Fernando Torres’ 21st Barclays Premier League goal of the season gave Liverpool a 1-0 half-time lead in the 207th Merseyside derby at Anfield.
The Spaniard expertly took his chance in the seventh minute, slotting past Tim Howard after being played in by Dirk Kuyt.
Inside the first minute Liverpool worked half an opening down the right with Dirk Kuyt and Steven Gerrard but when the captain crossed low to Torres the Spaniard's control, for once, let him down and the ball ran off the pitch.
A swift counter-attack from an Everton throw-in saw Lucas release Ryan Babel down the left and although his cross was disappointing Liverpool were able to win a seventh-minute corner and take the lead.
Gerrard’s cross was half-cleared and when Xabi Alonso nicked the ball off Ayegbeni Yakubu Kuyt transferred it to Torres who clipped a shot past Tim Howard for his 21st league goal of the season.
The first tackle worthy of this famous derby came a minute later and it earned Lee Carsley a booking for hacking down Torres, although Gerrard curled the 20-yard free-kick wide.
Another Babel left-wing cross forced Lescott to concede a corner from which Riise drilled a long-range strike well wide.
The pressure was all Liverpool’s and in the 16th minute they could have gone further ahead when Torres’ pass inside saw Kuyt’s shot blocked by the diving Tony Hibbert with the Dutchman’s follow-up producing a low save from Howard.
Everton’s frustration at not being able to get a grip a foothold in the game was growing and Phil Neville was booked for a late challenge on Lucas in the 18th minute.
The visitors won their first corner in the 22nd minute but Riise cleared Mikel Arteta’s cross at the far post.
Liverpool should have gone further ahead in the 28th minute when Riise’s hanging cross from the left dropped invitingly for Babel but he failed to connect from close range.
When Phil Jagielka fouled Torres wide on the right Gerrard curled in a free-kick which Leon Osman headed over his own crossbar under pressure from Leiva.
The hosts got sloppy in the last 10 minutes of the half, needlessly giving the ball away to allow Everton to get themselves into the game.
Hyypia’s foul on Yakubu wide on the right gave Arteta the chance to deliver a dangerous free-kick to the far post where Lescott headed against the Finn but the visiting fans’ calls for handball were optimistic.
At the other end a stinging Gerrard volley rebounded back off the post after Torres had headed the ball back into his path.
Gerrard’s raking 50-yard crossfield ball allowed Jamie Carragher to head on to Torres but when he laid it off to Kuyt he volleyed wide just before the interval.
