Liverpool run riot in demolition derby

Liverpool 4 Everton 0

The England skipper had endured a miserable 45 minutes on his last appearance on this ground, against Aston Villa 10 days ago, but he rarely does not turn up for a cross-city clash.

He duly led from the front and his influence plus Liverpool’s superior firepower meant the Toffees never stood a chance.

However it was a mixed night for Sturridge as he was visibly upset when taken off following the penalty miss. He insisted he was frustrated only with himself and not manager Brendan Rodgers for taking him off.

“I apologise for my reaction,” he said. “I was disappointed by missing the penalty and felt I’d let myself down as well as the fans. The hat-trick would have been the icing on the cake and it’s unfortunate.

“It was nothing to do with the manager and I’d like to apologise for my reaction if anybody took any offence. It’s not about me, it’s about the boys and a great victory.”

Captain Steven Gerrard, made the decision to hand Sturridge the ball for the penalty as he wanted his team-mate to experience — as he has in the past — a hat-trick against Everton.

“I take responsibility for that,” Gerrard said. “I’ve scored a hat-trick against Everton and I wanted Daniel to experience that feeling.”

Gerrard’s header opened the scoring in the 21st minute and was followed by Sturridge’s two in quick succession, with Luis Suarez scoring his 23rd of the season just after half-time.

Suarez and Sturridge now have 36 Premier League goals between them and remain the most crucial factor in Liverpool regaining their place among Europe’s elite. It was exactly the sort of performance to give a shot in the arm to their Champions League qualification challenge.

This was billed beforehand as the closest derby for years and the Toffees’ best chance of ending their 14-year run without a win at Anfield.

Everton came with the idea of imposing themselves and Ross Barkley, back 24 days after breaking a toe, blasted wide after just 64 seconds.

Everton dominated the early possession but it was the hosts creating the chances with Jordan Henderson, Sturridge and Suarez, twice, denied by goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Raheem Sterling should have put his side ahead when Sturridge’s brilliant ball juggle and lobbed pass put him through but Howard saved his effort with his legs.

Liverpool’s breakthrough came from the captain in the 21st minute. Suarez whipped in a corner and Gerrard lost marker Gareth Barry to power home a near-post header.

It was to prove a double blow for Everton as Barry’s attempts to re-engage with Gerrard at the corner saw him clatter into team-mate Romelu Lukaku, resulting in the striker being carried off on a stretcher.

Phil Jagielka forced Simon Mignolet into a good save and Kevin Mirallas fired wide but the momentum was all with the hosts and Coutinho’s diagonal pass sent Sturridge sprinting from the halfway line and his pace took him clear to clip past Howard.

If that was clinical, his second, less than three minutes later, was brilliant as from Kolo Toure’s long ball forward he hooked a lob almost over his shoulder to easily beat Howard.

Liverpool then coped easily with an Everton attack now missing Lukaku although Toure had to produced a great recovering tackle to shepherd Mirallas wide and Mignolet saved.

Everton needed a positive start to the second half but, having replaced Steven Pienaar with Leon Osman, blew it five minutes in. Jagielka’s misjudgement on the halfway line gave Suarez the opening he required and the Uruguay international raced 50 yards with Everton centre-backs trailing behind to slot past Howard.

Gerrard gave Sturridge the chance to complete his hat-trick when Sterling was brought down by the goalkeeper but the England striker ballooned his penalty into the Kop.

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet, Flanagan (Kelly 73), Skrtel, Toure, Cissokho, Coutinho (Alberto 79),Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Suarez, Sturridge (Moses 72).

EVERTON: Howard, Stones, Jagielka, Alcaraz, Baines, McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas, Barkley (McGeady 76), Pienaar (Osman 46), Lukaku (Naismith 25).

Referee: Martin Atkinson.