English Premiership
Still no win for Liverpool
2011-01-16 19:46
Liverpool - Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is still searching for a first victory since his return to Anfield, and needed Dirk Kuyt's penalty to rescue a point in a 2-2 draw on Sunday in the Merseyside derby with Everton.
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Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson last weekend, and has since lost to Manchester United in the FA Cup, and Blackpool.
Raul Meireles put Liverpool ahead just before the half hour in Dalglish's first game in charge at Anfield since resigning as manager in 1991, but goals from Sylvain Distin and Jermaine Beckford in the space of six minutes at the start of the second half put Everton ahead.
Kuyt converted a penalty in the 68th minute to deny Everton a first win at Anfield in nine attempts, and keep the teams level on 26 points.
After scoring in the 2-1 defeat at Blackpool on Wednesday, Fernando Torres again looked sharp. The striker came close to adding to his tally in the first half when he held off a challenge from Distin, but his shot come back off the post before Kuyt's effort was deflected wide.
The hosts were dominant, and took the lead in the 29th minute through Meireles.
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard pushed away Kuyt's header and then saved the Dutchman's shot before Meireles drove in from the edge of the area for his first goal for the club.
Maxi Rodriguez and Torres had opportunities to double Liverpool's lead, and Howard also denied Meireles before half time.
But Everton responded just 39 seconds after the restart, with Distin getting the better of Martin Skrtel in the air to head in from Mikel Arteta's corner for the Frenchmans first Premier League goal since March 2007.
In the 51st minute, Everton took the lead with another direct move. Victor Anichebe beat Martin Kelly to a long ball forward and Leon Osman guided a pass through to Beckford who clipped a shot past Pepe Reina.
Six minutes into the second half, Everton pulled ahead when Anichebe beat Martin Kelly in the air and Osman fed Beckford, whose curling effort beat Reina.
But midway through the second period, Liverpool were given another chance to respond when Howard bundled Rodriguez over in the area as they contested a loose ball.
Netherlands international Kuyt sent Howard the wrong way with the resulting penalty to bring Liverpool level.
The hosts had the better chances to win it, with Torres missing with a chip, but neither side could find a winner.