Premier League Merseyside Derby Match 4
Liverpool FC 2:1 Everton FC
Fowler fires at high speed
THERE is nowhere to hide in Liverpool for the side that loses the derby, but even the losing Evertonians should be able to hold up their heads in the city next week after yesterday's sizzling game.
The match fizzed and crackled from start to stupendous finish when, with seconds left, the Liverpool goalkeeper James produced the save of the match to deny Everton an injury-time equaliser.
Everton had taken the lead in the first half only to find themselves level within 30 seconds and behind by half-time. The 18-year-old Robbie Fowler, in his first match after seven weeks out with a broken ankle, scored the winner of the 150th derby.
Since Everton won the first leg at Goodison in September both clubs have taken new managers. Roy Evans and his assistant Ronnie Moran have been involved in 100 Mersey derbies between them but this was Evans's first as manager.
Mike Walker has Brett Angell, signed for pounds 500,000 from Southend to beef up his attack, but it was his veteran defender Watson at the far post who opened the scoring, heading in Preki's free-kick from wide on the right with 20 minutes gone to the delight of the Blues supporters - who were left open-mouthed in their celebrations as Liverpool levelled 30 seconds later.
Dicks launched a long ball forward and found Rush. The striker, who holds the record for goals in Mersey derbies, took the ball on the bounce and volleyed the equaliser past Southall, with Everton's supporters stunned into silence and the Kop, watching their last derby standing up, delirious.
It was Rush's 25th derby goal, and after it Liverpool swung into a fast passing game hardly seen since the pre-Souness days, in a first half of furious pace and passionate commitment.
Everton looked dangerous on the break but it was McManaman who stretched the nerves and Southall, before the goalkeeper was well beaten by Fowler. The teenager zipped on to a pass from Barnes and drove home a rising shot from an acute angle a minute before half-time.
That turned out to be the end of the goals but not the excitement. Chances flew thick and fast at both ends, with Fowler having a chip which beat Southall cleared off the line, and Rush denied a goal by the goalkeeper's legs before Preki missed two glorious opportunities at the other end.
Both teams sent on fresh legs, with Thomas, out for 14 months with injury and illness, replacing Barnes for Liverpool. But the game hung in nail-biting balance until the final seconds when Beagrie, shooting from 20 yards, saw his shot deflected by Jones and then tipped away by James with a spectacular one-handed save to give the glory and three valuable points to Liverpool, who move to fifth in the table.
Liverpool: 13 James, 25 Ruddock, 3 Dicks, 5 Wright, 2 Jones, 12 Whelan, 10 Barnes (16 Thomas 64), 17 McManaman, 15 Redknapp, 9 Rush, 23 Fowler
Unused Subs: 27 Gayle, 21 Matteo
Goal(s): Rush (22'), Fowler (44')
Shirt Worn: Home-Red
Manager: Roy Evans
Everton: 1 Southall, 2 Jackson, 3 Hinchcliffe, 4 Snodin, 5 Watson, 14 Ebbrell, 8 Stuart, 16 Preki (10 Horne 77), 11 Beagrie, 9 Cottee, 22 Angell (15 Rideout 64)
Unused Subs: 13 Kearton
Goal(s): Watson (22')
Booking: Jackson
Shirt Worn: Blue
Manager: Mike Walker
Referee: Keith Cooper
Attendances: 44,281
Venue: Anfield
Kick Off: Sunday - 17:00
Date: 1994-03-13
HT/FT: W/W (2-1)/2-1
Goal Sequence (Liverpool first): 0-1, 1-1, 2-1
Match shown: Live on SKY Sports
Competition: Premiership
Position at Start of match day 7 / Opposition Position at Start of match day 15
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