For the second time in a week Liverpool and Everton could not be separated after their FA Cup clash ended 1-1.
Gerrard cancels out Lescott opener to set up Goodison replay
For the second time in a week Liverpool and Everton could not be separated after their FA Cup fourth round clash at Anfield ended 1-1.
Toffees defender Joleon Lescott flicked the visitors into the lead to silence their city rivals in 27th minute.
David Moyes' men held out to go into the break with their slender advantage still in tact but in truth Liverpool had rarely threatened Tim Howard's goal.
Liverpool came out for the second period sharper and brighter and equalised through captain Steven Gerrard.
The England midfielder fired home left footed under Howard from the left hand side of the area after a delightful flick from Fernando Torres to send him through on goal.
Suggestions that Reds boss Rafael Benitez would under-value the tournament and make a string of changes were unfounded.
There was no Diego Cavalieri in goal, Jose Reina kept the position for his first FA Cup game since the 2006 final.
Elsewhere Liverpool went for more width than in the 1-1 league draw, Ryan Babel and Alvaro Arbeloa detailed to patrol the flanks while Javier Mascherano returned to midfield and Jamie Carragher to the centre of defence.
Boosted
Liverpool were further boosted by the absence of the influential Mikel Arteta from the Blues ranks with bruised ribs.
They pushed Everton back early on with sustained possession and after Steven Pienaar's theatrical collapse in the box under pressure from Arbeloa failed to win a penalty, it was Liverpool who were flooding forward.
But they found their attacking waves crashing against the usual formidable rocks in Everton's defence.
Lescott and Phil Jagielka were outstanding as Leon Osman and Phil Neville toiled diligently in front of them.
Liverpool barely created a decent scoring chance in the opening half, and the first time Everton broke out they won a 27th-minute corner that produced a goal to stun the Kop.
From Liverpool's point of view it was yet another set-piece disaster. Tim Cahill, booked early on for deliberant handball, flicked on Pienaar's flag-kick and Lescott nodded past an exposed Reina.
Everton had two free headers in that set-play, and Lescott was totally unmarked six yards out.
From then until the break Everton defended deep, with great resilience and rendered Liverpool frustrated and chanceless.
Torres found Jagielka no less an obstacle than seven days earlier.
Xabi Alonso was booked for a foul on Pienaar and Carragher too on his way off at the break for dissent, having become increasingly annoyed with Everton's constant time-wasting.
It needed something special to break Everton's iron grip, and it came from Torres and Gerrard, combining to stunning effect after 54 minutes.
Breaktaking
Torres juggled the ball and then produced a breathtaking back-heel to send the ball flying into Gerrard's path. The captain surged into the box and drilled a shot inside Tim Howard and the near post.
The American should have done far better, but he partly redeemed himself three minutes later with a miraculous save from another Gerrard drive as a revitalised Liverpool powered forward.
Everton sunk even deeper into defence now, 11 men behind the ball, and after 71 minutes they took off striker Victor Anichebe and sent on midfielder Dan Gosling.
Now with Cahill on his own up front, Everton had midfielders breaking from all angles, only heightened when Jack Rodwell took over from Segundo Castillo in central midfield.
It gave Liverpool a real problem. They were pushing forward, and liable to be caught out by quick midfielders if their concentration dropped at the back.
Pienaar was booked for a foul on Martin Skrtel, and Albert Riera came on for Babel.
The action was now fast and very furious, with Dirk Kuyt wasting a good opportunity from 12 yards and Torres seeing a close-range shot deflected away by Lescott.
But Everton's defence stood firm, and forced a replay they fully deserved.
| Liverpool |
Team Statistics |
Everton |
|
| 1 |
Goals |
1 |
|
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
|
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
1 |
|
| 9 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
|
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
|
| 7 |
Corners |
2 |
|
| 5 |
Fouls |
17 |
|
| 0 |
Offsides |
1 |
|
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
|
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
|
| 84.2 |
Passing Success |
59.4 |
|
| 22 |
Tackles |
28 |
|
| 77.3 |
Tackles Success |
78.6 |
|
| 74.3 |
Possession |
25.7 |
|
| 68.1 |
Territorial Advantage |
31.9 |
|
|
