Daniel Sturridge doubles down in demolition derby

Liverpool 4 Everton 0

Four points is one thing in the race for Champions League qualification; four unanswered goals in a Merseyside derby quite another. There may be time for Everton to bridge the gap on Liverpool in the race for a top-four finish but the humiliation that Brendan Rodgers’ team inflicted on Roberto Martinez and co in the 222nd derby will reverberate throughout the campaign.

Liverpool’s biggest derby win since November 1982, their biggest at Anfield since 1972, will sent belief soaring in a their chances of returning to the European elite.

“Are you Moyesy in disguise?” sang the Kop as the Everton manager witnessed an abject visiting performance in which every bold selection call and every shot sailed into a red-brick wall. Liverpool were ruthlessly superb, Steven Gerrard providing the opening goal, Daniel Sturridge scoring twice and Luis Suarez grabbing his 23rd goal of the season as Everton crumbled.

Sturridge also missed a penalty and a chance to play in Suarez for a simple fifth, oversights that prompted his withdrawal and a brief touchline dispute with Rodgers.

The embarrassment inflicted on Everton was a credit to Rodgers. The Liverpool manager did not have the option of risks with his team selection after Joe Allen was unable to recover from a groin problem, although a 4-1-4-1 formation with Philippe Coutinho central and Daniel Sturridge on the left surprised. His call worked to devastating effect, however.

By contrast Martinez took several gambles that misfired badly. Ross Barkley had hardly trained since sustaining a broken toe three weeks ago, and Phil Jagielka played despite nursing a hamstring injury. Both struggled with the pace of the game.

Pelted with coins
Liverpool took the lead from their first corner when Suarez – pelted with coins from the away section that he handed to the referee, Martin Atkinson – swept to the near post. Steven Gerrard escaped Gareth Barry's attentions and steered a powerful header to the net.

Barry’s impact was not confined to slack marking. In a desperate attempt to regain ground on the Liverpool captain the midfielder careered through Romelu Lukaku and Everton’s main attacking threat had to be stretchered off with suspected ankle ligament damage. If Martinez thought his problems could not get any worse, he was soon mistaken.

Everton looked to have responded well to Gerrard’s goal, though only for 10 minutes during which Kevin Mirallas’s willingness to attack the Liverpool defence was prominent. But with two cutting attacks in two minutes, Sturridge sent Liverpool into ecstasy.

Piercing pass
Coutinho vindicated Rodgers' decision to deploy him in central midfield with a piercing pass that sent the Liverpool forward sprinting clear of the exposed John Stones. He gave Tim Howard no chance with a confident finish that was surpassed by an outstanding lob from Liverpool's next attack.

The source was painful for the Everton defence, a straightforward clearance from Kolo Toure that sailed over Jagielka and dropped at the feet of Sturridge. The striker had plenty to do but, from the edge of the area, lobbed a glorious finish over the keeper and in.

Liverpool’s fourth was another ordeal for the struggling Phil Jagielka. The Everton captain attempted to cushion a clearance to his central defensive partner but instead found Suarez, the last person in the Premier League who requires an invitation towards goal. The Uruguay international sprinted from the half-way line with Jagielka on his shoulder and slotted low under Howard.

Sterling was the latest home player to waltz behind the Everton rearguard and went over as Howard raced from goal. Everton were spared further ignominy when Sturridge took the spot-kick for a derby hat-trick only to blaze over the bar.

His decision to go for the hat-trick again with Suarez better placed brought a furious response from team-mates and his withdrawal. Not that anything could take the gloss from a stunning night for Liverpool.