Premier League Merseyside Derby Match 1
Everton FC 2:1 Liverpool FC
PETER BEARDSLEY, a former Liverpool favourite, settled the 147th Merseyside derby in the 84th minute with a shot from 18 yards inside Mike Hooper's near post.
And Goodison Park, one of the league's quieter grounds in recent times, erupted into ecstasy.
Joy was tinged with disbelief. 'Overall I don't think we deserved to win,' Beardsley said. 'But in derby games it's not always the best team that does win.' Yet it should do wonders for Everton's confidence. They are now sixth from bottom, while Liverpool remain a long way short of a team capable of challenging for the Premier League title.
Beagrie's arrival at half-time was crucial for Everton, although once again Liverpool were left ruing the inadequacies of a defence that continues to cave in at the most inappropriate moments.
With Hinchcliffe and Harper injured, Everton chose to play Keown, who had passed a late fitness test, at right-back in an attempt to contain Barnes, and Snodin joined Watson and Ablett in a back five also containing Unsworth. With Burrows seriously hurt last week against Crystal Palace, Nicol had switched to Liverpool's left flank and Wright retained his place alongside Piechnik in the centre.
Outside Stanley Park the street-vendors were selling Santa Claus hats in red and blue. Everton, with only 13 league goals before this match, would have welcomed a hat-trick from anybody in the side.
Both sides searched for pattern and rhythm, but Everton frequently played the long ball forward, giving the diminutive Johnston little opportunity.
Rosenthal, on the other hand, looked dangerous every time the ball was played near him. He eluded Everton's much-reorganised defence in the opening seconds, but shot tamely wide. Then a long hack forward by Wright put him in the clear and only the bravest of saves by Southall denied him. He got free again, for what seemed the umpteenth time, only for Southall to parry his fierce shot.
Everton's defence looked more vulnerable than usual and they mercifully abandoned their sweeper system at half-time, with Beagrie replacing Unsworth to give them more width in attack, Snodin and Ablett reverting to full-back and Watson and Keown forming the defensive pivot.
It certainly opened up play, although it was Liverpool who almost took advantage when Kenny and Snodin, deep in the Liverpool half, lost out to Barnes and Piechnik. Barnes played a typical crossfield ball to McManaman but when the winger rolled the ball back Piechnik scuffed his shot.
Liverpool finally and deservedly took the lead in the 62nd minute. Ablett stretched to concede a corner on the left and, from Marsh's looping kick, Wright levitated to score with a perfect header.
Everton's response was almost immediate. Johnston, a sorry figure for much of the season but no stranger to big-city derbies, turned on to Snodin's pass to drift a beautifully precise left-foot shot just inside Hooper's right post.
Barnes then hit a post and set Piechnik up with a close-range chance that somehow escaped conversion, then forced another leaping save from Southall, before Beardsley struck to give Everton their first league win over Liverpool since 1988.
Before the match Souness explained that Merseyside derbies were essentially family occasions. Most murders are also family affairs, and for Souness this defeat was murder most foul. 'Tonight's game,' he said, 'will keep me awake all night wondering how we lost.'
Liverpool: Hooper, Marsh, Wright, Nicol, Piechnik, Hutchison (Stewart 76), McManaman, Redknapp, Rosenthal (Walters 69), Barnes, Jones
Unused Subs: Grobbelaar
Goal(s): Wright (62)
Shirt Worn: Home-Red
Manager: Graeme Souness
Everton: 1 Southall, 2 Horne, 3 Ablett, 4 Snodin (14 Rideout 75), 5 Watson, 6 Keown, 7 Kenny, 8 Beardsley, 9 Barlow, 10 Johnston, 11 Unsworth (12 Beagrie 45)
Unused Subs: 13 Kearton
Goal(s): Johnston (63), Beardsley (84)
Shirt Worn: Blue
Manager: Howard Kendall
Referee: Martin Bodenham
Attendance: 35,826
Venue: Goodison Park
Kick Off: Monday - 19:45
Date: 1992-12-07
HT/FT: D/L (0-0)/1-2
Goal Sequence: (Liverpool first) 1-0, 1-1, 1-2
Match shown: Live on Sky Sports
Liverpool FC Position at Start of match day: 9
Everton FC Position at Start of match day 19
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