Premiership: Houllier hails Reds' resilience

Gerard Houllier paid tribute to Liverpool's resilience after they beat Everton 3-2 in an amazing Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Gary McAllister's injury-time free-kick travelled over 40 yards before creeping in at Paul Gerrard's near post to give Liverpool the points and maintain their hopes of a Champions League berth.

Pegged back on both occasions after Emile Heskey and Markus Babbel had twice put them in front, Liverpool also saw Robbie Fowler miss a penalty and had to play the final stages with 10 men after Igor Biscan was dismissed for two yellow card offences in a game which saw referee Jeff Winter dish out 12 cautions.

"I didn't think we could do it but our heads didn't go down," Houllier said.

"We kept believing we could win and justice was done in the end because I thought we deserved it.

"It was a wonderful free-kick from McAllister but I am so pleased because we didn't content ourselves with a draw.

"You know what a derby means to the teams and maybe Everton's season hasn't lived up to their expectations.

"They are very strong physically but we proved we could match them.

"Physically we have been fine but mentally we have switched off at times, such as against Derby and Leeds.

"But we have to eradicate that kind of thing and get more mature."

Duncan Ferguson bagged Everton's first half equaliser, with David Unsworth squaring after the interval, slamming home from the penalty spot after Sami Hyypia had harshly been adjudged to have held down Ferguson inside the area.

Apart from leaving Everton on the fringes of a relegation battle once more, the Toffeemen are also facing an FA fine after having six players booked.

Liverpool will escape a similar sanction because Biscan was responsible for two of their yellows.