Goodison Park, Aug 31: Liverpool put Merseyside neighbours Everton in their place with style to record a comfortable first victory of the season at Goodison Park.
Michael Owen struck twice either side of half-time to put Gerard Houllier's side in the driving seat - and Harry Kewell added to the red celebrations with his first goal for the club late on.
Owen's double and Kewell's late strike gave Liverpool their first goals from open play this season - and relieved the pressure on Houllier after a barren start to the Premiership campaign. But it was a day of misery for Everton, who saw a week of frustration in the transfer market worsened by a fourth straight Goodison defeat against their arch-rivals. Everton suffered a blow prior to kick-off when goalkeeper Richard Wright was ruled out with a knee injury, being replaced by Steve Simonsen.
Liverpool took time to settle, but their passing game exerted a measure of control and they went ahead seven minutes before the interval.

Kewell stabbed a pass through to Owen, who took advantage of hesitation from Alesssandro Pistone to beat Simonsen.
Everton had an instant chance to restore equality when Rooney took a return pass from Steve Watson, but he failed to control and Jerzy Dudek made a smothering save.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Liverpool responded with a trademark counter attack and it took a fingertip save from Simonsen to deny Kewell his first Liverpool goal.

Everton made a change at the interval, sending on Thomas Gravesen for the struggling David Unsworth.

But Liverpool delivered a hammer blow after 51 minutes when Milan Baros shrugged off weak defending from Joseph Yobo to set up Owen to score from 10 yards.
Dudek was having an eventful game and he produced a stunning reflex save to stop Rooney's header from Gravesen's corner.
Everton made a substitution with 20 minutes left, sending on Duncan Ferguson for Tobias Linderoth.
And the big Scot almost threw Everton a lifeline with 12 minutes left, sending a free-kick against the underside of the bar from 20 yards.
Liverpool wrapped up victory with eight minutes left, with Kewell opening his goal account.

Everton goalkeeper Simonsen was at fault, racing from goal but failing to get the ball, allowing Owen to cross for Kewell to score.
Bureau Report