Yobo replies to Benitez: "I don't think Benitez meant to say what he did - but it is up to him to explain. We are a big club, and we have proved it in the past. We qualified for the Champions League two seasons ago, and a European place is just around the corner this year. We will be trying hard for that in the remaining 12 league games. We can beat any team."

Cahill replies to Benitez: "My first initial reaction was that it was very harsh, but after I'd thought about it, I thought he was very frustrated. He's a manager, and our manager gets frustrated as well. It's not something I like to emphasise too much on, but he knows we're not a small club. They're a massive club, they beat Chelsea 2-0 at home, and it pays respect and a compliment to the manager and to the players that we frustrated them that much. We had a game plan. We wanted them to boot the ball long and tried to upset their game, and that's what happened. To get a draw at Anfield is massive, and four points out of six (this season), I don't really need to say any more."

Carsley replies to Benitez: "We've beaten them and drawn with them this season, so if we're a small club then I hope other small clubs can beat them. We feel insulted by what he said. It's a stupid thing to say. I can understand him being frustrated afterwards, but anyone who watched the game will know Andy Johnson had the best chance. We could quite easily have won 1-0, which we've done to other teams in the past - so he should keep his opinions to himself. I don't think he will apologise, but then I don't think he should have to either. It's his opinion, one of those things. We were pleased to get a point on Saturday. Derby games are tough, but we've taken four points off them this season - so we've done well. We played the same system on Saturday as we did when we finished fourth a couple of seasons ago to claim a place in the Champions League. For a small club, that's not bad."

Stubbsey replies to Benitez: "You're going to be bitter when you've not had a result. If he's saying that, he has to look at his team. They didn't do much to break us down. That would be my response to him. You can always turn round and say you're misquoted or whatever. But you know what you're talking about."

Moyesy says: It was a real team performance. Stubbsy was man of the match and I think that was quite right. We needed all his experience today. I must praise all the players today because we knew coming here was going to be a big job, the way Liverpool have been playing. We've played them twice now and not conceded, so credit to the defenders.

I saw them line-up with three strikers in midweek. They caused us a few problems in the first ten to fifteen minutes but after that we kept them to free-kicks and long range shots. We've seen what Chelsea had to put up with when they came here, Liverpool are a really good side."

Stubbsey says: " I thought before the game it could be my last derby. I hope it is not but you do think like that. I didn't want to dwell on it for long but hopefully if I keep performing the way I did today it won't be my last one.

You know it is going to be difficult every time you come to Anfield, especially with the form they have been in at home because they have been awesome. That makes the result all the more satisfying. I was pleased with my performance but I was just part of a team display and I think there were 10 other players out there as good as me on the day. We have got a great bunch of lads who will give everybody 110 % backing. This game typified that. Liverpool have had the upper hand on us for the last 10 years but this year we have done really well against them and we have something to build on now." (04/02/07)

What did you think of the match?  Did Moyesy get his team selection and tactics right?  e-mail info@bluekipper.com after the game.

* I am very happy with the very hard earned point at Analfield today. From front to back we performed admirably. Howard was superb when called upon, the defensive quartet of Hibbert (great on return), Stubbs (excellent), Yobo (strong) and Lescott were top notch. The midfield was excellent and AJ in attack was a compliment to the England hitmans passion to play. We will still look back and think "What If" regarding AJs chance but I think that the solid performance was a credit to David Moyes. Benitez as expected spat his dummy out with weak comments regarding Everton's gameplan, a similar tactic that brought European glory to Analfield. Who Cares? Up the Blues! Michael Gainford

* The boys done us proud today. Moysie's tactics were spot on. The gobshites will probably be bleating on about the amount of shots they had more than us but your going to with desperate shots from 60 yards out. What they don't go on about is the amount of money they have spent on players to what we have. They are all gobshites hate them all even fuckers I'm related too who are kopite gobshites are full of shit. Getting back to the game if AJ was fully fit he would have buried his chance and it would have been a 1-0 win to us. I'm glad crouch did not leave them in the transfer window because he is shit. Then again they are all shit.Mr Goodison

* I am sure David Moyes will not have apologised to his opposite number, after having the nerve to go to Analfield and not laying down, like all the small clubs that have visited them this season. I am sure all Evertonians were proud of the display by the lads, and with a little rub of the green AJ could have finished the most clear cut chance made yesterday. Lets hope the hard work put in by the lads yesterday, continues and with the squad getting back to full fitness, and the two latin lads to show soon, who knows? Norman Merrill

* A good result at Anfield, but we've got to learn that on the road we must figure out how to beat weak teams, not just draw with them. Lee

* Moyesy must have been on the lash afterwards as he looked resplendent in his suit and lovely brown brouges.

* The face on Gerrard when Crouch messed up again, it was as if to say, your shit mate.

You have to go back to the 27th September 1999, when Super Kev put the ball in the red shite net, when the Blues last took maximum points at Analfield. Only the most biased of Blues, and I suppose we all are will concede that we have our hands full this weekend.

AJ looks unlikely to make it despite the mid week optimism that he could play some part. On the good news front Tiny and Nuno are back, and Tony Hibbert comes into the reckoning after completing ninety minutes in last week friendly against Bournemouth. This is good news for Moyesy as I predict he will go five in the middle with Phil Neville returning to his favoured position after his spells at right back.

The poser for Moyesy is who to play in place of AJ. The lone striker role is made for the England striker, but not so for Biffa and Big Vic. If I had my way I would play little Vaughny up front on his tod, but me thinks Moyesy will give one last Derby hurrah to Biffa, with Tiny sitting in just behind him. New boy Manny Fernandes should make the bench, but will not be risked as he has not started a game since late December.

Its the 176th League meeting of the Merseyside teams, and I expect it to be a tempestuous one. Last season's meeting resulted in nine yellow and two pink cards. We go in search of our first double over the shite since 1984/85 season when Sharpy scored that goal. Just one again will do, and I don't care how we get it. Shittin myself already. Come on You Blue Boys.

Phil Neville says: "We are a better team than what we were last season and we need to go there and put on a good performance. We need to show guts and courage; everyone has got to receive the ball. It is the kind of place if you hide you are going to get found out and we will not be doing that. They are playing with confidence, they have beaten some good teams and will be going into the game with confidence. I don't think that was the case earlier in the season. But we are confident and we are going there to get the three points. We are in a good position and it is up to us to kick on now. The teams above us can be caught and if we put a good run together, the Uefa Cup places are within our grasp."

Moyesy says: "I hope I can even up the score with Rafa, he's won three of the five games we've had against each other with two going Everton's way. But it is always a big task for us going to Liverpool, we are the side in the city who do not have the funds that Liverpool have. That does not make it a very level playing field. But when we do get out onto the pitch, that is not really thought about, and in the past we have done quite well and we hope to do well again.

I understand Spurs fans, for instance, saying their only concern is to beat Arsenal. From an Everton fans' point of view it could be a similar case. You just look at Liverpool and what they have achieved and are trying to do, is a different level from us. So maybe the derby does mean more to us than them, which is why when we have won a couple recently we have enjoyed the moment. Liverpool are expected to beat us because of their spending and the players they have available, so it is a rarity when we win. But I want to change that situation, I want us to win more games and get closer to Liverpool. We will be doing everything we can to get close to Liverpool. But they are in a rich vein of form now, the form in fact that many people were expecting them to produce right from the start of the season when they were being tipped as championship contenders. We all said they were a good team, and now they are slipping into their best form. But we tend to do well against the better teams and we hope that happens this time. But we are not kidding anyone, we know it will be tough. But we have beaten them once this season and want to make it twice. If we win it, it will make a big difference to our confidence. That would help us in the run-in to the end of the season." (03/02/07)

Moyesy says: "Andy is doing well and we are so pleased with his progress. If we can get him fit and into the team that is something we will consider. We have strikers here who are more than capable of doing well if they are given the opportunity. Opportinities in football come along for young players and if you get the opportunity and get the chance you have to take it." (02/02/07)

Everton from: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Stubbs, Naysmith, Valente, Van der Meyde, Carsley, Arteta, Cahill, Neville, Beattie, Anichebe, Vaughan, Fernandes, Johnson, Wright.

Lavo's Eleven To Start: Howard, Valente, Yobo, Lescott, Hibbert, Arteta, Carsley, Cahill, Neville, Osman, Beattie

IF ANY EVERTON FAN WANTS TO WRITE A REPORT OF ANY OF THIS SEASON'S GAMES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. JUST E-MAIL IT TO info@bluekipper.com AND WE WILL PUT IT ON THE SITE.

Lavo's Bet: No AJ, so has to be Derby specialist goalscorer Tiny Tim. Nail him at 7/2 to score at anytime in the match. Apart from that get on Shilpa and Jade to holiday together in Mumbai this year. (1,000,000,000,000,000/1)

A clown, a few Spaniards, a giraffe, that Dutch fella up front from the Troma films, Craig 'I didn't do it' Bellamy. That's the shite in a nutshell.

shite from:Jerzy Dudek, Titi Camara, Dbjril Cisse, Michael Robinson, Avi Cohen, Djimi Traore, Antonio Nunez, Rigobert Song, Erik Meijer, Emily Heskey, Veggard Heggem, Sean Dundee, Igor Biscan, Phil Babb.

Last Season: shite 3 Blues 1