Carra On Target In Derby Win

Jamie Carragher was on target at both ends as a Liverpool XI beat an Everton XI 4-1 in the defender's testimonial at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.

The Reds stalwart converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time to add to Luis Garcia's opener.

Joe Cole extended Liverpool's lead with a well-worked goal on the hour - his first for the club - before Carragher put through his own net via the penalty spot shortly after.

But Nathan Eccleston restored the home side's three-goal cushion with a cool finish on an afternoon to remember.

A whole host of Kop stars past and present turned out to help celebrate Carragher's 15 seasons in the first team at Anfield, over the course of which he has firmly positioned himself not only alongside the finest defenders to have represented the club, but also as one of the world's very best.

Treble winners Emile Heskey and Michael Owen led the attack from the off, while there were also places for Istanbul heroes Garcia and Jerzy Dudek.

And further swelling the feel-good factor, Steven Gerrard made a dash back from London to participate in the opening 11 minutes - the Liverpool skipper granted special permission by England coach Fabio Capello to return having last night played the whole game for the Three Lions against Bulgaria at Wembley.

He was joined in the starting XI by Cole, while summer signings Brad Jones and Paul Konchesky were named amongst the substitutes.

Meanwhile, Everton's squad included the likes of Tony Hibbert, Francis Jeffers, Leon Osman, Yakubu, Lee Carsley, Leighton Baines, Mikel Arteta and Jermaine Beckford.

A crowd of 35,361 gathered inside Anfield, helping to bolster funds for Carragher's 23 Foundation.

And Carra couldn't have wished for a better start to the afternoon as Garcia curled home an opening goal inside two minutes.

Collecting Heskey's layoff on the right corner of the box, the Spaniard cut inside before clipping a fine effort beyond the reach of Iain Turner to bring Anfield back to its feet.

Moments later, Owen drew a good stop from the Blues' goalkeeper before the striker saw a goal-bound effort blocked on the line by Aristote Nsiala.

Gerrard was withdrawn from the action shortly after the 10-minute mark, with Danny Murphy his replacement. Both were naturally afforded a warm reception.

Despite the relaxed feel to the contest, there was a good flow about the game with the football pleasing on the eye.

Liverpool were the only team threatening, however, and after Garcia had stabbed a volley wide, Cole struck straight at Turner after being fed by Owen. Meanwhile, at the other end, a mis-kick by Yakubu when in a promising position inside the box drew ironic cheers from the Kop.

And they were cheering again soon after as Carragher produced the sort of interception that has established him as one of the finest defenders in the club's history as he prevented Jeffers from going through on goal.

Play quickly swung to the other end and Heskey's sublime control of a long-ball forward presented him with a clear shooting opportunity. Unfortunately the finish did not match.

The striker did help carve out a chance for Murphy on 34 minutes, playing a neat one-two with Owen before releasing the ball into the path of the Fulham man, who prodded narrowly wide of the post.

Even Carra himself was trying his luck as he struck wide from 25 yards after Garcia's corner had been cleared to the edge of the box.

He was soon back patrolling the defence, however, and a challenge on Lee Carsley inside the area led to the Everton midfielder dramatically collapsing in a heap before kicking the ball away in comedy fashion after failing to win a spot kick, for which a yellow card was issued by referee Mark Halsey.

However, Liverpool were awarded a penalty when Shane Duffy blocked Owen's shot with his hand on 44 minutes.

There was only ever going to be one taker, and Carragher dispatched his effort into the top corner with aplomb to send the Reds in with a two-goal advantage at the break.

A raft of changes were made during the interval, with some of Liverpool's most promising youngsters handed an opportunity to impress.

Only Carragher, Cole and Spearing remained on the field from the first half with Eccleston, Jonjo Shelvey, David Amoo, Andre Wisdom and Daniel Ayala entering the fray.

There were also Reds debuts for Jones and Konchesky, while Ryan Babel was introduced to the action for the second half.

Shelvey almost made an instant impact as he arrowed an attempted clearance inches wide of the upright.

But Liverpool did further their lead on the hour mark when Cole fired home his first goal for the Reds.

Meeting Babel's measured cross, the No.10 expertly dispatched a low volley into the Kop end goal.

However, Everton were given the chance to reduce the arrears when they were awarded a penalty for shirt pulling inside the box.

With Yakubu poised to take the kick, Carragher took everyone by surprise by surging ahead of the Everton forward and hammering the ball into his own goal - cue much laughter inside the stadium.

It was to be his last playing act of the afternoon, with youngster John Flanaghan promptly replacing him.

Cole then stung the palms of Turner before Babel outstripped Duffy for pace and teed up Eccleston, whose shot was hacked off the line by Zac Thompson.

The youngster did not have to wait long to find the target, however, as he drove low into the bottom corner after being found in space inside the box by Babel.

Former crowd favourite David Thompson took the place of Cole in the aftermath, moments prior to Gary McAllister and Jason McAteer returning to the hallowed L4 turf - the former greeted by cries of 'shoot' every time he collected possession in reference to his unforgettable derby winner at Goodison in 2001.

Babel's sublime skill to put the ball through the legs of Baines almost garnered a fifth goal for the Reds, but the Dutchman's strike was beaten away by Turner, while Ross Barkley's snap shot for Everton was blocked by Jones and Anfield's newest custodian produced an even better save to deny Beckford late on.

But the afternoon belongs to one man - and Carragher was given a thunderous reception as he returned to the field at the end of a contest that proved a fitting tribute to Liverpool's legendary No.23.