Merseyside Derby not a classic

Everton gained a vital point in their battle against relegation after a fiercely-fought but largely excitement-free Merseyside Derby.

Anfield's biggest crowd of the season, 39,505, roared on both sides. But a procession of offside decisions and a tempo which was simply too fast for any real football to be played turned the game into a huge anti-climax.

While Liverpool - now without a win in four games - trooped off with their flickering championship hopes having faded even further, Joe Royle's men were delighted to have avoided defeat.

And the Goodison outfit could have earned their first Anfield victory in a decade late on when Duncan Ferguson's header was kept out by David James.

The commitment of both sides - especially Everton - was clear from the outset but the frantic nature of the opening correctly booed ill for the remainder of the contest.

David Unsworth was relieved when his headed clearance from Stig Bjornebye's cross rolled outside the post with Neville Southall out of his goal, but for all the passion of red and blue, yellow was the predominant colour.

Referee Brian Hill produced his card four times in the first half, all for the visitors, who were determined to give Liverpool in general, and Steve McManaman in particular, not an inch of room.

Dave Watson, Joe Parkinson, David Burrows and Unsworth were the men to fall foul of Mr Hill but the referee's activity could not hide the redundancy of both goalkeepers, with the two sets of strikers caught off-side far too frequently.

Southall needed the help of Watson to block when Robbie Fowler had Liverpool's first shot on the half-hour - Parkinson and Matthew Jackson had earlier blazed over for Everton - but the first save did not come until seven minutes from the break.

Watson's long clearance saw Ferguson get beyond the home backline and the Scot controlled the high, bouncing ball well to turn and shoot, with David James holding comfortably.

In injury time, Jamie Redknapp's corner flicked off Watson as far as John Scales, who volleyed low and left-footed, with Southall blocking and Everton scrambling clear.

Barry Horne began the second period with a run and right-foot shot at James before Burrows was perhaps fortunate to escape a second booking in his first derby since returning to Merseyside when he brought down Fowler.

Ian Rush, who had recovered from a rib injury, wasted an opportunity to add to his derby-record 25 goals when he miskicked from a Scales cross and Phil Babb joined the list of transgressors when he was cautioned on the hour.

The Irishman then nearly made amends, breaking down the left and crossing only for Rob Jones to drag his shot across goal.

Everton took this as their cue to look for a winner.

Horne was just off-target from the edge of the box after Jamie Redknapp slipped in front of him and an acrobatic Paul Rideout volley nestled in James' arms.

With Everton growing in confidence, Ferguson could have taken the points with a firm downward header from Jackson's cross which James was grateful to hold at the second attempt.
The Scot - who now begins a three-match ban - then drove narrowly over on the run but the final whistle brought a chorus of boos from the disgruntled home fans.

Liverpool boss Roy Evans launched a verbal assault on referee Brian Hill after this ill-tempered Merseyside Derby: "I just think the referee didn't do his job. We tried to play the attacking brand of football and fluency is a big part. But every time we went past our player was brought down. They had four booked in the first half but the referee didn't continue that in the second and we didn't get the protection we deserved."

Evans added: "I don't like seeing people sent off but if they are stopping us playing by bringing us down, we can't get the fluency that is part of our game. Every time we got it past their back four we were fouled. It just spoiled it for the fans."

Everton boss Joe Royle not surprisingly took a different view, saying: "That was a good point."
"We can and will play a lot better but defensively we were top notch and Neville Southall didn't have a save to make."

Royle added: "It was a fervent game and I was disappointed that all the bookings were one way in the first half because although I can't disagree with them I thought there should have been some balancing out at some stage."

As for the battling qualities shown by his team Royle said: "We've got to have that, we've got to take it for granted. I've seen plenty of teams come here and lie down in the past. We certainly weren't going to do that and big Duncan Ferguson might have nicked it at the end."