Liverpool against Everton

Osman does well to beat two men in the area; he tries to dig out a cross from the goal-line, but Dudek collects easily.

Styles then has a word with Ferguson concerning the violence of the big striker's protests.

Hibbert is cautioned after barging in to Smicer. Referee Styles is surrounded by six inscensed Everton players. I really can't see what they have to complain about.

Hibbert swings a free-kick deep in to the area, and Ferguson rises highest; he manages to get his head on the ball, but directs it well wide from 12 yards out.

SUB: Watson on, Pistone off. Everton are just leaving two men at the back, and Watson will sit in front of them as they try to dominate these last minutes.

This is going to be a great finish. Liverpool are leaving just Garcia forward, but he is of little use. Ferguson is given off-side as he attempts to get on the end of another long ball in to the area.

Cahill's seventh league goal of the season has given his side a real chance of snatching an equaliser. I think his shot might have been Everton's first on-target all game.

GOAL! Cahill latches on to a knock-down from Ferguson and drives a beautiful strike in to the bottom corner from just inside the box.

Steve Watson is warming up on the sidelines.

Baros's sending off was the 10th in the last 17 meetings between these two sides. It certainly is a battle when Liverpool and Everton meet. Everton have a little over ten minutes to grab two goals.

Liverpool, then, down to nine-and-a-half men, with Baros off and Garcia little use with his ankle injury.

It was a dangerous challenge from Baros, no doubt. The ball was on the floor as Stubbs attempted to clear, and he left his foot knee high in the tackle.

OFF! Baros is shown the red card after going in late and high on Stubbs. Referee Styles is very quick to dismiss the striker and defuse a potentially explosive situation.

Pistone clashes with a Liverpool fan in the crowd as he attemps to retrive the ball for a throw-in.

Baros is floored by Weir, who is walking something of a tightrope at the moment. He looks to be growing frustrated at his team's efforts.

Ferguson manages to hold the ball up in the area, and he finds Kilbane with a nice pass to the edge of the area. The Irishman's cross is over-hit and drifts safely out of play.

It might have been a surprise to many that Pellegrino kept his place today, with Hyypia back fit again, but he has been impressive; he stays very calm and his distribution has also helped greatly Liverpool's building from the back.

Gerrard is playing very deep at the moment, just in front of his back four. And Finnan and Riise have not ventured out of their own half since the break.

Weir heads clear after Nunez tries to find Baros with a cross. The Everton defender, booked in the first half, had his hands all over Baros but gets away with it.

A nice one-twp with Garcia almost puts Baros through again, but Everton have men back to tackle the energetic striker. He has ran tirelessly this afternoon and been a handful.

Oooh! Baros is pulled back by Weir, but he plays on, beats Stubbs and gets clear on Martyn. The veteran goalkeeper goes to ground too early, and Baros tries to lift the ball over him. Incredibly, though, Martyn flicks out a boot and diverts the shot for a corner.

Both sides are defending deep, with virtually no midfields to speak of. It's making for some entertaining clashes at both ends.

Pellegrino's hopeful ball forward almost finds its way through to Nunez, but Pistone stays strong to clear. Good end-to-end stuff at the moment.

Oooh! Baros cracks a fantastic shot from 30 yards after getting on the end of a Nunez chest. Hit with the outside of his right foot, it swerves just over the bar.

Ferguson is really putting himself about in the air. This time Pellegrino is caught by a flailing arm as they challenged for a lofted ball.

Ferguson and Carragher shove each other after the Everton man is adjudged to have fouled Carragher in the air.

Nunez bursts down the right channel and cuts inside, but with Smicer in space to his left, he chooses to cut back on to his right foot and is tackled by Stubbs.

Smicer finds Baros with a through ball, but his Czech international team-mate is off-side. Everton are defending very high up the pitch, which is dangerous when playing against a striker of Baros' pace.

Moyes looks animated on the sidelines. A Liverpool win here would really crank up the pressure on Everton for the final few weeks of the season.

The visitors are going very route-one at the moment, but it is the Reds who are managing to get on most of the knock-downs. Gerrard in particular, is all over the pitch.

Hibbert throws a long ball in to the box, and Biscan is forced to hand Everton their first corner of the match. It comes to nothing, though, when Pistone's cross is much too deep. Very frustrating for Everton.

Garcia is barely leaving the centre-circle; he is obviously in some discomfort but wants to stay on to give Liverpool numerical parity.

With Beattie and Ferguson on, Everton are going to be throwing a lot of high balls in to the box and trying to get Osman, Carsley and Cahill on the knock-downs.

SUB: Ferguson on, Bent off. The most used substitute in the Premiership comes on in a like-for-like change. Osman does finally beat Riise, but his low cross is cleared by Pellegrino.

Everton are enjoying a good spell of pressure at the moment, though they are struggling to really get behind the Red defence.

Carragher stays cool to clear under pressure. On the touchline, Duncan Ferguson takes off his tracksuit and receives some last-minute instructions.

Gerrard hits an audacious, swerving effort from the corner of the box, which Martyn does well to keep his eye on and clutch to his chest.

Oooh! A terrible slip from Stubbs on the half-way line allows Baros a clear run at goal. But the ball seems to get stuck under the Czech striker's feet as he approaches the area, and Hibbert slides in to clear for a corner. Great chance.

Biscan breaks well from midfield, but his shot from 25 yards is deflected and Martyn collects easily. Everton then break, but Osman's shot is blocked on the edge of the area.

There are a few signs that Everton are looking to attack a lot more in this second period. They seem to have a lot more purpose.

Baros and Biscan link up well, but the Croatian, playing in midfield, can't find his team-mate with a return ball.

Liverpool have not let in three goals in a league game under Benitez, so this is a very tall order for Everton. They certainly need a good start.

Luis Garcia is on the pitch for Liverpool, but he looks far from comfortable. He is stretching his thigh with a pained expression.

SUB: Beattie on for Yobo. David Moyes knows that he needs a big improvement from his side if they are to score twice and deny Liverpool a victory.

HALF TIME: A great half of derby football. Liverpool dominated for most of the 45 minutes, and are deservedly in front. But how will they cope in the second period, after being forced in to three changes already?

The free-kick, right on the edge of the box, is curled inches wide by Carsley, with Dudek well beaten. That would have been an undeserved Everton goal, but a massive boost before half-time.

Carragher misses a header from another long Martyn clearance, and Cahill is fouled as he attempts to get on the loose ball.

Osman is booked after fouling Baros; perhaps a yellow card is a little harsh. This has been a frantic finish to the half; two goals, two bookings, four injuries and three substitutions.

Baros clips a lovely ball in to Smicer, who tries to go past Stubbs when the return ball back to Baros would have been the better option.

So, lots of work for Benitez to do reorganising his side at half-time. Liverpool might be forced in to playing the second-half with ten men, although Garcia is now back on the pitch. He looks in some pain, though.

You might not believe this, but now Garcia is down on the turf, receiving treatment on a calf-injury. He looks in real pain, but Liverpool have already made their three permitted substitutions.

SUB: Morientes off, Smicer on. Amazingly, Liverpool are forced in to a third change as Morientes hobbles down the tunnel.

Yobo is booked after tugging-back Nunez around the half-way line. More bad news for Liverpool as Morientes needs treatment on the sideline for a calf injury.

SUB: Hamman off, Biscan on. Hamman feels he can't continue and is replaced by Croatian Biscan. So, two enforced changes for the home side.

Weir earns the first booking of the afternoon as he brings down Baros on the touchline.

The Liverpool fans seem a little aggreived that Everton didn't return the ball to them following the re-start after Hamman's injury.

Hamman goes down after over-extending his knee in an inoculous challenge with Osman. It doesn't look very promising for the German, though he is at least back on his feet.

Everton are in real danger of being over-run by Liverpool, who seem to have finally been able to replicate their European form in the Premiership.

Great play in midfield from Gerrard sets up a chance for Nunez, but the young winger horribly drags his shot at goal when in a great position. He should have done much better.

If my flat-mate was excited at 1-0, I dread to think what will be going on at the moment. I just hope the neighbours are out.

Baros beats Stubbs for pace down the right channel, but drags his shot well wide from the edge of the area.

Garcia took a gamble there to follow-up Morientes fantastic shot, and he kept his cool to nod in to the empty net. What a way to celebrate your call up to the Spain squad.

GOAL! Incredible! Morientes cracks a stunning 35-yard volley towards goal, Martyn can only palm the ball on to the bar, and Garcia is on hand to nod the ball in to the roof of the net from five yards out.

A great run from Baros, taking the ball fifty yards across field. The ball eventually finds its way to Nunez, and Stubbs is forced to put his low cross out for a throw. Good pressure at the moment from the home side.

My flat-mate is a Liverpool fan. I know exactly what will be going on in our living room at the moment: lots of jumping and screaming and punching of the sofa cushions. He's a simple lad.

The Liverpool fans can sense that their side might still be able to pinch that last Champions League spot from their city rivals. They are raising the roof at Anfield at the moment.

Great finish from Gerrard; he saw a small gap through the crowd of players in the box, and side-footed home past an unsighted Martyn.

GOAL! Weir earns a stern chat from the referee after protesting against the free-kick decision. Gerrard stands over the ball, and the Liverpool fans raise the noise level. Hamman taps the ball to the Liverpool captain, who places the ball to Marytn's left.

Much better from Nunez; he beats Pistone for pace down the right wing, and cuts the ball back to Garcia. The Spaniard cuts inside, and is fouled by Carsley on the edge of the box.

Nunez is a little heavy with his pass to Baros, who is forced wide. He swings in a good cross, which Martyn flaps at, and Garcia chips his shot well over the bar. A decent chance, really.

In fact, it seems as though Garcia has been moved over to the left wing, and Nunez has started on the right. He gets an early touch, but his low cross fails to find a team-mate.

Finnan moves in from the right wing and drags a weak, left-foot shot wide of Martyn's near post.

SUB: Nunez on, Warnock off. So, Liverpool forced in to an early change, with Riise dropping back to left-back and Nunez moving in to left midfield.

I was wrong; Warnock is again down on the turf, holding his ankle. Hyypia begins to warm up on the touchline, and Liverpool prepare to make the change.

Carsley delivers the free-kick from the right, but his high ball towards Cahill is much too long and goes straight out of play.

A Pistone long throw is only half-cleared by Liverpool, and Everton eventually win a free kick when Referee Styles awards a foul by Riise.

Warnock attempts a long, cross-field ball to Garcia, but Pistone is alert enough to nod the ball back to Martyn.

Hibbert almost finds Cahill with a long ball down the right, but the pass drifts out of play. Warnock seems to have shaken off his ankle injury and is moving freely.

Another long Pellegrino ball causes a little concern in the Liverpool defence, as Garcia sneaks around the back and almost collects. Stubbs eventually clears to touch.

Luis Garcia takes a well-worked free-kick out on the right wing; he plays the ball in low to Gerrard, who hits the shot first time with his left-foot. His effort is well blocked though, and Everton clear.

Morientes and Baros almost combine to get the Czech striker through on goal, but he can't quite collect the pass. Warnock is still causing some concern on the Liverpool bench with his injury.

Bent brilliantly controls a long clearance from Martyn, but Cahill can't quite break on to the lay-off.

Carragher, under pressure from the ever hard-working Bent, hoofs the ball out of play. Cahill brings down Finnan to give away another free-kick. He is the Everton player with the responsibility to get forward to support Bent this afternoon.

Warnock goes off the field to receive treatment on an ankle injury after a strong challenge from Cahill. He's back on his feet, and Cahill gives the Liverpool man a pat on the bum but way of an apology.

It has been a good, strong start from Liverpool, and they have already created more excitement and chances in the opening seven minutes as they did in the whole 90 against Blackburn in mid-week.

There are five locally-born players on show in the two starting sides: Carragher, Gerrard, Warnock for Liverpool; Stubbs and Hibbert for Everton.

Gerrard's corner is punched half-clear by Martyn, but Liverpool keep the pressure on and Yobo is forced to head behind for another corner. Morientes attempts an overhead kick, Baros then runs the ball out of play.

Baros gets free down the right channel, cuts inside but can't find Riise with his cute pass in the area. The chance came about after a super pass from Pellegrino.

Gerrard is in very strongly on to Carsley, the captain's thumping challenge is greeted by a huge cheer from the home fans.

Gerrard puts a deep ball in to the box, Morientes eventually heads wide under pressure. Good start from the home side.

Liverpool kick off. Baros gets down the right wing, but Stubbs is across to tackle. Garcia swings over a cross, but Hibbert clears out for a corner.

"Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart..." they all sing. Some fans even clap their hands in delirious excitement. Stevie G looks steely, Alan Stubbs seems grim and determined.

There is a tremendous atmosphere inside Anfield this afternoon for what is a masssive match. Everton seem to have picked a side to sit back and try and frustrate Liverpool; can the home side break them down?

Marcus Bent retains his place as Everton's lone striker, even though £6million signing Beattie is back from suspension.

Some team news for you: Pellegrino partners Carragher in the centre of Liverpool's defence, with Baros and Morientes up front for the Reds.

Ferguson manages to hold the ball up in the area, and he finds Kilbane with a nice pass to the edge of the area. The Irishman's cross is over-hit and drifts safely out of play.

It might have been a surprise to many that Pellegrino kept his place today, with Hyypia back fit again, but he has been impressive; he stays very calm and his distribution has also helped greatly Liverpool's building from the back.

Gerrard is playing very deep at the moment, just in front of his back four. And Finnan and Riise have not ventured out of their own half since the break.

Weir heads clear after Nunez tries to find Baros with a cross. The Everton defender, booked in the first half, had his hands all over Baros but gets away with it.

A nice one-twp with Garcia almost puts Baros through again, but Everton have men back to tackle the energetic striker. He has ran tirelessly this afternoon and been a handful.

Oooh! Baros is pulled back by Weir, but he plays on, beats Stubbs and gets clear on Martyn. The veteran goalkeeper goes to ground too early, and Baros tries to lift the ball over him. Incredibly, though, Martyn flicks out a boot and diverts the shot for a corner.

Both sides are defending deep, with virtually no midfields to speak of. It's making for some entertaining clashes at both ends.

Pellegrino's hopeful ball forward almost finds its way through to Nunez, but Pistone stays strong to clear. Good end-to-end stuff at the moment.

Oooh! Baros cracks a fantastic shot from 30 yards after getting on the end of a Nunez chest. Hit with the outside of his right foot, it swerves just over the bar.

Ferguson is really putting himself about in the air. This time Pellegrino is caught by a flailing arm as they challenged for a lofted ball.

Ferguson and Carragher shove each other after the Everton man is adjudged to have fouled Carragher in the air.

Nunez bursts down the right channel and cuts inside, but with Smicer in space to his left, he chooses to cut back on to his right foot and is tackled by Stubbs.

Smicer finds Baros with a through ball, but his Czech international team-mate is off-side. Everton are defending very high up the pitch, which is dangerous when playing against a striker of Baros' pace.

Moyes looks animated on the sidelines. A Liverpool win here would really crank up the pressure on Everton for the final few weeks of the season.

The visitors are going very route-one at the moment, but it is the Reds who are managing to get on most of the knock-downs. Gerrard in particular, is all over the pitch.

Hibbert throws a long ball in to the box, and Biscan is forced to hand Everton their first corner of the match. It comes to nothing, though, when Pistone's cross is much too deep. Very frustrating for Everton.

Garcia is barely leaving the centre-circle; he is obviously in some discomfort but wants to stay on to give Liverpool numerical parity.

With Beattie and Ferguson on, Everton are going to be throwing a lot of high balls in to the box and trying to get Osman, Carsley and Cahill on the knock-downs.

SUB: Ferguson on, Bent off. The most used substitute in the Premiership comes on in a like-for-like change. Osman does finally beat Riise, but his low cross is cleared by Pellegrino.

Everton are enjoying a good spell of pressure at the moment, though they are struggling to really get behind the Red defence.

Carragher stays cool to clear under pressure. On the touchline, Duncan Ferguson takes off his tracksuit and receives some last-minute instructions.

Gerrard hits an audacious, swerving effort from the corner of the box, which Martyn does well to keep his eye on and clutch to his chest.

Oooh! A terrible slip from Stubbs on the half-way line allows Baros a clear run at goal. But the ball seems to get stuck under the Czech striker's feet as he approaches the area, and Hibbert slides in to clear for a corner. Great chance.

Biscan breaks well from midfield, but his shot from 25 yards is deflected and Martyn collects easily. Everton then break, but Osman's shot is blocked on the edge of the area.

There are a few signs that Everton are looking to attack a lot more in this second period. They seem to have a lot more purpose.

Baros and Biscan link up well, but the Croatian, playing in midfield, can't find his team-mate with a return ball.

Liverpool have not let in three goals in a league game under Benitez, so this is a very tall order for Everton. They certainly need a good start.

Luis Garcia is on the pitch for Liverpool, but he looks far from comfortable. He is stretching his thigh with a pained expression.

SUB: Beattie on for Yobo. David Moyes knows that he needs a big improvement from his side if they are to score twice and deny Liverpool a victory.

HALF TIME: A great half of derby football. Liverpool dominated for most of the 45 minutes, and are deservedly in front. But how will they cope in the second period, after being forced in to three changes already?

The free-kick, right on the edge of the box, is curled inches wide by Carsley, with Dudek well beaten. That would have been an undeserved Everton goal, but a massive boost before half-time.

Carragher misses a header from another long Martyn clearance, and Cahill is fouled as he attempts to get on the loose ball.

Osman is booked after fouling Baros; perhaps a yellow card is a little harsh. This has been a frantic finish to the half; two goals, two bookings, four injuries and three substitutions.

Baros clips a lovely ball in to Smicer, who tries to go past Stubbs when the return ball back to Baros would have been the better option.

So, lots of work for Benitez to do reorganising his side at half-time. Liverpool might be forced in to playing the second-half with ten men, although Garcia is now back on the pitch. He looks in some pain, though.

You might not believe this, but now Garcia is down on the turf, receiving treatment on a calf-injury. He looks in real pain, but Liverpool have already made their three permitted substitutions.

SUB: Morientes off, Smicer on. Amazingly, Liverpool are forced in to a third change as Morientes hobbles down the tunnel.

Yobo is booked after tugging-back Nunez around the half-way line. More bad news for Liverpool as Morientes needs treatment on the sideline for a calf injury.

SUB: Hamman off, Biscan on. Hamman feels he can't continue and is replaced by Croatian Biscan. So, two enforced changes for the home side.

Weir earns the first booking of the afternoon as he brings down Baros on the touchline.

The Liverpool fans seem a little aggreived that Everton didn't return the ball to them following the re-start after Hamman's injury.

Hamman goes down after over-extending his knee in an inoculous challenge with Osman. It doesn't look very promising for the German, though he is at least back on his feet.

Everton are in real danger of being over-run by Liverpool, who seem to have finally been able to replicate their European form in the Premiership.

Great play in midfield from Gerrard sets up a chance for Nunez, but the young winger horribly drags his shot at goal when in a great position. He should have done much better.

If my flat-mate was excited at 1-0, I dread to think what will be going on at the moment. I just hope the neighbours are out.

Baros beats Stubbs for pace down the right channel, but drags his shot well wide from the edge of the area.

Garcia took a gamble there to follow-up Morientes fantastic shot, and he kept his cool to nod in to the empty net. What a way to celebrate your call up to the Spain squad.

GOAL! Incredible! Morientes cracks a stunning 35-yard volley towards goal, Martyn can only palm the ball on to the bar, and Garcia is on hand to nod the ball in to the roof of the net from five yards out.

A great run from Baros, taking the ball fifty yards across field. The ball eventually finds its way to Nunez, and Stubbs is forced to put his low cross out for a throw. Good pressure at the moment from the home side.

My flat-mate is a Liverpool fan. I know exactly what will be going on in our living room at the moment: lots of jumping and screaming and punching of the sofa cushions. He's a simple lad.

The Liverpool fans can sense that their side might still be able to pinch that last Champions League spot from their city rivals. They are raising the roof at Anfield at the moment.

Great finish from Gerrard; he saw a small gap through the crowd of players in the box, and side-footed home past an unsighted Martyn.

GOAL! Weir earns a stern chat from the referee after protesting against the free-kick decision. Gerrard stands over the ball, and the Liverpool fans raise the noise level. Hamman taps the ball to the Liverpool captain, who places the ball to Marytn's left.

Much better from Nunez; he beats Pistone for pace down the right wing, and cuts the ball back to Garcia. The Spaniard cuts inside, and is fouled by Carsley on the edge of the box.

Nunez is a little heavy with his pass to Baros, who is forced wide. He swings in a good cross, which Martyn flaps at, and Garcia chips his shot well over the bar. A decent chance, really.

In fact, it seems as though Garcia has been moved over to the left wing, and Nunez has started on the right. He gets an early touch, but his low cross fails to find a team-mate.

Finnan moves in from the right wing and drags a weak, left-foot shot wide of Martyn's near post.

SUB: Nunez on, Warnock off. So, Liverpool forced in to an early change, with Riise dropping back to left-back and Nunez moving in to left midfield.

I was wrong; Warnock is again down on the turf, holding his ankle. Hyypia begins to warm up on the touchline, and Liverpool prepare to make the change.

Carsley delivers the free-kick from the right, but his high ball towards Cahill is much too long and goes straight out of play.

A Pistone long throw is only half-cleared by Liverpool, and Everton eventually win a free kick when Referee Styles awards a foul by Riise.

Warnock attempts a long, cross-field ball to Garcia, but Pistone is alert enough to nod the ball back to Martyn.

Hibbert almost finds Cahill with a long ball down the right, but the pass drifts out of play. Warnock seems to have shaken off his ankle injury and is moving freely.

Another long Pellegrino ball causes a little concern in the Liverpool defence, as Garcia sneaks around the back and almost collects. Stubbs eventually clears to touch.

Luis Garcia takes a well-worked free-kick out on the right wing; he plays the ball in low to Gerrard, who hits the shot first time with his left-foot. His effort is well blocked though, and Everton clear.

Morientes and Baros almost combine to get the Czech striker through on goal, but he can't quite collect the pass. Warnock is still causing some concern on the Liverpool bench with his injury.

Bent brilliantly controls a long clearance from Martyn, but Cahill can't quite break on to the lay-off.

Carragher, under pressure from the ever hard-working Bent, hoofs the ball out of play. Cahill brings down Finnan to give away another free-kick. He is the Everton player with the responsibility to get forward to support Bent this afternoon.

Warnock goes off the field to receive treatment on an ankle injury after a strong challenge from Cahill. He's back on his feet, and Cahill gives the Liverpool man a pat on the bum but way of an apology.

It has been a good, strong start from Liverpool, and they have already created more excitement and chances in the opening seven minutes as they did in the whole 90 against Blackburn in mid-week.

There are five locally-born players on show in the two starting sides: Carragher, Gerrard, Warnock for Liverpool; Stubbs and Hibbert for Everton.

Gerrard's corner is punched half-clear by Martyn, but Liverpool keep the pressure on and Yobo is forced to head behind for another corner. Morientes attempts an overhead kick, Baros then runs the ball out of play.

Baros gets free down the right channel, cuts inside but can't find Riise with his cute pass in the area. The chance came about after a super pass from Pellegrino.

Gerrard is in very strongly on to Carsley, the captain's thumping challenge is greeted by a huge cheer from the home fans.

Gerrard puts a deep ball in to the box, Morientes eventually heads wide under pressure. Good start from the home side.

Liverpool kick off. Baros gets down the right wing, but Stubbs is across to tackle. Garcia swings over a cross, but Hibbert clears out for a corner.

"Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart..." they all sing. Some fans even clap their hands in delirious excitement. Stevie G looks steely, Alan Stubbs seems grim and determined.

There is a tremendous atmosphere inside Anfield this afternoon for what is a masssive match. Everton seem to have picked a side to sit back and try and frustrate Liverpool; can the home side break them down?

Marcus Bent retains his place as Everton's lone striker, even though £6million signing Beattie is back from suspension.

Some team news for you: Pellegrino partners Carragher in the centre of Liverpool's defence, with Baros and Morientes up front for the Reds.