Derby denied by Gerrard

Steven Gerrard's late winner made sure Liverpool didn't drop points at Pride Park, The Reds winning 2-1 at rock-bottom Derby.

Visiting skipper pounces late to deny home side a deserved point

Steven Gerrard spared Liverpool from an embarrassing draw at rock-bottom Derby with a late winner at Pride Park. The Reds skipper deflected home a clearance in the 90th minute to seal a scarcely-deserved 2-1 victory for his side on their travels. It was rough justice on Derby, who had battled hard to get back on level terms after Fernando Torres had given the visitors an early lead. Their second-half equaliser, which came from the unlikely source of James McEveley, was no more than they deserved for their efforts against a lacklustre Liverpool team. However, Gerrard was in the right place to nudge a loose ball into the goal and win the game, dashing Derby's dream of a point against one of the big four. A string of early free-kicks, planted into the box by McEveley, caused some concern for the visitors, andwhen Gary Teale fired in a left-wing cross on seven minutes, Steve Howard's aerial pressure created a chance for Kenny Miller to fire over from an acute angle.

Genius

But one flash of genius after 12 minutes saw Liverpool go ahead. Torres took a pass from Ryan Babel, pushed the ball through Darren Moore's legs before side-stepping Dean Leacock and blasting a 15-yard strike past the helpless Lewis Price. Two home players collided on 24 minutes, leaving Stephen Pearson hurt. Liverpool stormed away and Babel should have scored when John Arne Riise's cross reached him at the far post. But the effort finished in the crowd. Pearson eventually received treatment and was led away with a damaged right arm, Michael Johnson coming on as substitute, slotting in as centre-back with Leacock moving into midfield. Derby replaced Moore with American midfielder Benny Feilhaber at the break, another injury problem for Jewell. But after 53 minutes Liverpool lost Sami Hyypia, the big defender limping away, Yossi Benayoun coming on. Riise moved into the centre of defence, and with Daniel Agger still not fit, Liverpool now could have serious problems in central defence. Jamie Carragher was then felled by a poor Howard challenge, and Jewell almost immediately sent on striker Earnshaw to try to exploit the problems now at the heart of Liverpool's back line with his pace. Derby had dominated the opening exchanges of the second half with Giles Barnes coming into the game.

Ferocity

Price saved well to his left from a Xabi Alonso effort, but Derby still came forward with belief and a ferocity in the challenge that forced Liverpool back. And from a 67th-minute free-kick, Derby were level to send Pride Park wild. Eddie Lewis lifted a free-kick into the box from the right and it was allowed to bounce around before McEveley fired past Jose Reina. Price made a stunning save to turn away an Alonso 30-yard strike after 82 minutes, and then Torres fired high over as Liverpool continued to come forward. Barnes missed with a close-range diving header, the game now on a knife-edge as Liverpool came forward in desperation. Gerrard hit the bar from 20 yards before he won the game for Liverpool in the 89th minute. Price made another fine save from Torres, but the ball bounced out for the Liverpool skipper to force home, having started the move 80 yards away in his own half.

Derby County	Team Statistics	Liverpool
1	Goals	2
0	1st Half Goals	1
4	Shots on Target	6
6	Shots off Target	14
1	Blocked Shots	3
2	Corners	7
11	Fouls	12
7	Offsides	2
1	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
60.3	Passing Success	76.9
20	Tackles	9
80	Tackles Success	66.7
37.6	Possession	62.4
48.7	Territorial Advantage	51.3