Liverpool staged a dramatic comeback with two Dirk Kuyt penalties to claim a famous victory in the Merseyside derby.
Liverpool had been humiliated 3-0 in the same fixture last season but claimed revenge as Everton pair Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville were sent off, with the home side denied a late penalty claim.
Both Everton dismissals were for incidents that produced Liverpool's second-half penalties. Hibbert brought down Steven Gerrard in the box and Neville handled on the line.
Dirk Kuyt was coolness personified as he drilled home the spot-kicks to produce a victory that will do much for Liverpool's sagging confidence.
Everton had deservedly led at the break with a Sami Hyypia own goal, but after being reduced to 10 men for much of the second period - the second red card coming in the final seconds - they could not hang on for a draw.
There was no Tim Cahill, no Fernando Torres and no Xabi Alonso despite all the speculation that these injured stars would play.
Everton boss David Moyes went for Neville and Phil Jagielka in central midfield and left James McFadden on the bench.
Liverpool opted for Kuyt and Andriy Voronin in attack while Gerrard started on the right.
Liverpool had the early edge. Gerrard almost got on the end of a cross-field ball, dropping over Hibbert's head on the Everton right.
Liverpool exploited that same space on five minutes, when Yossi Benayoun broke down the flank and set up Voronin for a snap shot that Tim Howard half stopped before clutching the ball away from Kuyt.
But when Everton got their set-plays working, they caused problems. A couple of free-kicks and a corner were not cleared well and from one cross back in from Leon Osman, Alan Stubbs saw a header drop wide of a post.
Corners and free-kicks, swirling into the near post, were a constant source of danger as Victor Anichebe saw one header flash wide.
The Reds did hit back a minute later when John Arne Riise's 25-yard free-kick was deflected just wide.
But Everton's aerial threat was soon to produce a goal on 38 minutes. A Mikel Arteta corner was half-cleared, Alan Stubbs turning to hook it back into the danger area where Jagielka attempted to get in a shot.
But the ball eventually cannoned off Hyypia's boot high onto the net for an own goal.
After the break Joleon Lescott, fresh from his England debut, was a threat on the left along with Arteta.
Osman, Neville and Jagielka in midfield pressed quick and hard and Liverpool were again on the back foot. But from a Benayoun ball out of defence, Liverpool gained a lifeline.
Gerrard set off down the left channel, stretching into Everton's half with Hibbert in pursuit.
The full-back was always a yard behind and when the pair reached the box the defender clipped Gerrard from behind and referee Mark Clattenburg instantly awarded a penalty on 53 minutes.
The official showed Hibbert the red card before Kuyt stepped up to drill home the spot kick.
Everton could have had a penalty themselves when Steve Finnan manhandled Lescott in the box soon after, ahead of a Kuyt break that set up Riise for a shot over the bar.
Howard blocked a Voronin shot and Kuyt headed the rebound over the top, Liverpool searching for the second. But Everton were still coming forward.
Kuyt was booked for a flying lunge at Neville, and Yakubu saw a 30-yarder shot go wide. Liverpool replaced Benayoun with Ryan Babel on 68 minutes.
Benitez then took a very brave decision on 71 minutes to replace Gerrard with young Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva.
The Liverpool skipper looked surprised, but trotted off to allow Lucas into central midfield and Voronin moving to the left.
But it was Lucas' fine ball that sent Voronin away on the left, only to scuff his shot wide. On 77 minutes McFadden came on for Yakubu.
Jermaine Pennant came on for Mohamed Sissoko before Jamie Carragher and McFadden were booked following a tussle on the ground.
Neville was then sent off on 89 minutes for handling a Lucas shot on the line, providing Kuyt with his second penalty.
Everton finished the game complaining to Clattenburg that they should have had a last-ditch penalty for Carragher pulling down Lescott.
He refused their claim and the official was booed off after being surrounded by home players.
Liverpool had been humiliated 3-0 in the same fixture last season but claimed revenge as Everton pair Tony Hibbert and Phil Neville were sent off, with the home side denied a late penalty claim.
Both Everton dismissals were for incidents that produced Liverpool's second-half penalties. Hibbert brought down Steven Gerrard in the box and Neville handled on the line.
Dirk Kuyt was coolness personified as he drilled home the spot-kicks to produce a victory that will do much for Liverpool's sagging confidence.
Everton had deservedly led at the break with a Sami Hyypia own goal, but after being reduced to 10 men for much of the second period - the second red card coming in the final seconds - they could not hang on for a draw.
There was no Tim Cahill, no Fernando Torres and no Xabi Alonso despite all the speculation that these injured stars would play.
Everton boss David Moyes went for Neville and Phil Jagielka in central midfield and left James McFadden on the bench.
Liverpool opted for Kuyt and Andriy Voronin in attack while Gerrard started on the right.
Liverpool had the early edge. Gerrard almost got on the end of a cross-field ball, dropping over Hibbert's head on the Everton right.
Liverpool exploited that same space on five minutes, when Yossi Benayoun broke down the flank and set up Voronin for a snap shot that Tim Howard half stopped before clutching the ball away from Kuyt.
But when Everton got their set-plays working, they caused problems. A couple of free-kicks and a corner were not cleared well and from one cross back in from Leon Osman, Alan Stubbs saw a header drop wide of a post.
Corners and free-kicks, swirling into the near post, were a constant source of danger as Victor Anichebe saw one header flash wide.
The Reds did hit back a minute later when John Arne Riise's 25-yard free-kick was deflected just wide.
But Everton's aerial threat was soon to produce a goal on 38 minutes. A Mikel Arteta corner was half-cleared, Alan Stubbs turning to hook it back into the danger area where Jagielka attempted to get in a shot.
But the ball eventually cannoned off Hyypia's boot high onto the net for an own goal.
After the break Joleon Lescott, fresh from his England debut, was a threat on the left along with Arteta.
Osman, Neville and Jagielka in midfield pressed quick and hard and Liverpool were again on the back foot. But from a Benayoun ball out of defence, Liverpool gained a lifeline.
Gerrard set off down the left channel, stretching into Everton's half with Hibbert in pursuit.
The full-back was always a yard behind and when the pair reached the box the defender clipped Gerrard from behind and referee Mark Clattenburg instantly awarded a penalty on 53 minutes.
The official showed Hibbert the red card before Kuyt stepped up to drill home the spot kick.
Everton could have had a penalty themselves when Steve Finnan manhandled Lescott in the box soon after, ahead of a Kuyt break that set up Riise for a shot over the bar.
Howard blocked a Voronin shot and Kuyt headed the rebound over the top, Liverpool searching for the second. But Everton were still coming forward.
Kuyt was booked for a flying lunge at Neville, and Yakubu saw a 30-yarder shot go wide. Liverpool replaced Benayoun with Ryan Babel on 68 minutes.
Benitez then took a very brave decision on 71 minutes to replace Gerrard with young Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva.
The Liverpool skipper looked surprised, but trotted off to allow Lucas into central midfield and Voronin moving to the left.
But it was Lucas' fine ball that sent Voronin away on the left, only to scuff his shot wide. On 77 minutes McFadden came on for Yakubu.
Jermaine Pennant came on for Mohamed Sissoko before Jamie Carragher and McFadden were booked following a tussle on the ground.
Neville was then sent off on 89 minutes for handling a Lucas shot on the line, providing Kuyt with his second penalty.
Everton finished the game complaining to Clattenburg that they should have had a last-ditch penalty for Carragher pulling down Lescott.
He refused their claim and the official was booed off after being surrounded by home players.
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