SOCCER/PREMIER LEAGUE/Liverpool 1 Everton 0:LIVERPOOL YEARN for the keys to the penthouse but their own residence three floors below is coveted fiercely by most of the Premier League's occupants. Everton, comfortably beaten in everything other than the tally of goals, lack the means to achieve the high life.

With a five-point lead over their neighbours, Rafael Benitez's squad has more or less clinched a place in next season's Champions League, or at least the qualifying rounds, before they start this week's quarter-final, with Arsenal, on Wednesday.

When it comes to frustrated ambition, Everton have the most intriguing case history in recent times. Just three years ago they finished fourth in the table, immediately above Liverpool. Since then the Goodison manager, David Moyes, has improved the calibre of his squad, only to discover to his frustration that the Anfield club is pulling away from him.

That sort of daunting realisation is not unique to the Scot. The Premier League is a place of severe distinctions nowadays. Last weekend, Liverpool themselves were beaten 3-0 with scornful ease at Old Trafford.

To take the title, if Manchester United are any guide, it now appears that a profusion of talent in the team, on the bench and sometimes left to watch from the stands is going to be required.

While Liverpool are not equipped to that degree, they have been able to retain Steven Gerrard, who has twice been on the verge of leaving for Chelsea, and to attract the £26.5 million Fernando Torres. The Spaniard scored his 21st Premier League goal of the campaign, with 19 of them recorded at Anfield, to settle this derby. Gallingly for Everton, it was overwhelmingly avoidable.

With seven minutes gone, Yakubu Ayegbeni went back towards his penalty area. It is always debatable whether this readiness to help out the back four should be a cause of fear or gratitude among defenders. On this occasion, the Nigerian was a liability and was robbed of the ball by Xabi Alonso. Possession moved from Dirk Kuyt to Torres, with the striker staying calm to slip a shot past Tim Howard.

"I think I have scored 15 out of the 19 goals in front of the Kop," he said. "I can't explain it but I'm always confident when I am facing that end of the pitch."

It was, though, Gerrard who dominated the game and it is verve of his sort that makes the Premier League so marketable and thrilling. He was also the object of ugly chants from unappreciative Everton fans.

"I am really pleased for some players because I didn't like what I heard at some times," said Benitez. "It's a lack of respect."

Gerrard was not distracted. Moments before half-time, a spectacular ball from him to the back post would have been cherished as it deserved had the move not concluded with a scruffy effort from Kuyt.

The lack of a second goal had irksome consequences for Benitez. With the match in the balance, he could not take off Gerrard or Torres until it was nearly over. Instead of a rest, they at least had the restorative power of ovations from the crowd.

Everton once more displayed the traits that make them admirable. They are tenacious, and Moyes, altering his personnel and tweaking the tactics as the afternoon proceeded, stopped his side from being belaboured by Liverpool. They even occupied territory, but there was not the refinement or sharpness to bring a proper save out of Jose Reina.

The nearest Everton came was a burst inside the box from Yakubu on 61 minutes, halted by a perfect tackle from Sami Hyypia.

Liverpool went through a period this season when leads were not protected so efficiently. "We should have been further ahead by half-time," said Benitez. "We missed a lot of chances and with the experience we've had this year I was concerned that Everton would score."

That menace existed largely in the manager's imagination. By challenging with more purpose and order, Everton mainly ensured the match would get tedious.

The win will certainly cheer Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry, who yesterday urged the club's co-owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, to resolve question marks over the club's future.

Gillett said last week that his partnership with Hicks is unworkable, casting further doubt over the outlook for the record 18-time English champion.

"If they're not able to co-exist then there needs to be a solution where one buys and one sells, or both sell," Parry told the BBC.