Liverpool against Everton

Everton break and win a corner. Late drama and time for the Liverpool fans to chew their nails

Alonso is clearly frustrated, the Spaniard is lucky to escape without a booking for a rash tackle

Franctic exchanges as Liverpool press

A wonderful bit of skill from Fowler as he chests the ball into Kuyt's pathm he falls and Crouch mis-times a half chance

Five minutes to go and Everton look like they will hold on for the draw

Bellamy is taken off and 'God is coming on' says the Liverpool fan behind me - Robbie Fowler enters the fray

Gerrard with some typically dogged work down the right wing

Arteta and Alonso have a shoving match and the ref has to halt play and call the two together to calm the situation - he's had a good the ref

Finally Arteta's combative attitude earns him a booking

Johnson finally succumbs and is taken off after almost 80mins; in his place comes 18-year-old Victor Anichebe

Superb touch from Kuyt allows him to step inside Neville and chip a great ball into the box only for Lescott to head clear

Kuyt and Gerrard both denied in quick succession - Hibbert and Howard the heroes this time

Groans from the Kop as Liverpool let Everton off the hook

Wonderful ball from Alonso finds Pennant - he finds Bellamy who puts a good pass into the box, but Hibbert, Carsley and Stubbs are workinf well and deny the chance

Hat's off to Andy Johnson, who is still on the pitch and looking quite fresh

Just over 15 minutes left and at this stage Everton would surely love to take a point - Liverpool have dominated the half with 72% of possession

Effort have a little spell in the Liverpool half but quickly lose possession after Neville is booked for a rash challenge

Crouch goes down like a matchstick man and the ref looks at the lanky forward with admirable disdain

Corner to Liverpool won by Gerrard and to be taken by Gerrard

The game has reached a point where all the pressure is coming from Liverpool - they are attacking Everton, who are defending in numbers and deep then countering with quick sorties into the Liverpool half. Liverpool need a slice of luck or a moment of skill to unlock this resolute Everton

Bellamy isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I like his effort, particularly today. He's shown some admirable maturity and is working hard

Carsley clears for Everton after some near linking between Bellamy and Kuyt

Arteta gets a final warning from Alan Wiley after a clash with Agger

A beefy strike from Gerrard just glances by the Everton goal - great effort, but not on target

Foul by Arteta - again a freekick in range for a Gerrard piledriver around the edge of the box...

The Everton side are workign so hard - they have eight men behind the ball and breaking that down is proving tough for the home side

The Kop are getting frustrated - the feeling is that the Reds have had the better of the second half, and the game for that matter, but have yet to really trouble Howard

Meanwhile, Kuyt tries his luck with a half-volley from angle out on the left side, but his drive flashes past Howard's far post - good effort, but they need to be on target

Cahill takes out Agger and the shout is for a penalty - but the ref isn't interested: the defender went over like an olympic diver. Histrionics don't usuall work, Mr Agger.

More superb work by Stubbs - his reading of the game allowed him to beat the pacy Bellamy to deny a chance at the expense of a corner

From the corner another save denies Everton - they are bouyed by this and the crowd sense it!

Lescott and and Johnson pulled the Liverpool defense apart and Johnson twice turned before firing a low drive on goal only for Reina to deny the shot with his legs

Great save by Reina!

Case in point as Bellamy is beaten to the ball by Yobo when the Welshman was in a 1-on-1 position with the keeper - his first touch was poor, but Yobo did well

Perhaps it is time for change for Liverpool - they are having the better chances but have so far failed to make good on them

Kuyt deserves a special mention for his hardwork down the left wing today. With Crouch and Bellamy playing up front Kuyt has dutifully stuck to his role on the wing despite being a natural striker.

Carsley with another long-range effort that doesn't threaten Reina's goal

Stubbs with two moments of great defending inside the sanme 30 seconds - denying Finnan and Pennant's crossed

More good work from Howard in between the sticks for effort: he is off his line quickly to deny Bellamy a chance after a deft header from Gerrard

Some murmers from the crowd and Liverpool players - they think Neville used his arm to block Carragher's effort

Gerrard whips the ball, it's met by Carragher and only superb block by Phil Neville prevents a goal

Liverpool somehow win a corner after Lescott fluffs his lines

Alonso has long-range effort saved by Howard

Hibbert's touch lets him down after some nice work by Arteta opened the door for him - good attacking intent being shown by Everton

Lescott and Cahill work a freekick well to win a throw in a tricky area - Neville will launch a long one into the box

No changes to either side - Johnson won't last the 90, but how long can he stand the pace?

The second half is underway with Liverpool attacking the Kop

Keep it here for the second half of the Merseyside derby - one senses something special will be needed today!

Liverpool have been threatened by Everton's 5-man midfield; but with Johnson the lone striker Agger and Carragher look comfortable.

No goals, but a great half of passionate, fast, end-to-end football. An organised Everton have worked hard to deny Liverpool time and space, forcing them down the wings; it's worked so far, but it's a risk given the strength of Liverpool's wing threat.

And that's half-time

Alonso's effort ricochets off the wall, but finds Riise who unleashes a fierce drive only for an Everton shirt to block his effort

One minute of added time signalled as Alan Stubbs concedes a foul on the edge of the box for a shove on Crouch - dangerous moment late in the half

Pennant delivers a good ball into the box, but Crouch get reach it, despite his go-go-gadget appendages, inside it drops to Kuyt but he can only shin it over the bar

Pennant runs with the ball at his feet with ominous intent as another bank of fog rolls across the pitch

Agger has impressed this season - a worthy successor to Sami Hyypia

Reina and Agger show good composure to pass their way out of trouble at the back under pressure from Johnson - risk, but effective

Arteta with a great piece of hardwork to tackle Kuyt and deny a chance for liverpool

Brilliant tracking tackle from Finnan to deny Osman who was racing at goal after some slick interplay by Everton

Osman does very well to hold off three Liverpool men before slipping a ball to Arteta who in turn feeds Johnson, but the striker is offside

Yet another freekick for Everton on the right flank 10 yards away from the corner of the penalty area; but once again Liverpool's ariel superiority is telling

Neville gees up the troops, and calls for them to push forward and create a high defensive line - a risky ploy with the pace of Bellamy, Kuyt and Pennant, but the Everton defenders have been under pressure over the last few minutes

With ten minutes to go the game seems to have settled down, the tempo has slowed and Liverpool particularly are finding a bit more time to spread the ball and get some momentum - though they are being made to work hard

Alonso plays the set-piece wide to Finnan who loops a cross/shot deep into the area, but Everton clear

Yobo with a clumsy, anxious tackle concedes a foul 40 yards out in a central position.

Liverpool with some possession in the final third of the pitch, working the ball, pulling the Everton side around as they try to open the defense.

Carragher and Agger double team the lone Johnson and Liverpool deal easily with a cross into the box. Those of you who have seen Johnson will know that he's not the tallest, so trying to win a header against two lanky defenders like Liverpool's is always going to be a tough ask

Alsono nearly scores an exceptional goal from range, but his 25-yards, curling effort didn't drop in time and Howard didn't need to make a save

Cahill and Alonso are having a little running battle; a foul goes Alonso's way this time with shrugs and from the Aussie

Everton's 5-man midfield is winning the battle - Liverpool are struggling to get on the ball in the centre of the pitch, thus forcing wing play, which so far has been dealt with by an organised Everton back-line

Pennant looks lively today - he's improved this season, much more end result from him, better delivery into the box, beating players with his speed and guile.

Riise, who has been very prominent so far, is hobbling with what looks like a leg or hip problem

Kuyt picks up the ball after decent work from Pennant and Gerrard, but the Dutchman's shot is not up to is usual standard

A few throw-ins down the right flank sees Liverpool making incrimental advances on Everton before Gerrard switches play with a 40-yard,pin-point pass to Riise

Osman took a whack in getting to the header - Alonso's shoulder will have an imprint of the Everton man's face on it. Osman is unhappy that play wasn't stopped for a head injury - keep your cool, Leon

Osman has a header saved by Reina after a speedy break down the left

Much of Liverpool's play has been focussed down the flanks, so we've not seen much of Gerrard yet

The pace of the game remains high - little time for players like Alonso to get their foot on the ball and turn on the style

End-to-end stuff - Liverpool have a corner with finds its way to Riise on the edge of the box, but his effort is errant

A route one ball from Howard ends with Carsley trying his luck from range, but his effort is harmless and Reina gahters with ease

Agger tries to release Riise on a rampaging run down the left wing, but his pass is just too long

Two corners come to nothing for Everton and Liverpool break with a long-ball from Riise aimed at Crouch

Arteta fires the ball into the wall and it's out for a corner. Arteta appeals for a handball off Alonso who was struck by the ball in the wall - Kuyt disagrees and lets Arteta know!

Arteta is clever to use Carragher's speed and force to win a foul from what was a legitimate tackle; freekick in a dangerous area to the right of the Liverpool goal

Still misty inside the stadium - it's like a continental game where falres have been lit

Another decent chance for Liverpool: A ball in from the right by Pennant is met by Kuyt, but his header is weak and drops to Bellamy but he can't quite reach it and Everton breathe a sigh of relief

Andy Johnson looks a little sluggish - not chasing too many lost cause; can't blame him really, he'll do well to last an hour at this tempo

Leon Osman gets a yellow card for a tackle on Pennant - he will now miss the next game

Bellamy is unlucky to have a what he thought was a goal ruled out for offside - the offence happened after he collected a 1-2 pass from Dirk Kuyt

Carragher picks out Bellamny with a great ball from the back - great run

An instinctive save by Tim Howard denies an acrobatic half-volley in the six-yarder from Peter Crouch - two chances each in the first 8mins. We have a game on our hands!

Some hard graft being shown by Everton. They are hustling in midfield trying to use the extra man advantage to hussle and force mistakes; they are chasing lost causes - and that was how Hibbert shot came about. Good start from the Toffees

Great hit on goal from Tony Hibbert: his strike was straight at Jose Reina from 10 yards, the keeper stopped well.

Everton are pressing in the early stages

The ball flashes dangerously across the Liverpool goal from an Arteta freekick, but neither attacker nor defener can get a foot on it.

Liverpool line-up in a standard 4-4-2, while Everton are playing a 4-5-1 with Cahill pushed up high in midfield behind lone striker Andy Johnson - who returns from injury after just two days training

Riise knocks the ball a foot to the side for Gerrard to lash it; but he drives it low into the wall and then skies the rebound high into the stand behind

Freekick to Liverpool - he drew the foul from Carsley and Neville; central position, 30 yards out. Steven Gerrard looks keen!

Extraordinary atmosphere in Anfield this lunchtime - both sets of fans bringing much to the game

Arteta takes the corner, but Liverpool clear - unlike the fog that still hangs in one half of the pitch

Early pressure from Everton and they have a corner after Steven Gerrard nearly threatened his own goal with a rash clearance

Referee Alan Wiley blows his whistle and we're underway with Everton attacking the Kop end

As football anthems go I have to say Anfield belting out 'You'll never walk alone' is unbetable - spine tingling stuff... unless you're from Manchester, of course.

As the final strains of 'You'll never walk alone' ring out the players walk down the tunnel, some touching the 'This is Anfield' sign, and they take the pitch - the scene is set.

And the Everton side: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Carsley, Neville, Cahill, Arteta, Osman, Johnson. And warming the bench: Wright, Naysmith, Beattie, Anichebe, Fernandes.

For Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Alonso, Gerrard, Bellamy, Kuyt, Crouch. And the subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Fowler, Gonzalez, Zenden.

Are you ready for the 205th Merseyside derby? Well, you should be - it starts in a few minutes and the team news is in:

Just over 15 minutes left and at this stage Everton would surely love to take a point - Liverpool have dominated the half with 72% of possession

Effort have a little spell in the Liverpool half but quickly lose possession after Neville is booked for a rash challenge

Crouch goes down like a matchstick man and the ref looks at the lanky forward with admirable disdain

Corner to Liverpool won by Gerrard and to be taken by Gerrard

The game has reached a point where all the pressure is coming from Liverpool - they are attacking Everton, who are defending in numbers and deep then countering with quick sorties into the Liverpool half. Liverpool need a slice of luck or a moment of skill to unlock this resolute Everton

Bellamy isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I like his effort, particularly today. He's shown some admirable maturity and is working hard

Carsley clears for Everton after some near linking between Bellamy and Kuyt

Arteta gets a final warning from Alan Wiley after a clash with Agger

A beefy strike from Gerrard just glances by the Everton goal - great effort, but not on target

Foul by Arteta - again a freekick in range for a Gerrard piledriver around the edge of the box...

The Everton side are workign so hard - they have eight men behind the ball and breaking that down is proving tough for the home side

The Kop are getting frustrated - the feeling is that the Reds have had the better of the second half, and the game for that matter, but have yet to really trouble Howard

Meanwhile, Kuyt tries his luck with a half-volley from angle out on the left side, but his drive flashes past Howard's far post - good effort, but they need to be on target

Cahill takes out Agger and the shout is for a penalty - but the ref isn't interested: the defender went over like an olympic diver. Histrionics don't usuall work, Mr Agger.

More superb work by Stubbs - his reading of the game allowed him to beat the pacy Bellamy to deny a chance at the expense of a corner

From the corner another save denies Everton - they are bouyed by this and the crowd sense it!

Lescott and and Johnson pulled the Liverpool defense apart and Johnson twice turned before firing a low drive on goal only for Reina to deny the shot with his legs

Great save by Reina!

Case in point as Bellamy is beaten to the ball by Yobo when the Welshman was in a 1-on-1 position with the keeper - his first touch was poor, but Yobo did well

Perhaps it is time for change for Liverpool - they are having the better chances but have so far failed to make good on them

Kuyt deserves a special mention for his hardwork down the left wing today. With Crouch and Bellamy playing up front Kuyt has dutifully stuck to his role on the wing despite being a natural striker.

Carsley with another long-range effort that doesn't threaten Reina's goal

Stubbs with two moments of great defending inside the sanme 30 seconds - denying Finnan and Pennant's crossed

More good work from Howard in between the sticks for effort: he is off his line quickly to deny Bellamy a chance after a deft header from Gerrard

Some murmers from the crowd and Liverpool players - they think Neville used his arm to block Carragher's effort

Gerrard whips the ball, it's met by Carragher and only superb block by Phil Neville prevents a goal

Liverpool somehow win a corner after Lescott fluffs his lines

Alonso has long-range effort saved by Howard

Hibbert's touch lets him down after some nice work by Arteta opened the door for him - good attacking intent being shown by Everton

Lescott and Cahill work a freekick well to win a throw in a tricky area - Neville will launch a long one into the box

No changes to either side - Johnson won't last the 90, but how long can he stand the pace?

The second half is underway with Liverpool attacking the Kop

Keep it here for the second half of the Merseyside derby - one senses something special will be needed today!

Liverpool have been threatened by Everton's 5-man midfield; but with Johnson the lone striker Agger and Carragher look comfortable.

No goals, but a great half of passionate, fast, end-to-end football. An organised Everton have worked hard to deny Liverpool time and space, forcing them down the wings; it's worked so far, but it's a risk given the strength of Liverpool's wing threat.

And that's half-time

Alonso's effort ricochets off the wall, but finds Riise who unleashes a fierce drive only for an Everton shirt to block his effort

One minute of added time signalled as Alan Stubbs concedes a foul on the edge of the box for a shove on Crouch - dangerous moment late in the half

Pennant delivers a good ball into the box, but Crouch get reach it, despite his go-go-gadget appendages, inside it drops to Kuyt but he can only shin it over the bar

Pennant runs with the ball at his feet with ominous intent as another bank of fog rolls across the pitch

Agger has impressed this season - a worthy successor to Sami Hyypia

Reina and Agger show good composure to pass their way out of trouble at the back under pressure from Johnson - risk, but effective

Arteta with a great piece of hardwork to tackle Kuyt and deny a chance for liverpool

Brilliant tracking tackle from Finnan to deny Osman who was racing at goal after some slick interplay by Everton

Osman does very well to hold off three Liverpool men before slipping a ball to Arteta who in turn feeds Johnson, but the striker is offside

Yet another freekick for Everton on the right flank 10 yards away from the corner of the penalty area; but once again Liverpool's ariel superiority is telling

Neville gees up the troops, and calls for them to push forward and create a high defensive line - a risky ploy with the pace of Bellamy, Kuyt and Pennant, but the Everton defenders have been under pressure over the last few minutes

With ten minutes to go the game seems to have settled down, the tempo has slowed and Liverpool particularly are finding a bit more time to spread the ball and get some momentum - though they are being made to work hard

Alonso plays the set-piece wide to Finnan who loops a cross/shot deep into the area, but Everton clear

Yobo with a clumsy, anxious tackle concedes a foul 40 yards out in a central position.

Liverpool with some possession in the final third of the pitch, working the ball, pulling the Everton side around as they try to open the defense.

Carragher and Agger double team the lone Johnson and Liverpool deal easily with a cross into the box. Those of you who have seen Johnson will know that he's not the tallest, so trying to win a header against two lanky defenders like Liverpool's is always going to be a tough ask

Alsono nearly scores an exceptional goal from range, but his 25-yards, curling effort didn't drop in time and Howard didn't need to make a save

Cahill and Alonso are having a little running battle; a foul goes Alonso's way this time with shrugs and from the Aussie

Everton's 5-man midfield is winning the battle - Liverpool are struggling to get on the ball in the centre of the pitch, thus forcing wing play, which so far has been dealt with by an organised Everton back-line

Pennant looks lively today - he's improved this season, much more end result from him, better delivery into the box, beating players with his speed and guile.

Riise, who has been very prominent so far, is hobbling with what looks like a leg or hip problem

Kuyt picks up the ball after decent work from Pennant and Gerrard, but the Dutchman's shot is not up to is usual standard

A few throw-ins down the right flank sees Liverpool making incrimental advances on Everton before Gerrard switches play with a 40-yard,pin-point pass to Riise

Osman took a whack in getting to the header - Alonso's shoulder will have an imprint of the Everton man's face on it. Osman is unhappy that play wasn't stopped for a head injury - keep your cool, Leon

Osman has a header saved by Reina after a speedy break down the left

Much of Liverpool's play has been focussed down the flanks, so we've not seen much of Gerrard yet

The pace of the game remains high - little time for players like Alonso to get their foot on the ball and turn on the style

End-to-end stuff - Liverpool have a corner with finds its way to Riise on the edge of the box, but his effort is errant

A route one ball from Howard ends with Carsley trying his luck from range, but his effort is harmless and Reina gahters with ease

Agger tries to release Riise on a rampaging run down the left wing, but his pass is just too long

Two corners come to nothing for Everton and Liverpool break with a long-ball from Riise aimed at Crouch

Arteta fires the ball into the wall and it's out for a corner. Arteta appeals for a handball off Alonso who was struck by the ball in the wall - Kuyt disagrees and lets Arteta know!

Arteta is clever to use Carragher's speed and force to win a foul from what was a legitimate tackle; freekick in a dangerous area to the right of the Liverpool goal

Still misty inside the stadium - it's like a continental game where falres have been lit

Another decent chance for Liverpool: A ball in from the right by Pennant is met by Kuyt, but his header is weak and drops to Bellamy but he can't quite reach it and Everton breathe a sigh of relief

Andy Johnson looks a little sluggish - not chasing too many lost cause; can't blame him really, he'll do well to last an hour at this tempo

Leon Osman gets a yellow card for a tackle on Pennant - he will now miss the next game

Bellamy is unlucky to have a what he thought was a goal ruled out for offside - the offence happened after he collected a 1-2 pass from Dirk Kuyt

Carragher picks out Bellamny with a great ball from the back - great run

An instinctive save by Tim Howard denies an acrobatic half-volley in the six-yarder from Peter Crouch - two chances each in the first 8mins. We have a game on our hands!

Some hard graft being shown by Everton. They are hustling in midfield trying to use the extra man advantage to hussle and force mistakes; they are chasing lost causes - and that was how Hibbert shot came about. Good start from the Toffees

Great hit on goal from Tony Hibbert: his strike was straight at Jose Reina from 10 yards, the keeper stopped well.

Everton are pressing in the early stages

The ball flashes dangerously across the Liverpool goal from an Arteta freekick, but neither attacker nor defener can get a foot on it.

Liverpool line-up in a standard 4-4-2, while Everton are playing a 4-5-1 with Cahill pushed up high in midfield behind lone striker Andy Johnson - who returns from injury after just two days training

Riise knocks the ball a foot to the side for Gerrard to lash it; but he drives it low into the wall and then skies the rebound high into the stand behind

Freekick to Liverpool - he drew the foul from Carsley and Neville; central position, 30 yards out. Steven Gerrard looks keen!

Extraordinary atmosphere in Anfield this lunchtime - both sets of fans bringing much to the game

Arteta takes the corner, but Liverpool clear - unlike the fog that still hangs in one half of the pitch

Early pressure from Everton and they have a corner after Steven Gerrard nearly threatened his own goal with a rash clearance

Referee Alan Wiley blows his whistle and we're underway with Everton attacking the Kop end

As football anthems go I have to say Anfield belting out 'You'll never walk alone' is unbetable - spine tingling stuff... unless you're from Manchester, of course.

As the final strains of 'You'll never walk alone' ring out the players walk down the tunnel, some touching the 'This is Anfield' sign, and they take the pitch - the scene is set.

And the Everton side: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Carsley, Neville, Cahill, Arteta, Osman, Johnson. And warming the bench: Wright, Naysmith, Beattie, Anichebe, Fernandes.

For Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Alonso, Gerrard, Bellamy, Kuyt, Crouch. And the subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Fowler, Gonzalez, Zenden.

Are you ready for the 205th Merseyside derby? Well, you should be - it starts in a few minutes and the team news is in: