LIVERPOOL NA EVERTON WAENDA SARE.

Tussle: Everton's Seamus Coleman and Jordan Henderson fight for the ball.

Liverpool and Everton cancelled each other out in a forgettable 220th Merseyside derby bereft of incident.

The draw may have strengthened the Toffees' chances of finishing above their near-neighbours for the second successive season - something which has not happened since 1937 - but they rarely came close to ending a 14-year winless run at Anfield.

Midfielder Marouane Fellaini had the visitors' best chance, volleying wide from close range in the first half, while Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard saw Sylvain Distin clear off the line after the break.

MATCH FACTS

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Downing, Henderson (Borini 66), Coutinho, Sturridge.
Subs not used: Jones, Assaidi, Coates, Suso, Shelvey, Skrtel.
Everton: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Mirallas, Osman, Gibson, Pienaar, Fellaini, Anichebe.
Subs not used: Mucha, Hibbert, Heitinga, Jelavic, Oviedo, Naismith, Duffy.
Referee: Michael Oliver

However, just three bookings in a game which has seen 20 red cards in the previous 41 meetings indicated a lack of bite.

Sixth-placed Everton, five points ahead of their near-neighbours, did not have enough in their locker to end their drought on enemy territory and Jamie Carragher, on his 30th and final Merseyside derby before retirement, had one of his quieter afternoons.

Similarly, without Luis Suarez the Reds struggled to break down a defence which was brilliantly marshalled by Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin.

Liverpool looked to utilise Daniel Sturridge's pace early on with Jordan Henderson's superb 60-yard crossfield ball into his path surpassed only by Gerrard's from the opposite diagonal which resulted in Distin clearing the striker's cross.

Fall guy: Steven Pienaar goes down under the challenge of Jose Enrique.

Gerrard was making his 36th consecutive league start, equalling his previous longest run set between April 2006 and April 2007, in spite of a long-term shoulder injury.

His further participation became a concern when he crashed to the floor in tangling with Leon Osman and although he moved gingerly for the next few minutes there was little chance of the Huyton-born midfielder dropping out of this one early.

But in truth the visitors took their superiority in the table onto the pitch as they had the better of the opening 25 minutes in which they should have taken the lead.

Eyes on the prize: Marouane Fellaini battles for the ball with Henderson.

Midfield battle: Pienaar competes for possession with Lucas

Fellaini had the best chance of the half when he got on the end of Leighton Baines' 17th-minute free-kick but somehow shot across goal and just wide of the far post from about four yards.

By the half-hour Liverpool had regained their composure and only the excellence of Jagielka, superb throughout, prevented a goal.

First he blocked Gerrard's shot from Henderson's cut-back, with the Liverpool captain then curling a free-kick just wide, before an even better effort denied Philippe Coutinho just as he was about to pull the trigger.

Turning the air blue: Everton fans make themselves heard inside Anfield.

The slightest error by the Everton captain would have resulted in a penalty or a goal but his timing was immaculate.

Fellaini's afternoon began to get more frustrating, however, highlighted by him marching towards referee Michael Oliver to demand a free-kick - which was subsequently awarded.

The official was lenient again with the Belgium midfielder by taking no action when he appeared to thrust an arm towards Gerrard's face as the two tangled.

Coutinho, the mastermind of last week's 6-0 drubbing of Newcastle, had initially struggled in the frenetic derby atmosphere.

Derby goodbye: Fans hold banner aloft saying thank you to Jamie Carragher

30 and out: Carragher competes with Everton Anichebe

Flying the flag: Liverpool fans hold a Carragher banner

Respect: Carragher is congratulated by both Brendan Rodgers and David Moyes as he leaves the pitch

But early in the second half he played a fine through ball but Sturridge could not get round Tim Howard in a one-on-one situation and eventually fired into the side-netting.

Distin had the ball in the next just before the hour from a Baines' corner only for Oliver to disallow it after the usual pushing and holding in the penalty area and book Victor Anichebe for dissent.

The Everton forward was lucky not to be punished further after an apparent - and pointless - dive midway in Liverpool's half but, as he had done all game, the official showed leniency.

Showing their appreciation: Liverpool fans in The Kop showing a banner of thanks, to Everton for the support of Hillsborough victims