Lee Carsley scored early in the second half to bring Everton a 1-0 victory on Saturday over Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby, the Toffies’ first victory in 10 tries in the fierce, cross-town rivalry.
Everton have been the league’s most surprising team all season, and the upset over the Reds only added to it.
The win in the 200th Merseyside Derby moved Everton into second place with 36 points, just three points behind number one Chelsea — and two ahead of Arsenal.
Chelsea play at Arsenal on Sunday in the most-anticipated game of the season.
”It’s great for us,” said Everton manager David Moyes, whose team struggled last season despite playing with England star Wayne Rooney. Rooney was sold in the off-season to Manchester United.
Carsley, an Irish international, scored after Liverpool failed to clear a ball from the box. Carsley connected in the 68th on a bending drive that beat Liverpool ‘keeper Chris Kirkland.
In other results on Saturday: Crystal Palace 0, Blackburn 0; Everton 1, Liverpool 0; Manchester City 0, Tottenham 1; Newcastle 1, Portsmouth 1; Norwich 3, Bolton 2; Southampton 2, Middlesbrough 2; West Bromwich 0, Charlton 1.
Also on Sunday, Birmingham play at Aston Villa in a Midlands’ Derby. On Monday, Manchester United play at Fulham.
Liverpool remained on 24 points, a disappointing loss after rallying to beat Olympiakos on Wednesday 3-1 and reach the Champions League final 16.
Trailing behind the top three in England are: Man United (30), Middlesbrough (29), Aston Villa (25), and Liverpool and Charlton (24). At the bottom, West Bromwich (10) are topped by Southampton (13), Blackburn, Crystal Palace and Birmingham City (14).
”The team defended so well when they had to,” Moyes said. ”We didn’t get many chances to celebrate victories last season and we are enjoying the wins we get and the goals we score.”
The win was Everton’s 11th this season.
”Tonight will be as enjoyable as the other 10 wins we’ve had this season,” he said. ”I think the blue half of Merseyside will have a very good night.”
New Southampton manager Harry Redknapp almost made a perfect debut with his new club — but not quite. Leading 2-0, the Saints gave up two goals in the last several minutes and settled for a 2-2 draw at home against Middlesbrough.
Redknapp joined Southampton this week after quitting two weeks ago at neighbouring south coast team Portsmouth.
Bolton slipped to a 3-2 loss at Norwich, their sixth league game without a victory. Bolton led 2-1, but yielded two goals in the last 20 minutes.
Tottenham won their third straight, picking up a 1-0 victory at Manchester City.
Last-place West Bromwich Albion stayed on 10 points after a 1-0 home loss against Charlton. New manager Bryan Robson has yet to win for the Baggies.
Newcastle, who have stayed in the bottom half of the standings since Graeme Souness took over, settled for a 1-1 draw before 50 000 jeering home fans at St James’ Park.
In the League Championship, the top four teams all won. Wigan leads with 47 followed by Ipswich (46), Sunderland (43) and Reading (41).
In Saturday results: Burnley 2, Preston 0; Cardiff 0, Sunderland 2; Crewe 3, Plymouth 0; Derby 3, Nottingham Forest 0; Leicester 0, Reading 2; Millwall 2, Brighton 0; Queens Park Rangers 2, Ipswich 4; Stoke 1, Coventry 0; Watford 1, Wolves 1; Wigan 2, Gillingham 0. — Sapa-AP