Echo: Decision costs Reds

For 35 years, Liverpool FC fans have had to endure constant reminders of Clive Thomas' place in derby folklore.

Evertonians' outrage at Bryan Hamilton's late strike in the 1977 FA Cup semi-final being chalked off has lingered for so long that Liverpool have picked up five European Cups since.

That burning sense of injustice has been passed down the generations, the passage of time serving only to intensify those feelings of resentment.

However, maybe now, the Blues might let it go. They escaped with a point from a pulsating 219th instalment of this fixture courtesy of some incompetence of the highest order.

For Clive Thomas, read assistant referee Simon Bennett. Like Thomas, Bennett is highly unlikely to ever explain his ludicrous decision to deny Liverpool a dramatic stoppage-time winner. He saw an offside that simply didn't exist.

When Sebastian Coates leapt above Phil Jagielka to nod Steven Gerrard's free-kick back across goal, Luis Suarez pounced to fire into the roof of the net.

For Liverpool, this was the dream finale. The outstanding Uruguayan silencing the Gwladys Street and handing Brendan Rodgers his place in the history books alongside Kenny Dalglish as the only manager in the club's 120-year history to win their first derby at Goodison Park.

However, the celebrations were curtailed by a flag which shouldn't have been raised. You can watch it 100 times and still be left wondering what was possibly going through Bennett's head.

Mistakes happen and the pace of modern football makes life tough for officials but this was baffling and manna from heaven for the conspiracy theorists.

"You just hope somewhere along the line that you get the rub of the green," said Rodgers in the build-up. "We haven't got anything this year. I hope that this weekend we might start to get a decision that goes our way for once."

The wait for that goes on. The throw-in which referee Andre Marriner wrongly awarded to Everton prior to their second goal didn't help Rodgers' mood.

After being denied four successive derby triumphs for the first time since 1991 in such controversial fashion and having squandered a 2-0 lead, the sense of disappointment was acute.

But in the cold light of day there should be a sense of pride and encouragement from the way the Reds performed in a hostile environment. Ability was coupled with character in abundance.

It's a day teenagers Raheem Sterling, Suso and Andre Wisdom will never forget - they refused to be overawedand it will be a big step forward in their education. With Joe Allen, Nuri Sahin and Sebastian Coates also involved, the Reds had half a dozen derby debutants - the most they have fielded since 1970.
Everton FC, flying high after a fine start to the campaign, boasted the greater experience and physical presence but Rodgers' side refused to be bullied.

When they were rocking having seen their two-goal cushion wiped out, a switch at half-time changed the game.

By introducing Coates and switching to 3-5-2, Liverpool regained control.

Jonjo Shelvey added more bite in midfield after Sahin had been ineffective and with Sterling impressing in a central role alongside Suarez, the Reds went agonisingly close to a winner.

David Moyes had delivered Suarez's pre-match team talk with his scathing attack on him. His attempt to pile the pressure on Marriner by warning him not to be fooled by any theatrics, served to fire up the Reds' top scorer, whose celebration after the deadlock was broken will live long in the memory.

After latching on to Jose Enrique's cross, Suarez's 14th minute strike cannoned off Leighton Baines and into the net. The striker raced towards the home dugout before performing the perfect swallow dive in front of Moyes.

The Blues boss says he fears divers 'will drive fans away from the game' so after the actions of his captain yesterday there's likely to be plenty of empty seats at Goodison over the coming weeks. Phil Neville's ridiculous attempt to con Marriner into giving a free-kick on the edge of the box deservedly earned him a booking.

Buoyed by the breakthrough, the Reds doubled their tally in the 20th minute. Steven Gerrard, who led by example as he pulled the strings in the middle, whipped in the perfect free-kick and Suarez sent a glancing header past Tim Howard.

But from a position of dominance, Liverpool gifted the Blues a way back.

With Pepe Reina deemed not fit enough to start the game, Brad Jones kept his place in goal. The Australian had been faultless in the two previous outings but he didn't cover himself in glory with the punch from Baines' corner which Leon Osman sent back with interest into the bottom corner.

The atmosphere was transformed and Jones was lucky to earn a free-kick after spilling the ball under pressure from Sylvain Distin.

Young Wisdom faced his toughest test yet as the right-back tried to handle the lively Kevin Mirallas. The Reds were fortunate that the Belgian didn't emerge for the second half after being hurt by a challenge from Suarez - Wisdom found substitute Magaye Gueye a much easier proposition.

Glen Johnson was sorely missed at left-back and as the Blues cranked up the pressure they equalised 10 minutes before the break.

It came from a throw which shouldn't have been theirs but Rodgers' side were slow to close down Marouane Fellaini and then Enrique failed to track Steven Naismith, who swept home.

The arrival of Shelvey and Coates, stemmed the tide.

Sterling wasted a glorious chance to put the Reds back in front but sliced wide with just Howard to beat. The 17-year-old caused plenty of problems in a central role, with Jagielka booked for hauling him down.

The punishment could have been more severe, as was the case when Suarez stepped on Distin's Achilles, but Marriner was lenient and this time both sides kept the full complement on the pitch.

Liverpool defended bravely in the second half and, with Allen running himself into the ground, they threatened on the counter-attack. Gerrard and Sterling both went close before Suarez thought he had secured a cherished victory. Cruelly, the joy was shortlived.

Source: Liverpool Echo