Everton 1 Liverpool 2: Liverpool staged a dramatic comeback with two Dirk Kuyt penalties to claim a famous victory in the Merseyside derby.

Liverpool claimed revenge for the humiliating defeat at Goodison last season.
Everton pair Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville were sent off, with the home side
denied a late penalty claim.

Both Everton dismissals were for incidents that produced Liverpool's second-half penalties. Hibbert brought down Steven Gerrard in the box and Neville handled on the line.

Dirk Kuyt put both penalties to the left of Howard, who will feel he could have saved the second after getting a hand to it.

Everton had deservedly led at the break through a Sami Hyypia own goal, but after being reduced to 10 men for much of the second period — the second red card coming in the final seconds — they could not hang on for a draw.

There was no Tim Cahill, no Fernando Torres and no Xabi Alonso despite all the speculation that these injured stars would play.

Liverpool had the early edge and they exploited that same space on five minutes, when Yossi Benayoun broke down the flank and set up Voronin for a snap shot that went straight at Tim Howard.

But when Everton got their set-plays working, they caused problems. A couple of free-kicks and a corner caused problems for Liverpool, with Alan Stubbs going close with a header.

Everton's aerial threat was soon to produce a goal on 38 minutes. A Mikel Arteta corner was half-cleared, Alan Stubbs turning to hook it back into the danger area where the ball cannoned off Hyypia's boot high onto the net for an own goal.

After the break Joleon Lescott, fresh from making  his full England debut, was a threat on the left along with Arteta.

The Everton midfield pressed quick and hard and Liverpool were again on the back foot. But from a Benayoun ball out of defence, Liverpool gained a lifeline.

Gerrard set off towards the Everton goal and was clipped from behind by Hibbert just inside the penalty area, referee Mark Clattenburg instantly awarding a penalty on 53 minutes.

The official showed Hibbert the red card before Kuyt stepped up to drill home the spot kick.

Everton could have had a penalty themselves soon after  when Steve Finnan manhandled Lescott in the box.

Howard blocked a Voronin shot and Kuyt headed the rebound over the top as Liverpool searched for the second. But Everton were still coming forward.

Kuyt was booked for a flying lunge at Neville, and Yakubu saw a 30-yarder shot go wide.

Benitez then took a very brave decision on 71 minutes to replace Gerrard with young Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva.

The Liverpool skipper looked surprised, but trotted off to allow Lucas into central midfield and Voronin moving to the left.

But it was Lucas' fine ball that sent Voronin away on the left, only to scuff his shot wide.

Neville was then sent off on 89 minutes for handling a Lucas shot on the line, providing Kuyt with his second penalty to seal a crucial win for the Reds.