Premiership: Liverpool drop points at home

Walter Smith's Everton produced a heroic performance to steal a richly deserved point from the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

David Weir was outstanding for Everton, Lee Carsley and Scot Gemmill battled fiercely and an opportunist strike from fit-again Tomasz Radzinski almost gave Smith's side all three points.

Radzinski struck early in the second half and only an opportunist strike from Nicolas Anelka - created by the excellent Danny Murphy - allowed Liverpool to escape an embarrassment.

Liverpool were working with scraps early on and only two runs from Anelka - one shot into the side netting and another chipped over Steve Simonsen and cleared - really threatened to break the deadlock.

On the break, Everton even found enough time amidst all their scurrying to set up chances form Gary Naysmith and Carsley that were saved by Chris Kirkland.

The best chance of what was a tepid first half came in injury time when John Arne Riise produced a bouncing hook shot from the edge of the area that forced Simonsen into a pawing save before the young goalkeeper hurled himself bravely at Sami Hyypia's feet.

Everton dispensed with David Ginola and sent on Radzinski up front at the break and their confidence soon growed with Campbell having a header blocked.

And from their next break, Everton scored. Alessandro Pistone played a neat one-two with Gemmill before surging down the left. When the low cross came in, Radzinski scuffed a shot from the edge of the box that bounced away from Kirkland and into the bottom corner.

Immediately Emile Heskey replaced Stephen Wright as Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson desperately sought an equaliser.

And on 57 minutes, Heskey created Liverpool's best opening so far with a chip into the box that Owen spun and hooked over as he fell.

Owen then saw another effort go begging. Heskey chipped in from the left and his striking colleague ducked to head the ball over the crossbar.

And from persistence more than class, Liverpool finally clawed their way back level. Heskey touched the ball on to Murphy on 71 minutes and he played in Anelka who had space at last to slide his shot past an exposed Simonsen.

Liverpool continued their onslaught with Owen surging past three men from 40 yards out before unleashing a shot that Pistone charged down. From the corner Simonsen produced the save of the match to touch over a Murphy header.

But Everton still had something left and Kirkland almost matched Simonsen's save with a flying one-hander to keep out a Radzinski drive with five minutes left.