By Simon Hart, World-Track Global
Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt celebrates after his strike for Liverpool in the football match
Liverpool handed Everton another defeat in English Premier League after they fended off the pressure from the hosts to win the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
A goal at the wrong end by Everton defender Joseph Yobo and a crucial second from Dirk Kuyt with 10 minutes remaining, saw Rafa Benitez men to a much needed victory.
Benitez, who again was without the services of star striker and leading goal scorer Fernando Torres will be hoping the victory is only the first of many more to come as his Liverpool side start yet another winning revival.
“This was a really important victory for us,” Benitez told his post-match press conference.
“We won in Debrecen in midweek and we knew that we needed to keep winning. A derby is always a very difficult game and also very important, so to win today could be a boost for the rest of the season.
“We are higher in the table now and everybody is happy. We will see if we can now keep winning games.
“It was clearly a very difficult game. From the beginning they were playing a very direct game and also dangerous from set pieces. It was very difficult to control and stop them because they are big and good in the air, so I thought we showed character.
“We were trying to play counter-attack and sometimes our possession was good, and other times it wasn’t so good. They were on top of us but we showed character, we won and scored two goals, and at the end of the game we had better control.”
Benitez also shower special praise on goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who pulled off a fantastic double-save with the score line delicately poised at 1-0.
“It was a great save from Pepe which was crucial for us,” said the boss. “He showed that he is a top-class ‘keeper and the saves were amazing.
“When we signed Pepe, we knew he was a good goalkeeper and he is still improving and learning here. Our goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero is doing a very good job with him. For me he is one of the best in the world and today he showed that again.
“I thought our defending as a team was very good and that is a positive thing for the future. Agger and Carra did a very good job and we had Mascherano and Lucas working so hard in the midfield helping the defence.
“Carra is the one who talks and can organise the team, and he showed great character again.
“Always it is important to win, and to win games in a row is key if you want to stay high up the table and be in the top four. At this moment we have to take one game at a time. We have done our job today and we have to enjoy it.
“We have a week now to prepare for our next game against Blackburn and hopefully we can get another victory.”
In the early game on Sunday, Lee Bowyer scored the solitary goal in Birmingham’s 1-0 win over Wolves.
The strike was Bowyer second match-winner in succession as his second-minute strike was enough for the Blues.
Victory also extended City’s unbeaten league run to five matches from which they have gathered 11 points – their best run without a defeat under McLeish, who was celebrating two years in charge at St Andrews.
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