Everton 0-2 Liverpool Match Report – Torres Brace In Reds’ Win In Ill-Tempered Merseyside Derby As Cahill Sent Off

Fernando Torres brace was enough for Liverpool to win the the 208th Merseyside derby after Rafa Benitez’s side completely dominated their local rivals Everton in a high-tempo Premiership game at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Torres, who had emerged most prolific forward in debut season in England with 24 league goals, discovered his top form this season as he scored both goals in the second half of the game within a space of four minutes, before Tim Cahill was sent off by Mike Riley. Six other players were shown the yellow card.

Liverpool made a bright start and put the home side under pressure straightaway. They looked confident in the build-ups knocking the ball around with great authority. However, there were several half-chances that went begging due to poor final ball.

Most notably, captain Steven Gerrard’s cross was a little bit out of reach for Dirk Kuyt to head, while Robbie Keane was involved with promising opportunities only to see himself being deserted by the final touch. Torres’ close range shot was blocked, while Albert Riera blasted over the cross bar.

While the Reds dominated the possession and held territorial upper hand, Everton had a couple of clear-cut chances in the first half. In the 14th minute, the Reds failed to clear the lines following a corner kick, and Cahill only had to connect on the low cross from six yards out. The Australian, however, got into a tangle with his feet and missed his kick.

Around the half-hour mark, the Toffees had another chance, but it would not have counted as the poor piece of officiating saw that whistle was blown for a free kick even as Marouane Fellaini’s shot on target struck Jamie Carragher on goal-line after Pepe Reina had lost the high ball.

The first shot on target for any side came in the 51st minute when Torres turned and drove a low shot, but Tim Howard had no problem in stopping that. However, minutes later, the US international was lucky as Gerrard’s long-range angular grounder was only just wide of the left post.

The Reds took the lead in the 59th minute after a sustained spell of pressure, when Torres scored with a first-time volley from right side of the penalty area off a cross from Keane from the left.

It did not take too long for Torres to get his second goal of the afternoon as he found the roof of the net when ball broke to him following Jagielka’s tackle to dispossess Kuyt in the box after Keane was involved in the build-up. However, Torres was lurking around and pounced on the opportunity to put the Reds in a commanding lead in the 63rd minute. It was the Spain striker’s third goal of the season for the Reds.

It was one-way traffic with the visitors dominating the proceedings and in the 73rd minute, it took a last-ditch tackle from Jagielka to thwart a marauding Torres, who seemed to have bounced back to his top form after a slow start to the season.

In a rare chance to the Toffees in the second half, an inviting free-kick from Arteta saw Fellaini being unable to get his head onto the delivery with Reds defender Skrtel getting away with a clumsy tackle.

David Moyes’ side came up within sight of pulling up a goal back when Lescott’s sharp low cross from left, went wasted as Fellaini failed to get anything onto the ball from a close range.

The home side were down to 10 men when Cahill was sent off in the 80th minute following a heavy challenge on Alonso.

Substitute Louis Saha saw his powerful shot miss the Reds goal in the closing minutes, as the 10-man Toffees looked for a consolation goal. However, the Reds had a comfortable last few minutes to see off to take the full points and go top of the table. The result also meant that the Toffees remained without a point at home so far this season.

Teams:

Everton: Howard, Hibbert (Saha 64), Yobo, Lescott, Neville, Cahill, Osman, Fellaini, Arteta, Jagielka, Yakubu.

Everton Substitutes not used: Rodwell, Baines, Valente, Nash, Castillo, Vaughan.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Skrtel, Alonso (Lucas 87), Gerrard, Kuyt, Riera (Aurelio 67), Keane (Pennant 87), Torres.

Liverpool Substitutes not used: Cavalieri, Agger, Hyypia, Babel.