Golden head Kuyt, won Merseyside derby

Liverpool 1
- Kuyt 55

Everton 0


Striker Dirk Kuyt's 50th Liverpool goal gave his side a 1-0 victory in a fiery 213th Merseyside derby at Anfield which saw both teams reduced to 10 men.

The Dutchman scored for the fourth time in as many games with a close-range header 10 minutes after half-time.

One of the most fieriest derby matches in recent times it was an all out battle for supremacy. Tackles were flying in throughout the match. Steven Pienaar was lucky only to be shown a yellow. But minutes later, Kyrgiakos got sent off for a two-footed lunge on Fellaini, who himself was lucky to get away with a red in the same tackle.

Despite the obvious physical nature of the game, referee Martin Atkinson kept his cards in his pocket until a little over 20 minutes of the game was played, but was forced to show Dirk Kuyt a yellow for a blatant trip on Landon Donovan as the creative American was bursting forward. Following the caution, Leighton Baines let one fly, but goalkeeper Pepe Reina was relatively untroubled as he pushed the ball away for a corner.

Liverpool were content to defend their lead and counter-attack when possible but Reina had to be alert to tip behind Yakubu's shot on the turn.

In the fifth minute of added time Pienaar was sent off for jumping into Gerrard as the hosts hung on to maintain their momentum going into an equally-important match at Arsenal on Wednesday.

Dirk Kuyt for Liverpool was everywhere, from front to back. Got the vital goal in the second half and got back to help the defense. Finally, when the head of Dirk Kuyt gold changed everything was lit up for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.

Teams :

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Maxi, Ngog.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Distin, Heitinga, Baines, Fellaini (Arteta 41), Donovan, Osman, Cahill, Pienaar, Saha