Derby delight as super Stevie steals the show

Liverpool returned to form in sensational style last night, thumping Everton 3-0 in the 217th Merseyside derby. Skipper Steven Gerrard was the hero on the night, taking home the match ball from his momentous 400th Premier League match after netting three world-class goals that gave the Reds the three points their impressive and encouraging performance warranted.

Following Saturday's abysmal defeat on Wearside, unfairly under-fire manager Kenny Dalglish made four changes to the starting line-up, with Carragher, Carroll, Gerrard and Downing returning to the side. Meanwhile, Toffees' boss David Moyes, who was celebrating a decade of service to Everton in which he has failed to leave Anfield victorious, made six changes, leading to accusations of the 48-year old Scot concentrating his efforts on their FA Cup quarterfinal fixture with Sunderland on the weekend to the neglect of last night's derby.

The hosts began in the ascendancy, opening the encounter with a high tempo, crafting goalscoring chances and testing the Toffees' American stopper Tim Howard. The first sight of goal saw Howard save Gerrard's shot after Suarez had played the number eight into space inside the box. The ball fell invitingly for Henderson, however Rodwell, whose red card in the derby at Goodison Park earlier in the campaign was rightly rescinded, produced an excellent saving block to prevent a near certain goal.

Encouragingly, Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez began to work effectively as a partnership last night, and the first time they linked up almost saw the latter net the opening goal. It was route-one stuff from the Reds, as Carroll flicked on Reina's long punt perfectly for Suarez, whose left footed half-volley was beaten away by the Blues' keeper.

Up to that point, Everton's only significant attacking move ended with Steven Pienaar, who returned to the club on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in January, drilling harmlessly high into the Kop. In the middle of the first half the visitors began to come back into the contest, however they still struggled to create much of note. The closest they came was when Anichebe brought the ball down in a threatening position on the edge of the box but slipped under pressure from the seemingly ever-present Steven Gerrard and thus failed to test Pepe Reina.

Moments later, Gerrard was in action at the other end, giving the Reds a deserved lead with a top-quality strike. A counter-attack released the marauding Kelly into space inside the box and, after Howard had blocked his shot, Gerrard lofted a superb left footed effort over a crowd of bodies and into the unguarded net.

It was a simply sublime finish from the skipper that must be a serious contender for goal of the season.

After being involved in the build up to the first goal, Kelly went close to doubling the lead soon after as he drilled inches wide of the post following a confident and bold run into the danger area. Thankfully, the only response Everton managed to muster before the break saw Reina easily collect Stracqualursi's header. Unfortunately, though, talismanic captain Steven Gerrard appeared to be injured as he limped off the pitch at the interval.

Nevertheless, Gerrard returned for the second half and grabbed his and Liverpool's second of the evening only six minutes after the restart. Henderson's intelligent pass released Suarez into the box and the Uruguayan went past Distin and Jagielka before wisely leaving the ball to run into the path of the skipper, who thumped the ball into the roof of the Kop end net.

Yet another example of Carroll and Suarez working well together arrived quickly afterwards, as the latter stabbed just wide of the far post after more delightful and inventive trickery from the former. Kelly was then inches away from turning home Gerrard's dangerous cross on the slide, as Liverpool dominated the match and could, quite possibly should, have ended the game as a contest at that point.

Despite striking Gerrard's corner well over on the hour mark, Jay Spearing's performance was promising. The diminutive defensive midfielder broke up Everton forays forward successfully and kept play moving swiftly forward, in contrast to Charlie Adam, who has been criticised for unnecessarily slowing down play and remained on the bench throughout last night as a result of recent below-par performances.

Everton almost pulled one back on 61 minutes as Baines cut the ball back for Rodwell but Enrique was on hand to crucially clear his low shot off the lead and maintain the Reds' two goal advantage. David Moyes then made a triple substitution in an attempt to stimulate some attacking play from his troops. Two of those subs, namely Osman and Jelavic, linked up only for the latter to shoot wide when he was in an offside position anyway.

Apart from that, the substitutions had little impact on the flow of the match and Liverpool continued to dominate proceedings, pushing for a third to round off the evening nicely throughout the final 20 minutes. After 70 minutes, Carroll played Suarez into space inside the box but his attempted outside-of-the-foot effort rolled well wide. Howard then saved Enrique’s shot, before Gerrard netted the home side's third as the Kop triumphantly sang "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Stevie stormed forward menacingly and unselfishly played Suarez in on goal. Suarez reciprocated the favour, squaring the ball to the skipper, who fired into the open goal with aplomb.

It was a well worked goal and a fitting way to conclude an entertaining and enjoyable contest, which was conducted in an unusually sporting manner from both sides, with no red cards and only four bookings.

The fact that Gerrard and Suarez were the main protagonists in the goals was not surprising considering their unquestionable status as star performers on the night. Gerrard proved why he is still Liverpool's best player and should be England captain, playing superbly well in his favoured role at the heart of the Reds' midfield. Luis Suarez was also excellent up front, constantly tormenting the Blues' backline and linking up encouragingly with Carroll, who also put in a very good display.

Considering Everton's nine-match unbeaten run and our recent poor form, I expected a tense night and a typical draw to leave us completely out of the running for fourth position. We may still be lying in seventh, ten points off the Champions League places, however, this excellent display could propel up towards a brilliant end to the season, hopefully culminating in a return visit to Wembley and a fourth placed finish.

YNWA