Liverpool XI v Everton XI
Jamie Carragher’s testimonial match at Anfield ended in a 4-1 defeat for Everton.
Lee Carsley and Francis Jeffers both started for Everton, with Liverpool calling on a host of former players – including Michael Owen, Luis Garcia, Jerzy Dudek, Steve Finnan and Emile Heskey.
Liverpool took the lead just a minute-and-a-half into the contest when Garcia curled a peach of a shot past Iain Turner and into the top right-hand corner of the net.
On six minutes Owen, who got a somewhat mixed reception from the Anfield crowd, tried his luck from the edge of the box but Turner made a fine low save.
Despite having some decent wide possession, Everton struggled to impose themselves on the game and Dudek was largely untroubled in the first period.
Emile Heskey muscled his way into a genuine goalscoring position before slicing the ball wide of the mark and on 33 minutes Murphy came close to rounding off a fine passing move when he poked the ball under Turner but narrowly past the post.
Six minutes before the break, Carsley claimed a penalty when he tumbled over following a challenge from Carragher and when Mark Halsey ignored the appeal, the former Irish international feigned anger and kicked the ball away. Halsey joined in the fun, yellow-carding Carsley and slapping him on the back of the head!
On the stroke of half-time, Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Shane Duffy handled the ball inside the area and Carragher stepped forward to convert it.
Both sides made a host of changes during the interval with most of the senior players withdrawn and it had the inevitable effect on the flow of the play.
Liverpool’s third goal came on the hour when Joe Cole volleyed past Turner from close-range.
Two minutes later, Jamie Carragher fulfilled a lifetime’s ambition when he scored a goal for Everton!
The Blues were awarded a penalty-kick and as Yakubu was poised to take it, Carragher stole his thunder and dashed forward to plant the ball past Brad Jones!
He then left the field to a standing ovation.
Young Zak Thompson was in the right place at the right time for Everton when he hacked a Nathan Eccleston effort off the line but the Liverpool striker wasn’t to be denied when he scored his team’s 4th goal on 69 minutes – although there was more than a hint of offside when he burst through.
James Wallace had a late shot blocked as Everton pressed forward and Ross Barkley forced Jones into a save with four minutes left with a well-struck shot from ten yards.
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