Ten-man Liverpool beat city rivals Everton 3-1

LONDON, Mar 25 (Reuters) Liverpool produced a superb display to recover from an early red card for captain Steven Gerrard to beat Everton 3-1 in a typically fractious Anfield derby that ended with the visitors also down to 10 today.

England midfielder Gerrard was sent off in the 18th minute after a foul, having being booked for dissent 30 seconds earlier, but Liverpool looked the better side from then on and fully deserved the victory against their in-form city rivals.

Everton defender Phil Neville glanced in an own-goal in first-half stoppage time and Luis Garcia got the second two minutes after the restart.

Tim Cahill headed a 61st minute reply but after substitute Andy van der Meyde was sent off for elbowing Alonso six minutes after coming on, Harry Kewell settled it with a 25-metre strike six minutes from time.

The win takes Liverpool to second place on 54 points, 11 behind Chelsea and one ahead of Manchester United, who have three games in hand, starting with a home game against Birmingham City tomorrow.

REUTERS SHR KN2044