Kuyt wins it for 10-man Reds

Posted Sunday, February 07, 2010 by PA

Striker Dirk Kuyt's 50th Liverpool goal gave his side a 1-0 victory in a fiery 213th Merseyside derby at Anfield which saw both teams reduced to 10 men.

The Dutchman scored for the fourth time in as many games with a close-range header 10 minutes after half-time.

Liverpool played the last 55 minutes at a numerical disadvantage after Sotirios Kyrgiakos was dismissed for a two-footed challenge on Marouane Fellaini, while Steven Pienaar was shown a second yellow in second-half injury time.

The tone for the match was set in the opening 15 seconds with Jamie Carragher's strong but fair challenge on Pienaar.

It was only to get worse in the first half as referee Martin Atkinson's leniency saw a number of over-the-top tackles escape action.

Fellaini kicked Kuyt in the face as he lay on the ground, while Pienaar was only cautioned for a challenge which started at Javier Mascherano's right knee.

In between all the flying tackles there was very little football played in the opening 45 minutes.

Steven Gerrard's inswinging free-kick forced Tim Howard to save while the Liverpool captain rattled Howard's crossbar with a free-kick. For Everton, Leighton Baines' free-kick was saved by Jose Reina.

Liverpool began the second half well and they were rewarded in the 55th minute when Kuyt nodded in Gerrard's inswinging corner from three yards.

A scuffle broke out seven minutes from time when Gerrard caught Pienaar and in the fifth minute of added time Pienaar was sent off after jumping into Gerrard.