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Liverpool 1-0 Everton
Match Reports, 17:29, February 6, 2010 ,
Dirk Kuyt won a violent Merseyside derby for Liverpool at Anfield as both sides had a man sent off.
The first half was a war of attrition, with both sides displaying their combative qualities early on with some crunching challenges and committed tackles. Steven Gerrard had the first chance of any real note, fizzing in a free kick from the left and forcing Tim Howard into an instinctive save.
As the half wore on, however, the challenges became increasingly ill-tempered and the rhythm of the game was disrupted by a flurry of yellow cards and fouls. Steven Pienaar was lucky to escape a red card after a shocking challenge on Javier Mascherano but minutes later, Sotirios Kyrgiakos' horrendous two footed tackle on Marouane Fellaini, which forced the influential Everton midfielder off the pitch, was justifiably met with a red card.
On the stroke of half time, Gerrard won a free kick just outside the box in a central position and seconds later whacked the ball against Howard's crossbar. It was the best chance in a half which lacked extended periods of high-quality play whilst Tim Cahill also missed a good opportunity to put Everton ahead as he sent his attempt from a diving header narrowly over.
The second half provided more in the way of attacking football from both sides and the game really came to life after 55 minutes when Dirk Kuyt angled the simplest of headers past Howard from a Liverpool corner. The goalkeeper should have done better to prevent the chance but Kuyt's work rate and effort deserved the goal. Everton responded fairly well to going behind and enjoyed plenty of possession in midfield but lacked that incisive pass in the final third, with Liverpool unafraid to defend in numbers across the pitch.
The game threatened to turn ugly once again in the final ten minutes, as a challenge from Gerrard on Pienaar set off a mild brawl, for which the Liverpool skipper was booked. The final minutes, fittingly for such a dramatic match, were eventful, as Ayegbeni Yakubu forced an instinctive save from Jose Manuel Reina before Pienaar became the second player to receive a red card after a second bookable offence.
Liverpool fans were relieved when the final whistle came, whilst the Everton faithful watched on as their team continued their awful record away at Anfield.