FA Cup - Everton hold Liverpool again

Eurosport - Mon, 26 Jan 08:30:00 2009

Liverpool drew 1-1 with Everton at Anfield in the FA Cup fourth round, the Merseyside rivals' second such result in a week.

2008-2009 Liverpool Everton Steven Pienaar Albert Riera - 0

After Monday's draw in the Premier League, the teams again could not be separated as Joleon Lescott's close-range header was cancelled out by a low Steven Gerrard strike.

The consequence is a third derby, this time at Goodison Park, with a place in the last 16 still at stake for the winners of the replay.

Although Liverpool dominated much of the game, Everton will feel they let their neighbours off the hook, as Gerrard's 54th-minute equaliser came courtesy of a mistake by goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's commitment to the FA Cup has never been absolute - the Reds' 2006 triumph notwithstanding - but he took this fixture seriously enough to give goalkeeper Pepe Reina only his sixth appearance in the competition in four seasons.

There was another blow to Robbie Keane's rock-bottom confidence as the Irishman was left out of Liverpool's 18-man squad, as Benitez played Fernando Torres as a lone striker with David N'Gog on the bench.

Everton boss David Moyes picked his strongest available side, but that still meant no Mikel Arteta, with the Spanish midfielder sidelined after suffering a rib injury in training.

On Monday, Liverpool lost the lead against Everton after they lost track of Tim Cahill and the Australian headed a late equaliser.

Lightning struck for the second time in six days with 27 minutes gone, as the shortcomings of Benitez's zonal marking system at set-pieces were once again exposed.

Cahill and Lescott are clearly Everton's biggest aerial threats, but both men found enough space to combine for the opening goal. Cahill met Steven Pienaar's corner with a firm header goalwards, and Lescott deflected it to ensure Reina had no chance.

Contrast Liverpool's slackness with the touch-tight marking from Everton, with Phil Jagielka rarely letting Torres beyond his grasp. The Spaniard showed sharpness and some nice touches, but never had the space to show his explosive acceleration or deadly finishing.

It was not all bad from the home side - they enjoyed 70 per cent possession and completed more than three times as many passes as their opponents in the first half. Despite all this, they were unable to muster a goal attempt worthy of the name as Everton keeper Howard's activities were restricted to dawdling over goal-kicks.

Liverpool's frustration was personified by Jamie Carragher, who was so incensed at what he perceived as time-wasting by Howard that he pursued referee Steve Bennett down the tunnel at half-time and earned himself a booking for dissent.

The second half began in much the same pattern, with Liverpool dominant but unable to land a significant blow - then suddenly they were level.

It came from a piece of magic by Torres. The Spaniard collected the ball on his chest just inside the Everton half with his back to goal, and somehow played Gerrard clear with a sublime flick of his left boot.

Gerrard raced through and struck low towards the near post with his left foot. Somehow the ball eluded Howard and fizzed into the net.

Liverpool poured forward in search of a winner. Howard partially redeemed himself with a good save from a Gerrard volley, while Torres had a close-range shot blocked.

But Everton proved too well organised and the tie now travels across Stanley Park to Goodison.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Having read several comments about both Everton and­ Liverpool football clubs and their teams snd supporters­ it occurs to me that the majority of both lots are­ unable to express themselves in plain english and have­ to resort to abusing each other with vulgar innuendos­ which have nothing whatever to do with the game of­ football. We bystanders with no particular allegiance­ to either team can watch and enjoy the games and only­ get frustrated when players mis behave or habitually­ challenge the officials who on the whole do a sterling­ job often with little of no credit.

    From ROY, on Sun 25 Jan 8:38PM

  2. come on everton u can do it

    From marie, on Sun 25 Jan 8:35PM

  3. JULIEBAUM. are you blowing me a kiss there?

    From marklunt636, on Sun 25 Jan 8:31PM

  4. S P A S T I C. IS THAT AN INVALID COMMENT?

    From marklunt636, on Sun 25 Jan 8:30PM

  5. farrellvelloza. say fault with a pathetic spanish­ accent and you get faulf, or faulth isnt it about time­ rafa could speak at the very least understandable­ english? i mean for gods sake how long has he been here­ for? as for our managers p1ssheads nose as you put it­ i am sure it is quite understandable when you consider­ how many times he has had to drink champers from the­ premier league trophy, champions league trophy, FA cup,­ league cup, world champions cup, uefa cup, charity­ shield, shall i go on. as for going out robbing cars i­ dont need to i have a job a car of my own something a­ scouser can only dream of like winning the premiership.

    From marklunt636, on Sun 25 Jan 8:28PM

  6. supporters who harp on about opposing teams putting 11­ men behind the ball make me laff, what do you expect­ everton to do they have no strike force, but give them­ credit, they get back to back draws against supposed­ title contenders (not) .............scouse muk

    From sdhamm, on Sun 25 Jan 8:26PM

  7. everton well played again with half a squad amazing­ manager and a good hard working team liverpool look­ like they are out of ideas and are going to find it­ tough with no new players well done moysey no money no­ players to 4 possible with this run blue army

    From juliebaum, on Sun 25 Jan 8:21PM

  8. I am a Liverpool fan along time but i think that yet­ once again Raffa going to lose it all,paying all this­ money for robbie and not even picking him for the squad­ today.This is one way to reck his football carrear as­ he nearly done with Peter Crouch the man must either­ dislike Robbie keane or just has money to burn for LFC­ the way he picks his team is a joke and at the moment­ they will win nothing this year once again give Raffa­ the boot and bring back kenny D No7.If Raffa gets the­ helm at buying the players at the club it will be like­ a slow sinking ship lfc keep keane and get rid of Raffa­ he has had his chance bring in a new manager before its­ to late this year again.

    From shane.oneill3, on Sun 25 Jan 8:14PM

  9. Champions of England, Champions of Europe,
    Champions of­ England, Champions of Europe,
    Champions of England,­ Champions of Europe,
    Champions of England, Champions of­ Europe,

    Sorry World Champions. Again

    From Gerard, on Sun 25 Jan 8:10PM

  10. come on rafa give us all another rant to deflect the­ fact that you are rubbish, boo hoo its not fair man utd­ got through and we didnt it all their faulf not mine, i­ think all our goals should count double boo hoo do i­ look silly enough with my little goateee beard.

    From marklunt636, on Sun 25 Jan 8:06PM

  11. everton did not deserve to take it to a replay at all­ what a tricky pass from torres and what a finish from­ gerrard.

    From Liverpool intill die, on Sun 25 Jan 8:05PM

  12. what about totenham laying down for manutd­ yesterdaythay should be done by the fa for bringing the­ game into dispute how much longer will it take to bring­ robbie keene back to totenham see he was left out of­ the game today seems to me liverpool should have not­ bought him he dont play as a provider he is a goal­ scorer and you cant score if your left out of the team­ Raffa

    From pete4jaz, on Sun 25 Jan 8:03PM

  13. Everton thru courtesy of the replay
    Man Utd to take the­ Premier League
    L'Pool on their @#$% as per­ usual
    LOL

    From cadillak_kowboy, on Sun 25 Jan 8:00PM

  14. Rafa needs Paco back!

    From Emma, on Sun 25 Jan 7:57PM

  15. james s - I have been waiting fro liverpool to prove­ the doubters for the last 18 years... Still waiting...­ Muppet

    From redimaster, on Sun 25 Jan 7:56PM

  16. half a brain should call him self no brain at all after­ hes last bit of drivle i think

    From pete4jaz, on Sun 25 Jan 7:51PM

  17. During the time period taken by the IFFHS, Barcelona­ have won the Champions League on two occasions, whilst­ they have won La Liga eight times.

    Manchester United­ on the other hand have also won the Champions League­ twice, but they have picked up ten Premier League­ titles.

    And the they are above MUFC, work that one­ out.

    From Gerard, on Sun 25 Jan 7:51PM

  18. Hey pokerskembo
    Why would you say it was Pancake?
    You­ are the typical bluenose @#$%.

    From farrellvelloza, on Sun 25 Jan 7:48PM

  19. Stick to the football. Gerrards mishap will be thrown­ out of court due to lack of evidence and once all the­ gullible red top readers have been milked of their­ money and the story goes stale. Everton seem to be­ playing well while Liverpool are just boring lately.­ Good result. Liverpool repeatedly lacking goals without­ which we all may as well go home.

    From Cops UK, on Sun 25 Jan 7:47PM

  20. Another game, another excuse as to why MUFC yet again­ do a treble. Liverpool are no longer number 1 is­ Scouseland. Everton will be the one's playing MUFC­ in the Final.

    From Gerard, on Sun 25 Jan 7:46PM
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