Liverpool fail to take advantage

Liverpool failed to make up significant ground on their rivals for a Champions League place after Everton held them in an entertaining but scoreless 170th Merseyside derby.

Everton survived a battering from Liverpool in the second half at Anfield, but with Charlton losing to Bolton, Gerard Houllier's team will see this as two points lost in the battle for fourth spot.

In the first half Steven Gerrard saw a shot deflected onto a post and twice in the second period Liverpool had shots scrambled off the line.

Everton goalkeeper Nigel Martyn was outstanding and Jerzy Dudek saved Liverpool on occasions too.

Liverpool threatened from the whistle as a flowing move ended with Martyn plucking the cross away from Michael Owen.

Dudek was the in action after six minutes, diving at Duncan Ferguson's feet after a clever move involving Wayne Rooney and Thomas Gravesen.

A minute later, Dietmar Hamann's volley produced a leaping save from Martyn.

Gerrard raced on to Owen's pass but was denied by a fine Martyn stop, and was cursing the 37-year-old veteran again before half-time when he pushed a shot against an upright.

Referee Steve Bennett dismissed Everton appeals when Sami Hyypia appeared to impede Tomasz Radzinski.

Almost on the stroke of half-time, Ferguson headed wide from close range from Rooney's brilliant cross and Dudek pulled off a spectacular stop from Alan Stubbs' header.

Rooney blasted over at the start of the second half and Gerrard then shot narrowly off target.

French youngster Anthony Le Tallec thought he had opened the scoring but Ferguson cleared off the line.

Dudek pushed aside Stubb's rasping free-kick from 30 yards as Everton pushed for the winner but a pulsating game finished level.