Kuyt sinks Everton to boost Liverpool’s Euro bid

Dirk Kuyt boosted 10-man Liverpool’s bid to land a Champions League place as his header clinched a crucial 1-0 victory over Everton in Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

Rafa Benitez’s side had Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos sent off in the first half at Anfield, but Kuyt nodded in the winner soon after the interval to lift the hosts above Tottenham into fourth place.

The Toffees also finished with 10 men as South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar was dismissed for two bookings after barging into Steven Gerrard in stoppage time.

Liverpool are now unbeaten in seven Premier League games, while Everton lost for the first time in the league since November’s defeat to the Reds at Goodison Park.

A fiesty encounter boiled over when Liverpool were reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute. Kyrgiakos was the guilty party as he saw red for an ugly two-footed lunge on Marouane Fellaini.

Referee Martin Atkinson opted not to punish Fellaini for stamping on Kyrgiakos in the same incident, but the Belgium midfielder was stretchered off anyway.

Despite their one-man advantage, Everton were unable to take control and Kuyt sealed the points in the 55th minute when the Dutch forward headed home Gerrard’s corner from close range for his fourth goal in four games.

Tottenham can leapfrog Liverpool with a win against Aston Villa later on Saturday, while Manchester United will go above Chelsea, who host Arsenal on Sunday, into first place with a victory over Portsmouth at Old Trafford.