Carsley settles derby
Lee Carsley's second half goal earned Everton a 1-0 home win over Liverpool.
Lee Carsley ensured Everton's superb season shows no signs of abating as his second half goal settled the 200th Merseyside derby.
In an awful contest at Goodison Park, Liverpool's jubilation at qualifying for the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League was wiped out by Carsley's goal midway through the second half.
There was no questioning the blood and thunder commitment of the players in the first half but there was a paucity of quality in the opening 45 minutes.
Harry Kewell's shooting proved wayward while Neil Mellor glanced a fiercely-struck Steven Gerrard free kick wide of the target.
Everton created just one chance in the first period but it should have been enough to hand them the lead on 22 minutes.
Thomas Gravesen fed Marcus Bent, who checked on the by-line and clipped in a neat cross to Tim Cahill but the Australian somehow headed wide when unmarked six yards out.
The poor nature of the first half was summed up by a woeful attempt at an overhead kick from Florent Sinama-Pongolle while Tony Hibbert and Salif Diao were both booked for wild challenges.
Liverpool, with Gerrard offering moments of class, created a clear-cut opening of their own on 32 minutes as the Reds captain whipped in a free kick but Mellor's header was kept out from point-blank range by Nigel Martyn.
Alan Stubbs produced an excellent challenge to thwart Sinama-Pongolle with the rebound while Mellor then headed over as Everton struggled to avert the danger.
Sami Hyypia showed his worth at both ends as he firstly helped John Arne Riise to deny Leon Osman and the Finn then hooked a volley just over the bar.
The second half was equally dire, with the delivery from set-pieces, in particular, bordering on the disgraceful.
Salif Diao flashed a shot over the bar after Everton failed to clear their lines but, when the same scenario occurred at the opposite end on 68 minutes, there was no reprieve for the visitors.
Liverpool had numerous opportunities to hack clear, only for the ball to drop to Carsley 20 yards from goal and he caressed a shot beyond the unsighted Chris Kirkland, who was poorly positioned behind his defence.
Cahill had another chance to score for The Toffees soon after but his lily-livered swipe at the ball was cleared by Riise, although it is dubious as to whether the shot had the pace to cross the line.
Skipper Gerrard was Liverpool's saviour in midweek against Olympiakos and, when the ball dropped to the midfielder in a similar position, Reds fans waited to celebrate an equaliser but his shot rocketed narrowly wide of the upright with Martyn beaten.
Gerrard continued to be the only source of drive and inspiration for Rafa Benitez's side as he cut inside the penalty area and unleashed a rasping drive which was tipped over the bar by Martyn.
Toffees boss David Moyes brought on Duncan Ferguson for the final 15 minutes and the fiery Scot wasted little time in putting himself about as he was booked for tangling with Hyypia.
The Reds almost scrambled an equaliser in the dying moments after Martyn dropped the ball under pressure but that would have been slightly unjust on the hosts.
Click here for Everton v Liverpool player ratings
| Everton | Team Name | Liverpool |
| 1 | Goals | 0 |
| 1 | Shots on target ( Inc Goals ) | 2 |
| 5 | Shots off Target (inc woodwork) | 10 |
| 0 | Blocked Shots | 4 |
| 2 | Corners Won | 7 |
| 12 | Total Fouls Conceded | 14 |
| 1 | Offsides | 5 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 53% | Possession | 47% |
 | ||
