Bellamy and Gerrard Help Suarez Extinguish The Everton Flame

A controversial decision by referee Martin Atkinson virtually killed the game as a contest, which up to that point had been too close to call. Harsh or not it helped and that's all that matters in a Derby match.

Suarez, undoubtedly the best player on the pitch, could and should have put Liverpool ahead after some glorious work from our very own 'Duracell Bunny' Kuyt controlling a mis-kick from Jagielka to produce a glorious lobbed cross to the ubiquitous Uruguayan, who from close range inexplicably headed straight into the arms Tim Johnson.Liverpool's failure to capitalise was not for the want of trying with Suarez intelligently turning Jagielka on the corner of the area coercing him into an impulsive tackle with Kuyt's resultant penalty saved. Charlie Adam, not having one of his most stellar games, unleashed a spectacular drive against the bar as the half came to a close.

Rodwell's sending off instead of giving Liverpool total dominance, the game became more stretched and brought Everton gaining more of a foothold. Lucas and Adam failed to influence the game from the middle and the question needs to be asked whether this pairing can develop into a formidable pairing in the future. Adam, I believe, is better suited to a role free of the defensive responsibility which so restricts his game at Liverpool compared to Blackpool. Some have suggested Adam needs to build-up his stamina levels, but playing him in a two in the centre highlights his lack of speed of the mark as he not the type of player who will surge past an opponent. Can we afford to give him a free role with two strikers and winger on the pitch? That is the question.

The answer to the question is for another time, as the removal of Adam and the ineffective Downing, led to game changing substitutes. Gerrard added an assemblance of control in the middle with short prompting passing, but it was the inclusion of Bellamy with his pace and incisive driving runs which led to our first goal, when he released the ever impressive Enrique overlapping down the left to cut back for Andy Carroll to dispatch impressively.

Carroll has been hammered unmercilessly, but as we have always stated on this blog he made his name scoring goals from great delivery in the right areas and we should judge him after he starts regularly and he has quality service. Yesterday he has could quite easily have scored a hat-trick and after a decent display Wolves he deserves some encouragement rather than the continuing knocks, after all his Liverpool career up to know has been stop start.The killer goal was all about the tenacity of Suarez and was well deserved for his selfless running and drive off the ball and his imposing play on it.

Going into the Man Utd game on the back of a win against Everton will help confidence. With Gerrard putting another twenty-five or so minutes into his legs there must be more than an even chance of him starting. Everyone knows Craig Bellamy's qualities which I mentioned in the Brighton blog and I believe any team starting with Gerrard, Bellamy, Suarez, Downing and an increasingly confident Andy Carroll will cause consternation in any opposition.

Let's hope that Fabio Capello see's sense and leaves Gerrard out of the next England squad.

Man of Match: Luis Suarez in danger of carrying the Liverpool team.