and has not really been involved.

71 Great save from Reina as he demonstrates why he is beginning to be considered Liverpool's greatest ever goalkeeper. The Spaniard dives low to his left to brilliantly stop a Cahill header from close range and is then up to block Fellaini's follow-up. Brilliant shot-stopping.

70 The Toffees faithful let out loud groans as a low Hibbert cross goes straight to Carragher. Poor.

68 Everton have gone a little quiet, but expect another period of pressure before the end. Saha hits an audacious effort from a wide angle but only finds the side-netting when a cross was probably the better option.

67 Kuyt does brilliantly to retrieve the ball out wide and crosses to Ngog, who is only denied by an excellent sliding block from Distin. Everton survive the corner as Gerrard hits well wide.

66 Liverpool again appear to have weathered the early storm, but here comes Saha in place of Jo.

63 Inusa wins a corner this time as the match enters and end-to-end phase. Gerrard to deliver and a header goes over the bar for a goal-kick. Saha is about to come on.

62 Everton have a corner after Agger makes a mess of clearing. Cahill's delivery is over hit and Liverpool clear.

61 Aurelio's delivery is comfortably headed away. Lucas is back on. Everton continue to be the better side, but they are not making chances count.

60 Corner for Liverpool and the physios are on as Lucas has a cut below his left eye after what it would be hoped was an accidental elbow to the face in a challenge with Fellaini.

58 Reina's heart must have been in his mouth as he fumbles a simple shot from Pienaar and the ball slips between his legs. The Spaniard is fortunate as he gathers before crossing the line. A big let-off.

57 Jo is frustrated by team-mates when he knocks down into the danger area, but there are no players following up and Johnson can clear. The ball only goes for a throw-in, but Everton do not capitalise.

55 Fellaini steams forward, but has a rush of blood to the head when shooting from 20 yards. He options to the left and right and should have passed when his effort is deflected away.

54 Hibbert swings a floating cross into the danger, which gives Reina a chance to come and punch. Everton have done their homework and know Liverpool are susceptible to attacks in the air.

52 Liverpool have a chance to break but Gerrard's pass forces Aurelio well wide and the ball goes out of play. The Liverpool skipper has not been at the races today.

50 Everton almost slip a pass through to Pienaar, but Reina is off his line to gather at the feet of the wideman.

49 This has certainly not been the most memorable Merseyside derby and the scrappy nature has epitomised both teams' seasons.

47 The second half has started in a similar pattern to the first. Liverpool looking to keep possession and Everton wanting to attack at speed.

46 An early free-kick for Liverpool as Carragher goes down under an aerial challenge.

WE'RE BACK: Can Everton find a way back into the match or will Liverpool grind out a welcome win? Watch this space as Liverpool get the second half going.

Dave Wilson says : "Has the referee forgot his cards today? Same old Everton always fouling."

Peter Fearon in New York says: "Jo is being misused as a lone striker. He should play a deeper attacking midfield role, like Cahill, supporting a traditional strike partner. Saha and Yakubu must come on at half-time or early in the second half to give some much-needed potency up front. Right now we are a dog with no teeth."

Ben Jacko says: "Liverpool do not deserve to go in at half time with the 1-0 lead. That said, maybe the deflection goal is the bit of luck they have needed. i still predict a 2-1 victory to Everton. Come on you blues!!"

Reece Carter is back in touch, saying: "Saha has to come on at HT if we've got any chance of getting an equaliser...sorry, but Jo is so far off the pace it's becoming embarrassing!!"

45 + 1 HALF-TIME: Liverpool go in at the interval 1-0 in front after Yobo deflected Mascherano's shot into his own net. Everton could, and probably should, have been level, but Bilyaletdinov missed a great chance. Let me have your thoughts on the first half at peter.fraser@bskyb.com.

45 ADDED TIME: There will be a minimum of one minute added time.

43 Everton have the ball in the back of the net, but Jo is offside again. A ridiculous tactic for the Toffees as the striker positions himself right in front of Reina to block the goalkeeper. However, he seemed to forget that he is miles offside.

43 Corner for Everton as Carragher deflects away a Bilyaletdinov shot.

41 Good save from Howard! It should have been 2-0 as Johnson, who has been excellent, goes on a rare venture forward and crosses to Insua. The Liverpool left-back heads at goal, but it is straight at Howard and the American reacts well.

39 A free-kick for Liverpool as Ngog is again chopped down, this time by John Heitinga. Daniel Agger hits the free-kick over the head of Kuyt and out of play. That sums up a scrappy first half.

37 Liverpool are probably enjoying their best passage of play at present. However, they would probably still welcome the half-time whistle.

36 Ngog collects the ball and a quick turn is too much for Yobo, who brings down the Liverpool striker on the halfway line. Wiley still decides to keep his cards in his pocket.

35 Kuyt turns 30 yards from goal and has a pop, but Howard watches the ball go over the bar.

33 Everton have the ball in the back of the net as Jo strikes, but the goal is ruled out for offside. Replays such it was very tight, but was the correct decision.

32 Jo beats Mascherano with a step-over, but Insua is in with force to block.

31 Ngog attempts a clever flick against Distin, but the Everton man has the match of his rival.

30 Another corner for Everton. Aurelio heads clear, but the Brazilian is then offside when Liverpool attempt to break.

28 Liverpool again fail to clear properly and Jo almost gets his foot to a dinked ball into the box. The striker looks a little rusty when unsuccessfully stretching for the pass.

27 The corner is hit to the back post where Fellaini is up against Lucas, a bit of a mismatch, but the Everton man cannot connect correctly.

26 Dirk Kuyt goes down on the edge of the Everton box, but the Dutchman falls a little dramatically and Wiley is not interested. Everton attack and win a corner.

25 Fabio Aurelio has the chance to cross from the left, but the ball is just too high for David Ngog. Everton eventually clear. Both defences are a bit of a mess this afternoon.

23 Liverpool do not clear and Reina saves well from Jo before Glen Johnson reacts brilliantly to respond to the rebound and put it out for a corner, which the Reds defend.

22 Everton want a throw-in, but the referee's assistant awards it to Liverpool when Pienaar and Insua challenge.

21 Liverpool get their foot on the ball and have a clear tactic to keep possession when possible. Johnson, though, lunges a challenge on Sylvain Distin.

19 It is all Everton at the minute and there is no space between Liverpool's defence and midfield as they cannot escape the pressure from their hosts, who are crossing the ball into the box at every opportunity.

17 Bilyaletdinov misses and it is a shocker. A cross from the right is flicked on and he is at the far post. But his timing is all wrong and he swings too early from six yards to hit the ball wide. Terrible!

17 Lucas charges on to a long ball forward down the inside left flank, but he cannot reach the pass and collides with the advertising boards.

14 Everton have responded well and have Liverpool pinned in their own territory. However, Cahill has drifted offside.

At first it looks like Mascherano has struck from 25 yards, but replays show that the ball took a huge deflection off Everton defender Joseph Yobo to leave Tim Howard stranded. That was against the run of play, but game on.

12 GOAL MASCHERANO (0-1)!!!

10 Everton are winning the midfield battle in these very early stages. Jo gets his head to a free-kick and attempts to find a team-mate, but Reina is quickly off his line to catch.

8 Cahill flicked on a cross from Tony Hibbert, but Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (what an easy name to spell?!?) was a little flatfooted at the back post and could not control.

7 Tim Howard smashes a long ball down field, but Jo misjudges the flight to groans from home fans.

6 Marouane Fellaini takes Mascherano's legs. No booking. Liverpool are taking their time when on the ball, drawing the sting from their rivals, while Everton are attempting to call the tune.

5 Pienaar sends a pass in the direction of Jo, but the ball is over hit and the Brazilian was offside anyway.

4 Emiliano Insua, who has struggled over recent weeks, also receives a lecture from a busy Wiley as he clatters Steven Pienaar.

3 Everton captain Cahill clobbers Javier Mascherano and receives a ticking off from referee Wiley. One more chance and a booking is the gist.

2 Liverpool regain possession and pass the ball around the back before Jose Reina takes a risk as he just twists and turns away from the attentions of Jo.

1 It is an early free-kick for Everton after just 15 seconds and a chance to launch the ball into the Liverpool box, but Steven Gerrard heads clear.

KICK-OFF: We are under way in what promises to be a fiery and fierce derby day. Everton take the kick-off.

As always on derby day, there is a great atmosphere at Goodison Park as the teams make their way onto the field. Kick-off is just minutes away.

The bookies have been in touch as kick-off approaches. Everton 3/1, Draw 9/4, Liverpool 1/1. It's a Merseyside derby both teams will be desperate to win. Liverpool go into the game well backed at Evens and are 10/1 to win 2-0. David Ngog is 7/1 to score first. For Everton, Jo is 9/1 to open the scoring.

Rafa Benitez has announced that Fernando Torres was close to playing today, but the striker still had some pain in his groin injury so it was decided not to risk the Spain international.

Nicholas Howson says: "This match is crucial for Rafa's Champions league aspirations; Man City won't keep drawing. He needs to buy in January, or even loan some players. Sir Alex does this well, with Larsson for example. Benitez has shown his incompetence at signing players, which is vital for any successful manager and team. I can see Everton winning this today due to Liverpool's inconsistency."

Reece Carter has taken issue with my 'undercard' comment. Reece, I do not disagree that there is more passion in the Merseyside derby but, in terms of the top prize of Premier League positions and competing for the league silverware, Arsenal versus Chelsea is more important today.

Liam Corcoran says: "I think this is the perfect opportunity for Liverpool, I'm a big fan, always have been, and I have my money on a 2-1 win with Lucas and Cahill to be sent off!"

Phill in Johannesburg (hard luck in the cricket!?!) says: "Brutal, bruising with neither side prepared to let the other play. No chance of 22 players on the pitch by full-time. Everton to win."

Nikola Fegus in Slovenia says: "I think that Liverpool had so many unlucky incidents in the last games and that just has to stop. We will win today at Goodison and go on a rout in the Premier League! I expect a win with Gerrard scoring at least once. I hope we won't concede, but if we do, it will be from a set piece, like we're used to this year."

Keith Hitchcock says: "Why doesn't Rafa play Aquilani? £20million on the bench again. What's he playing at?"

Stewart L MacLaren from Torrevieja in Spain says: "Everton will beat Liverpool 2-1 at Goodison Park this afternoon with goals from Tim Cahill & Jo."

I have read interesting articles on the subject of the demise of Liverpool and Everton in the Premier League years. Why do you think the powerhouses of the 1980s are now being eclipsed by London clubs and those in Manchester? How significant is it that the Merseyside derby is the undercard for Arsenal v Chelsea?

Everton are closer to a relegation battle than the European places, while earlier this week planning permission was rejected for a new stadium. Liverpool are well off the pace in the Premier League title race and have been dumped out of the UEFA Champions League. What is going wrong in a miserable season on Merseyside?

It is fair to say that neither team has done as well as they would have wished this season, with both sides in desperate need of a local win to improve morale. How do you think events will unfold this afternoon? Get in touch at peter.fraser@bskyb.com.

Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)

Liverpool team: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Aurelio, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Riera, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, El Zhar, Skrtel.

Everton team: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Distin, Baines, Pienaar, Heitinga, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Jo. Subs: Nash, Saha, Gosling, Yakubu, Neill, Coleman, Baxter.

Welcome to our live commentary of the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park. Team news to follow...