Day or night, you won't miss a story with the Liverpool Echo newsletter Sign me up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

EXPECT the DVD to be available in the Everton club shop tomorrow.

As Liverpool’s players walked away from an instantly forgettable 220th Merseyside derby with frustration etched across their faces, the celebrations were underway in the away end.

Those scenes were replicated in the directors box’ with visiting chairman Bill Kenwright greeting the final whistle with a triumphant shout of ‘yes’.

It was hard to believe that Everton had just suffered a result which effectively ended their hopes of securing European qualification.

They had taken a point off Liverpool and what it meant to them was clear for all to see.

The contrasting reaction of two great rivals spoke volumes in the aftermath of a dour stalemate, which was high on commitment but desperately low on quality.

The Blues enjoyed their day in the sunshine across Stanley Park and will cherish the fact they now look certain to finish above the Reds in successive top flight campaigns for the first time since 1937.

But as Steven Gerrard, who was once again the outstanding performer on derby day, succinctly put in the build-up to the game: ‘Sixth or seventh, does it really matter?’

Mid-table mediocrity, no matter how you dress it up, will never be toasted at Anfield and rightly so.

Talk of a power shift having taken place on Merseyside is premature.

The reality is that Everton still haven’t won an away derby in 14 attempts stretching back 14 years.

Since the last time there was an addition to the Goodison trophy cabinet, Liverpool have lifted two FA Cups, three League Cups, the European Cup, the UEFA Cup and two European Super Cups.

The Reds may be left looking up at the Blues in a fortnight but it’s hardly all doom and gloom. In fact they are infinitely better placed to push on this summer.

Those dark days of autumn, when Liverpool toiled in the early stages of Brendan Rodgers’ reign following a wretched end to the transfer window, left them playing catch-up.

But in the second half of the campaign progress has been swift and just one defeat in the past 10 league games illustrates that.

With some key additions to Rodgers’ squad over the coming months, there is good reason to believe they can mount a serious challenge next term to regain their spot among the Premier League’s elite.

Liverpool always looked the slicker, more potent attacking unit on the 100th Anfield clash between the clubs. Everton dropped deeper and deeper to protect their point but in the final third the Reds fell short.

Daniel Sturridge failed to hit the heights he had reached against Newcastle a week earlier as the £12million striker squandered the opportunity to be a derby hero.

In fairness to Sturridge he was isolated for long periods and crowded out but on the rare occasions he did wriggle free his touch and composure deserted him.

Fellow derby debutant Philippe Coutinho fared considerably better as the little Brazilian benefited from the fact this fixture’s usual brutal intensity and physicality was lacking. Remarkably, it was nearly an hour before referee Michael Oliver got his book out.

Coutinho was able to weave his magic with some mazy runs and a few touches of class to carve Everton apart but moments of real promise fizzled out.

How Liverpool could have done with Luis Suarez to help tip the balance. The suspended Uruguayan, making his first visit to Anfield since he bit Branislav Ivanovic, watched on with his family.

Everton’s complaints about Sylvain Distin’s disallowed goal early in the second half cut no ice.

Oliver had already spoken to Victor Anichebe about his penchant for wrestling at corners. Anichebe failed to heed the warning and Everton paid the price

Considering the manner in which David Moyes’ side escaped from Goodison with a point back in October, when Suarez’s late winner was wrongly disallowed for offside, the Blues can hardly bleat about the rub of the green.

In fact Anichebe was lucky to stay on the pitch – getting away with a theatrical tumble having already been booked for dissent.

Before kick-off there was warm applause from all sides of Anfield as the mosaic on the Kop said ‘Thanks’ to Everton for their support over Hillsborough.

Yet, sadly, the show of solidarity didn’t last long. A section of visiting fans chanted ‘Murderers’ during the game and then ‘Justice for the 39’ after the final whistle – sick references to Heysel.

On the pitch, there was little to excite. Liverpool started the brighter but twice Sturridge failed to hit the target after working his way into space.

Despite being hampered by a shoulder injury, Gerrard was a class apart, snapping into tackles and spraying inch perfect 50-yard passes to turn defence into attack.

There was a let-off when Marouane Fellaini volleyed Leighton Baines’ free-kick just wide but for the most part Everton sat back and posed little threat.

It wasn’t the result Jamie Carragher wanted in his final derby but the centre-back could hold his head high after another faultless display.

This was another defensive masterclass from Carragher which underlined what a gaping hole the vice-captain will leave in Rodgers’ squad when he hangs up his boots in a fortnight.

Having faced the Blues on 30 occasions during his illustrious career, you can count the number of derby defeats Carragher has tasted on one hand.

Unfortunately for the Reds, they came up against an equally resolute backline in which Phil Jagielka excelled.

Twice, the Everton skipper made vital interventions – blocking Gerrard’s goal-bound shot before preventing Coutinho from netting the rebound after Sturridge had been denied by Seamus Coleman.

Early in the second half Coutinho’s wonderful vision set Sturridge clear but he opted to go around Tim Howard and the keeper made a sprawling save.

At the other end Distin rose to nod home Baines’ corner but Oliver had already blown to penalise Anichebe.

Gerrard could have settled it when he burst on to Sturridge’s neat through ball. However, after skipping past Howard, the captain was forced wide and Distin got back to clear off the line.

With passes going astray and both full-backs struggling to make an impact, Liverpool were unable to sustain any real momentum.

Agger headed Gerrard’s inviting free-kick just wide as the visitors held on for the result they came for.

Moyes insisted that finishing above the Reds didn’t matter to Everton. The scenes at the final whistle told a different story.