Liverpool Sense A Brighter Future After Their Steely Derby Win Over Everton

The Merseyside derby continues to bring out the worst in people, but for Liverpool this was ultimately a joyous encounter. The hosts had to play the majority of this tetchy and at times violent game a man down after defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Marouane Fellaini, but that made victory over their local rivals even sweeter, and even more significant.

First, there is the obvious positive; Rafael Benítez's men are now fourth in the table, which after a season littered with disappointments has become the priority for a club that initially had their eyes on the title. They will be shunted out of that place should Tottenham beat Aston Villa later today, but even then it is hard to imagine how anyone who played in red today will go to bed disappointed tonight.

How can they after a victory secured in most unlikely circumstances. Liverpool have struggled to beat sides at Anfield this season when they have had 11 players on the pitch, let alone 10. There has been too many capitulations to remember, although for all Kopites that were there, last month's 2-1 defeat to Reading will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons. But here, things were so different and a side that has often played with all the backbone of jellyfish suddenly looked like lions.

They did not see the loss of Kyrgiakos for his 34th minute lunge as a handicap but rather as a challenge and rose to it admirably. Liverpool came out for the second half displaying none of the nerves that have characterised most of their displays this campaign and instead pushed Everton further and further back. A goal seemed increasingly likely and arrived on 55 minutes when Dirk Kuyt glanced in Steven Gerrard's in-swinging corner for his 50th goal since arriving on Merseyside in August 2006.

From there the hosts battled resolutely to hold onto the lead, albeit assisted by a particularly lacklustre Everton side who, despite going into his fixture on the back of nine undefeated games, seemed shorn of confidence. Their best effort was a diving header from Tim Cahill just before half-time, which sailed over the bar. The Australian, unmarked in the six yard area, should have scored.

Despite all the howls of fury that emanated from Kop, it should be said that referee Martin Atkinson made the right decision in sending off Kyrgiakos. The Greece international charged into Fellaini recklessly and although he did make contact with the ball, he also took out the Belgian. Fellaini subsequently stamped on Kyrgiakos's leg, but the fact he left the field in agony and had to be replaced by Mikel Arteta was proof enough that he was not the one in the wrong.

This fixture had before today produced 17 red cards since the formation of the Premier League – more than any other – but this was arguably the filthiest of the lot, with crude tackles flying in from almost the first minute. The worst from Everton came from a Steven Pienaar lunge that could easily have broken Javier Mascherano's leg. The South African was booked for the tackle and justice of sorts was done in the closing stages when he received a second yellow card for barging Gerrard.

That was the moment Liverpool supporters knew they had won the 213th Merseyside derby and perhaps the most significant for years. Fourth place is theirs once again – mainly on the back of five wins and two draws from their past seven games – but as importantly, their side is now playing with the passion and resolution that indicates the worst of this truly miserable season may be over.