Match Review: Everton 0-2 LFC

It was a usual Merseyside Derby. Fast and furious, with Everton overstepping the mark on occasions. In the end, second-half goals from Andy Carroll & the fantastic Luis Suarez stole the points for the Reds, but that was just part of the story.

The game was even until Jack Rodwell was sent off for a sliding challenge on Suarez, mid-way through the first half. There's no doubt that Rodwell shouldn't even had a yellow card for the tackle on Suarez, but referee Martin Atkinson deemed it dangerous enough for a red.

Everton have cause for complaint, just as the Reds did against Spurs two weeks ago. I suppose things do even themselves out over a season. That said, Tony Hibbert should have seen Red later in the half for a terrible challenge on Adam. Hibbert had already been booked when he dived into a tackle, missing the ball and taking out the man. Referee Atkinson didn't even wave play-on, so bottled it completely having probably realised his mistake in sending off Rodwell. So again, these things even themselves out. Either way, the Toffees should have been down to 10 men.

They will argue that the game would have been different 11 vs 11. Maybe so. But if Rodwell hadn't gone then I'm sure Hibbert would have.

It was only a matter of time when it was 10 vs 11, but Liverpool made a little hard work of things as Everton hung on.

Kuyt has a first half penalty saved by Tim Howard and Adam hit the underside of the cross-bar late in the first half as the Reds cranked up the pressure.

It wasn't until the introduction of Gerrard for the fading Adam and Bellamy for Downing that Liverpool took the lead.

Bellamy fed Luis Enrique down the left and his cross was turned-in by the much maligned Carroll for his first league goal of the season.

Suarez then capitalised on a mistake by Distin to seal a deserved win in the last 10 minutes as he, once again, picked up the man of the match award.

So Gerrard is back and looking good and Carroll and Suarez seem to be working better together. Charlie Adam again faded in the second half which is a concern going forward, however, but all in all this was a good day at the office.

There is now another international break, which always seems to happen when we get a bit of momentum going.

Next up........... the mancs. Come on you Reds! YNWA.