Everton go into Christmas top of the tree on Merseyside after picking up a point in this evening's 0-0 derby draw with Liverpool at Anfield. Striker Wayne Rooney came closest to breaking the deadlock with a thunderous drive against the bar from the edge of the area shortly after his introduction as Liverpool were left with a feeling of frustration.
That was as close as either side came in a typically committed encounter, which threatened to boil over in the 87th minute when Naysmith was left in agony after a reckless two-footed challenge from Steven Gerrard. Everton striker Kevin Campbell squared up to the England midfielder and players from both sides got involved in an ugly fracas, although no players were booked by referee Graham Poll.
The situation calmed down and the game finished with honours even after a bad tempered match and Everton remain four points ahead of The Reds with the teams now fourth and fifth in the Barclaycard Premiership respectively. Liverpool have now collected only two points from their last seven games and these are anxious times for manager Gerard Houllier. It could have been a lot worse had Rooney's thunderbolt which struck the bar 15 minutes from time – via a deflection off Stephane Henchoz - gone in.
The early stages of the game were, as expected, frenetic with players having difficulty settling on the ball. John Arne Riise had the first chance of note when his 25-yard volley was saved by Richard Wright, while Reds defender Stephane Henchoz then clearly handled in the area but was awarded a free-kick as he had been fouled by Radzinski.
Radzinski squandered a good chance in the 36th minute when he shot wide from close range, and Riise fluffed an effort at the other end minutes later. Kirkland had to look lively to turn over Carsley's inswinging shot before play switched ends, while Wright was on his toes to turn away a 20-yard effort from Riise after a surging run from the Norwegian.
After the break Carsley failed to test Kirkland with a header, and Houllier decided to make a double substitution in the 53rd minute, introducing Vladimir Smicer and Emile Heskey for Diao and Traore. Heskey almost made an immediate impact, with a downward header from Gerrard's free-kick going wide.
Rooney was eventually brought on in the 55th minute when he replaced Radzinski - and the Everton fanatic, from nearby Croxteth, showed he was not fazed by his derby debut. He clattered into Kirkland in a race for the ball, leaving the Liverpool goalkeeper dazed. Heskey missed another good chance in the 61st minute when his touch let him down after Gerrard had played a free-kick over the top.
Liverpool were let off the hook after 65 minutes when the industrious Mark Pembridge delivered an inswinging corner which breached the home defence and sub Steve Watson was only inches away from getting a vital touch. Rooney's effort off the bar followed but with both defences on top, the game ended scoreless to leave the blue half of Liverpool the happier going into the busy Christmas programme.
Filed by Shane Murray
