THE disappointed home supporters that trudged out of Anfield will have few qualms with the experts who regard yesterday as the most depressing day of the year.

But for Everton and their jubilant followers, it was most definitely a Blue Monday to savour.

As someone with a self-professed love of chess, Rafael Benitez understands there is little value in a stalemate.

And having seen negotiations over his contract ground to a halt, last night it was Liverpool’s title challenge that encountered an insurmountable obstacle in the shape of their neighbours.

Tim Cahill maintained his penchant for netting in these fixtures and Everton’s tendency for late drama to earn his side a deserved point and prevent Liverpool from returning to the top of the Premier League.

Until then, Steven Gerrard’s well-taken goal midway the second half – the first Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard had conceded in 608 minutes – had appeared enough to bring an end to the Goodison outfit’s six-match unbeaten run.

This result will only increase the growing opinion that Benitez, who returned to the dug-out last night for the first time since the three operations to address his kidney stone complaint, has unnecessarily unsettled his team’s title challenge with his recent politicking.

Certainly, if Cahill’s sense of timing was perfect then Benitez’s continues to be called into question.

Liverpool’s title challenge has been undermined by their home form, and this was another Anfield failure to add to a list that already includes Stoke City, Fulham, West Ham United and Hull City.

But, unlike on those other occasions, Liverpool had got their noses in front only to be hamstrung by an uncharacteristic attack of nerves in the closing moments.

Manchester United may only lead the table on goal difference but, with a game in hand, the momentum has most definitely transferred down the other end of the East Lancs Road to Old Trafford in the past fortnight.

Momentum is something Everton have in abundance right now and, while unable to sufficiently demonstrate the guile their manager had called for, the visitors’ fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude remained present and correct.

David Moyes was disappointed Everton had failed to do themselves justice in their last two meetings but, in contrast to those meek surrenders, there was genuine fire in their bellies last night.

Liverpool were happy to stand toe-to-toe to their rivals but, whereas Everton have become impressively accustomed to a game-plan that has been imposed on them in recent weeks by a lack of fit strikers, Benitez’s side struggled to gel as a unit.

Those hankering for the Spaniard to employ a 4-4-2 formation more regularly won’t have had their argument enhanced by this showing.

Fresh from his attack on Sir Alex Ferguson and the decision to call off his contract talks, Benitez made another weighty statement of intent last night by fielding what, in an attacking sense, was his strongest available side.

Fernando Torres, making his first start since November 26, was paired with Robbie Keane up front for only the seventh time in the Premier League this season.

But the Spaniard, who sent a glorious first-half chance against the post, was patently short of match sharpness and largely kept in check by the game’s stellar performer, Phil Jagielka.

Keane, meanwhile, suffered another evening of anonymity before being replaced mere moments before Gerrard’s opener. The concerns about the Irishman simply won’t go away.

Instead, the best strikers on show were in Everton colours. Cahill has revelled as a makeshift striker and was his typical nuisance self, but the real revelation was Victor Anichebe.

With the influential Marouane Fellaini suspended and Joseph Yobo having not recovered sufficiently from his hamstring problem, Anichebe was given the nod by Moyes. And his manager was rewarded with a barnstorming performance that a beleaguered Sami Hyypia won’t forget in a hurry.

Anichebe took only 34 seconds to signal his intent, soliciting Pepe Reina into a smart save down to his left to keep out a 20-yard snapshot.

It set the tone for a lively first half that, while being played at the traditional hectic pace, still produced chances at both ends.

The most clear-cut fell to Torres on 28 minutes.

A simple long ball from Hyypia dropped beyond the Everton defence and into the path of the alert striker, who held off Jagielka but struck his shot against the point.

Leighton Baines had earlier produced a fine block to deny a goalbound Dirk Kuyt effort while, shortly before half-time, Albert Riera thrashed a shot just wide after capitalising on a slack pass from Tony Hibbert.

At the other end, Reina did well to repel Cahill’s header after the Australian leapt above both Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel to meet Anichebe’s right-wing cross at the far post.

The onus was on Liverpool to improve after the break, and they responded. Torres had a decent claim for a penalty three minutes after the restart when feeling the full brunt of a rash Jagielka challenge from behind.

Soon after, with Skrtel having done well to keep the ball alive inside the area, Gerrard’s shot was parried by Howard and the again-alert Baines did enough to pressure Hyypia into side-footing the rebound wide.

Torres then curled an effort over and, mere seconds after referee Howard Webb had rightly waved away appeals for an Everton penalty when Anichebe bounced off Skrtel, Liverpool went ahead on 68 minutes.

A square pass from Riera found Gerrard who, with the Everton defence having momentarily parted before him, unleashed a venomous low drive from 25 yards that skimmed off the sodden Anfield surface and into the bottom corner.

For Liverpool this season, that is normally that. But Everton refused to give in, and were rewarded three minutes from time when, after Anichebe was needlessly fouled by Benayoun on the left wing, Arteta whipped in a free-kick and a criminally unmarked Cahill glanced in at the near post.

Everton return to Anfield on Sunday when they will seek to thrust another dagger into the heart of Liverpool’s season.

Not quite a new order on Merseyside, but it is the Reds feeling blue this morning.