Liverpool 2 Everton 2:THE 215th Merseyside derby enticed John W Henry to only his second Anfield game as Liverpool's principal owner but told him nothing he did not already know.
That his appointment of Kenny Dalglish was the right one to galvanise a previously fractured club was confirmed in the spirited reaction of fans and players alike. What followed, unfortunately for Henry’s pockets, was evidence there is a limit to the Dalglish effect and to what €350 million can buy.
Dalglish’s wait for a victory to herald his Liverpool homecoming continues and so too David Moyes’s quest for a win at Anfield as Everton manager. The last time Everton won across Stanley Park was 1999 and they arrived believing this represented their finest chance of a first league double over Liverpool since 1984-85.
Those aspirations were dented when Louis Saha joined Tim Cahill on the absentee list with a thigh strain, and must have risen again when Dalglish sent out a central midfield of Jay Spearing and Lucas Leiva. Ultimately, however, it was the appetite, work rate and adventure of Liverpool that left their neighbours grateful for a point, but with even that insufficient for a victory, the depth of Dalglish’s five-month challenge was laid bare once again.
“We are happy with the way we are playing,” said the Liverpool manager. “When there is a change in management there is a change in philosophy, training and how you prepare for matches and players have to adapt to that. They’ve got to believe in what we are doing and I think you can see the belief is coming back.”
Dalglish again lamented a lack of luck in Liverpool’s performance, arguing the corner that led to Sylvain Distin’s equaliser “should have been a goal-kick” and that Martin Kelly “was clattered” by Victor Anichebe before Jermaine Beckford swept Everton ahead.
It took a needless challenge from the otherwise impressive Tim Howard on Maxi Rodriguez for Liverpool to salvage a point from the penalty spot, however, while the home side had only themselves to blame for not establishing a comfortable first-half lead. Moyes, who left out Steven Pienaar after the Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur transfer target announced he was not in the right mindset, said: “I was disappointed not to take all three points after the second half but at half-time I was delighted to come in only one goal down.”
Liverpool were inspired by the fanfare around Dalglish’s return but their first-half performance, while a vast improvement on recent weeks, showed why the club is interested in Ajax’s Uruguay forward, Luis Suarez. Howard made four important saves before the interval while the excellent Fernando Torres struck a post and Rodriguez squandered a glorious chance to add to Raul Meireles’s 29th-minute opener.
Everton, by contrast, did not force Jose Reina into one meaningful save in the opening 45 minutes yet, remarkably, had turned the game on its head within seven minutes of the restart.
Torres served notice of Liverpool’s intent by testing Howard from the angle on 10 seconds and gave Distin a demanding afternoon on the turn. One outstanding run inside both Everton central defenders resulted in the Spain international beating Howard only for his effort to strike the inside of the post, with Dirk Kuyt failing to convert an inviting rebound.
Liverpool’s relentless pressing prevented the visitors from building any momentum or releasing Seamus Coleman against an unorthodox left-back, Glen Johnson, and it was from the England international that Dalglish’s team deservedly took the lead.
Johnson’s cross to the far post invited Kuyt to force a fine save from Howard, who threw himself in the way of the Dutchman’s second attempt.
The ball fell perfectly for the lurking Meireles, who drove beyond Leighton Baines and beyond the Everton goalkeeper from the edge of the area.
The home side left the pitch to a standing ovation at half-time but were left bewildered at the unforeseen transformation that followed. Distin headed Everton level 38 seconds into the second half when he ghosted behind Martin Skrtel and headed Mikel Arteta’s corner through the legs of Reina. Seven minutes later Moyes’s side were ahead when Anichebe and Leon Osman combined to give Beckford a sight of goal and the former Leeds United striker struck low into Reina’s far corner.
Everton were suddenly comfortable, Liverpool anxious, but the home side were gifted a route back when Rodriguez tumbled over Howard as they both stretched for Skrtel’s scuffed shot. The referee Phil Dowd instantly pointed to the spot and Kuyt drilled home his third successful penalty in a Merseyside derby.
