Liverpool Reserves maintained their three-point lead over Everton at the top of the Barclays Premier Reserve League after the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the mini derby on Tuesday night.
Dani Pacheco's wonderful solo effort capped an impressive start by the Reds on 21 minutes, but the Blues quickly drew level through Victor Anichebe's close-range finish in an end-to-end encounter.
The contest remained open in the second half, but chances proved much more difficult to come by and both sides were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.
Liverpool had lost just one of their opening eight league matches - at home to West Ham last month - to ensure they found themselves perched at the top of the table heading into the clash.
And boss John McMahon named a strong starting XI as they endeavored to build on their impressive opening to 2010-11.
A week on from making a goalscoring debut for Scotland, Danny Wilson was deployed in the centre of defence, while there were also starts for Pacheco and Nathan Eccleston.
But the Blues also fielded several players with first-team experience, including Anichebe, Shane Duffy and Jose Baxter, ensuring an intriguing encounter awaited those gathered inside the Stobart Stadium.
The hosts made a strong start to the contest and Martin Hansen was tested twice inside the opening 90 seconds, first through Kieran Agard and then Jose Baxter, but the Reds' stopper was equal to the efforts on both occasions.
It was certainly a frenetic beginning to the evening in Widnes and only a fantastic last-ditch tackle from Jake Bidwell prevented Eccleston from a clear strike on goal after Pacheco's fine through-ball had sent the forward bounding down on Iain Turner.
Liverpool had seemingly weathered Everton's early onslaught and, with Pacheco pulling the strings in a central role, set about taking the game to their neighbours.
It was no surprise, therefore, that it should be the diminutive Spaniard who opened the scoring on 21 minutes.
Collecting Gerardo Bruna's quick-thinking free-kick just inside the box, Pacheco danced around Duffy before delightfully scooping the ball over Turner from a tight angle.
With Reds fans still sounding their appreciation, Eccleston then unsuccessfully appealed for a penalty after being sent crashing to the turf by the Blues 'keeper when play re-started.
But Everton drew level against the run of play after Agard punished a moment of hesitancy from Emmanuel Mendy on the left by supplying a low cross for Anichebe to turn over the line on the slide.
The Blues almost took the lead just shy of the half-hour mark when Hansen initially flapped at Magaye Gueye's corner, but recovered well to thwart Agard when a goal appeared inevitable.
The Danish custodian was needed to push the ball around the post moments later after Wilson had inadvertently deflected Nathan Craig's cross towards his own goal following a speedy Everton counter-attack.
Momentum was now back with the home side, and Anichebe's stinging low drive required Hansen to execute a flying one-handed stop as half-time loomed.
There had barely been time to draw breath in a pulsating first 45 in Widnes, and the second half started with a similar intensity as Gueye headed Luke Garbutt's cross straight at Hansen when unmarked.
Mendy spurned a headed opportunity of his own when the defender nodded Pacheco's dangerous corner wide, but Everton hit back and Gueye's stinging drive brought a flying stop out of the Reds' 'keeper.
McMahon was forced into a change on 55 minutes as Michael Ngoo replaced the injured Amoo - and the U18s striker almost made an immediate impact as he cannoned Eccleston's pass against the outside of the post.
Anichebe clipped a free-kick inches wide with time beginning to ebb away, but opportunities were beginning to prove more and more elusive - though substitute Conor McAleny was millimetres away from netting for the Blues when he steered wide from close quarters.
With five minutes left on the clock, Pacheco danced his way into the box before curling the wrong side of the upright prior to Wilson heading off target from a corner.
The Scot then pulled off a fantastic block to frustrate Agard after the Everton striker had found a yard of space inside the box following a rare slip by the Liverpool defender, meaning the two teams would have to make do with a point apiece.
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