[lfc-news] Everton report - PA

PA Sport, 11 Dec 2004
Everton 1 Liverpool 0

Everton set a few records straight with a memorable Mersey derby victory
over their bitter rivals.

They moved into second place in the Premiership thanks to Lee Carsley's
68th-minute goal and a dominant second-half display.

It was David Moyes' first derby win at his fifth attempt and Everton's
first at home against Liverpool since 1997. It also ended Liverpool's run
of nine derbies without defeat. Goodison Park celebrated wildly at the
final whistle.

Moyes reverted to his tried and trusted first XI for the 200th Merseyside
derby with the return of Leon Osman to midfield, while Benitez left out
fellow Spaniards Xabi Alonso and Antonio Nunez and opted for the more
combative Salif Diao.

The game was very much a slow burner in the first half-hour and only
started to heat up with Liverpool just on top as the break approached.

Everton had seen Kevin Kilbane plant a looping header over before Tim
Cahill wasted their best chance of the first half when he headed wide while
unmarked from a Marcus Bent cross.

Even that did not ignite the occasion, and it took bookings for Tony
Hibbert and Diao before the match showed some spark.

Liverpool soon had two great chances to go ahead. Cahill fouled Steven
Gerrard on the right and, when the free-kick was floated to the far post,
it reached Mellor all on his own.

Nigel Martyn produced a superb point-blank save to keep out the header but
the ball bobbled around the box and Gerrard fired in a vicious drive that
spun high into the air off Alan Stubbs for Mellor to follow up with a
second header over the top.

Everton responded with a fine pass out to Osman from Thomas Gravesen and,
when the 23-year-old cut into the box, it took a fine saving tackle from
John Arne Riise to block the danger.

Liverpool created another decent chance when Gerrard's ball into the box
was met by Hyypia, who took one touch and hooked a shot inches over the bar.

Riise was booked for sending Cahill flying out on the right on 58 minutes
and that drove Everton to up the tempo again as they tried to launch the
sort of sustained aerial attacks from deep that so exposed Bolton last weekend.

And Liverpool helped in that cause by conceding far too many free-kicks in
their own half, giving Everton extra ammunition.

The trend continued on 65 minutes when Josemi was at last booked for one of
a succession of fouls on Kilbane.

The free-kick was again fired into the Liverpool box, where Jamie Carragher
was by now looking over-worked.

A minute later, Hamann was withdrawn and Nunez sent on to play on the
right. But the major change was Gerrard pushed back into a central midfield
role and Pongolle moving up front.

But that was just the prelude to Everton taking the lead after 68 minutes.
Liverpool failed to deal with another ball into the box.

It was only half cleared to Carsley on the edge of the box, with the
Republic of Ireland international bending his shot away from Kirkland to
send Goodison wild.

Liverpool tried to respond, with Xabi Alonso on to boost the attack, but
they looked tired from their midweek heroics against Olympiakos and could
not muster the energy needed for a comeback.

They camped in Everton's box for the final few minutes, but barely created
a chance or looked like hauling themselves back into the game.

Everton fought for every yard and their reward was a deserved win that
takes them 12 points ahead of their local rivals and into second place
behind Chelsea.

Everton: Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir, Pistone, Carsley, Osman (Watson
87), Gravesen (Yobo 83), Cahill, Kilblane, Bent (Ferguson 76).
Subs not used: Wright, McFadden
Booked: Hibbert, Ferguson
Goals: Carsley 68

Liverpool: KIrkland, Josemi, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Diao (Alonso 78),
Hamann (Nunez 66), Gerrard, Kewell, Sinama Pongolle (Traore 75), Mellor.
Subs not used: Dudek, Finnan
Booked: Josemi, Riise, Diao

Att: 40,552
Referee: S Bennett

MOYES: WE ARE TITLE CONTENDERS
Everton manager David Moyes insists his "small and committed" side have
every right to be considered serious title contenders after a momentous
Merseyside derby victory.

Lee Carsley's sweet second-half winner settled the 200th derby in the
Toffees' favour to earn them their first win over their great rivals at
Goodison Park for seven years.

The win opened up a 12-point gap between Everton and Liverpool and, until
Sunday evening at least, moved Moyes' team up to second in the Barclays
Premiership and he believes they have now earned the right to be taken
seriously.

"I hope I can continue to give these fans days like this, and I don't
believe any other club second in the table at this stage would not be
considered serious challengers," the Scot said.

"It will be marvellous if it continues, and if it was anyone else everybody
would consider it right to say we were in the mix.

"People have said it can't happen, that we haven't got the resources. But
why can't we prove it can be done with a small, committed squad?"

He added: "This win is very, very satisfying. This was our first derby win
in five years and our first home derby success in seven years.

"That surely shows the progress this club has made with a tremendously
committed bunch of players who are really working for each other.

"That is a big thing for us to say, they are a fantastic bunch of lads that
I am proud to manage. It is a massive jump to the big boys, but by hook or
by crook we are doing all we can to bridge it without having the finances."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez agreed with Moyes and believes the Toffees
have to be taken seriously by the more likely title contenders.

He said: "They are winning games, they are a strong, aggressive side and
have great spirit. Of course they must be considered challengers, and
certainly for a top-four finish."

Benitez added: "We had to look at the players and see who was tired after
the Champions League game, that is why we made the changes.

"This has been a bad end to a fine week for us. It has taken the shine off
the win over Olympiakos.

"I felt we had enough chances to be ahead at the break, but in tight games
like this you have to score them. They scored one and we didn't - that was
the difference, nothing more."



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