Everton 2 Liverpool 0 - yyyeeeeaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Apologies for the lack of gamethread, but I´m sure you were all like me, watching the game on TV and jumping around like a loon!!!  

As convicning a derby win as you will see in a long time, Everton over-ran Liverpool for much of the game and grabbed a vital three points that sees the Toffees leap up to mid table and keeps the Reds second from bottom.

Much of the hype pre -game was about the new owenrs at Liverpool, who made the last minute decision to watch the game at the ground. They must have started to regeret their purchase in the opening 45 minutes as Everton hussled, harriied and eventually dominated Liverpool.

Liverpoo only had one Fernando Torres header to speak of in the first half, while Everton carved out 3-4 good opportunities.

One of our failings in the past though has been our inability to score when on top so it was a great relief when Coleman made a great run on the right (is he the answer to our right midfield problems?) sent a cross over for Cahill to fire an unstoppable volley past Reina. Goodison went wild, and to be honest, so did I! I would much rather have been there but given the way I danced around the pub  it left no doubt in everyone´s mind which team I was supporting!!

Half time came and Everton could take stock. Liverpool  were so poor in the first half they could only get better and they did start to exert some early pressure in the second period.

But when you have a magician like Mikel Arteta in the side you know a goal can come from nowehre and so it did. Baines´corner was headed away by a Liverpool head straight to Arteta who controlled and balsted the ball past Reina and into the net.

Queue delrium, both at Goodison and with Everton supporters everywhere!!  It was the second goal our 1st hal efforts deserve and gave us a lead we never really looked like losing.

Liverpool came at us, as you would expect, but on reflection we always kept them comfortably at bay (though at the time I was a nervous wreck!) Distin and the returning Jagielka were superb, Cahill and Arteta magic as ever but special mention need to go to Yakubu. The Nigerian has never looked fully fit since returning from injury a year ago but he put a great shift in today, holding the ball upm giving the centre backs grief and having a few good efforts on goal.

All in all a perfect day, it really sets up our season now and we should be looking up not down.

Unlike our dear neighbours who have all sorts of trouble to sort out - do you think John W Henry wants his money back????