Reds trail in Merseyside derby to Cahill strike

Everton 1 Liverpool 0

Tim Cahill’s fourth Barclays Premier League goal of the season put Everton ahead at half-time in the 214th Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

The Australia international hooked home Seamus Coleman’s near-post cross to give the hosts a deserved lead in the 34th minute as Liverpool’s new American owners watched from the stands.

In keeping with most derbies, the first late tackle took just 11 seconds to arrive, with Ayegbeni Yakubu fouling Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

Mikel Arteta’s challenge on Lucas was even heavier and earned a stern talking to from referee Howard Webb.

The home side’s physical approach was by no means hindering their play as they gained an early grip on proceedings.

Martin Skrtel’s tackle on Yakubu on the edge off the penalty area presented Arteta with the opportunity to capitalise but he hit his free-kick straight into the wall.

When the breakdown was eventually played back into the area by Leon Osman, Skrtel could not clear properly but Jagielka blazed over from 14 yards.

Moments later the ball dropped to fellow centre-back Sylvain Distin in a similar position and his shot was deflected wide by Skrtel.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was also given a talking to after going in late on Arteta as Webb tried to keep a fiery encounter under control.

Rodriguez’s late lunge on Leighton Baines, however, earned him the first yellow card in the 19th minute.

It took the visitors 23 minutes to register anything resembling an attack but it almost produced a goal when Torres’ header from Joe Cole’s cross was tipped over by Tim Howard.

Yakubu forced the first real save out of Jose Reina after a driving run from the halfway line but the Spain goalkeeper collected comfortably.

At the next break in play Webb then booked Tim Cahill for a foul on Gerrard which had happened minutes earlier.

Torres won Liverpool’s first corner off Baines in the 31st minute and although Gerrard’s delivery was poor Raul Meireles’ piledriver was blocked by a crowd of blue shirts.

Seconds later the Portugal international was booked for stopping Yakubu launching a counter-attack.

But just when it seemed Liverpool were clawing their way into the game a slack piece of defending by Lucas and Konchesky in the 34th minute allowed the Republic of Ireland's Seamus Coleman to run to the byline and cross for Cahill to hook home at the near post.

It immediately sparked chants of ’going down’ from the home fans, with Liverpool entrenched in the relegation zone even before the start of play after their worst start to a season since 1953 – when they were relegated.