Liverpool failed to get their title campaign back on track today at Anfield - and they are not even top of the tree on Merseyside going into Christmas.

Everton remain ahead of their near neighbours after picking up a deserved point from today's contest, with the teams now fourth and fifth in the Barclaycard Premiership respectively.

Liverpool have now collected only two points from their last seven games and these are anxious times for manager Gerard Houllier.

It could have been a lot worse had Wayne Rooney's thunderbolt which struck the bar 15 minutes from time - via a deflection off Stephane Henchoz - gone in.

The first chance of the game fell to Liverpool after eight minutes, when Liverpool won a corner on the right, taken by Danny Murphy, who picked out John Arne Riise 25 yards from goal.

The Norwegian rattled in a fierce volley but Everton goalkeeper Richard Wright got his body behind the ball and made a clean save.

Liverpool defender Djimi Traore picked up the first yellow card of the game two minutes later when he bundled over Lee Carsley.

The early stages of the game were, as expected, frenetic with players having difficulty settling on the ball.

Reds defender Stephane Henchoz then clearly handled in the area but was awarded a free-kick as he had been fouled by Radzinski.

Everton midfielder Thomas Gravesen followed Traore into the book after 22 minutes for hauling back Steven Gerrard.

Murphy found Michael Owen with a free-kick but he only succeeded in steering a header wide of the target.

The Riise went on a mazy run and tried his luck on goal, only to see his effort blocked by Everton defender Alan Stubbs.

Radzinski squandered a good chance in the 36th minute when Weir flicked on a low throw from Gravesen.

The Canadian was clear at the back post but steered his shot wide from close range.

Liverpool hit back and Murphy played a short corner to Gerrard. He drove the ball across the face of the area to Riise. However he made a hash of his shot and failed to test Wright.

Then Gerrard strode forward and cracked in a 25 yard shot that Wright did well to save.

Kirkland had to look lively to turn over Carsley's inswinging shot before play switched down the other end.

Wright was on his toes to turn away a 20-yard effort from Riise after a surging run from the Norwegian.

Everton carved out the first chance of the second half when Pembridge picked out Carsley - but he was off-balance and failed to test Kirkland with his header.

Houllier decided to make a double substitution in the 53rd minute, introducing Vladimir Smicer and Emile Heskey for Salif Diao and Traore.

Heskey almost made an immediate impact, with a downward header from Gerrard's free-kick going wide.

Rooney was eventually brought on in the 55th minute when he replaced Radzinski - and the Everton fanatic, from nearby Croxteth, showed he was not fazed by his derby debut.

He clattered into Kirkland in a race for the ball, leaving the Liverpool goalkeeper dazed.

Heskey missed another good chance in the 61st minute when his touch let him down after Gerrard had played a free-kick over the top.

Everton were playing with a lot of authority, however and there was another scare for Liverpool in the 65th minute.

The industrious Pembridge delivered an inswinging corner which breached the home defence and sub Steve Watson was only inches away from getting a vital touch.

Rooney almost broke the deadlock in the 74th minute with a thunderous drive from the edge of the area. The ball deflected off Henchoz and beat Kirkland - but struck the bar and bounced over.

The game threatened to boil over in 87th minute when Gary Naysmith was left in agony after a two-footed challenge from Gerrard near the touchline.

Everton striker Kevin Campbell, booked just three minutes earlier for a late challenge on Gerrard, squared up to the England midfielder and other players from both sides got involved - but the situation calmed down and the game finished with honours even.

Teams

Liverpool: Kirkland, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Traore (Heskey 52), Murphy, Gerrard, Diao (Smicer 52), Riise, Baros, Owen.

Subs Not Used: Dudek, Diouf, Biscan.

Booked: Traore, Henchoz, Carragher.

Everton: Wright, Hibbert (Watson 60), Weir, Stubbs, Pistone, Carsley, Gravesen, Pembridge, Naysmith, Campbell, Radzinski (Rooney 55).

Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Tie Li, Gemmill.

Booked: Gravesen, Weir, Campbell, Naysmith.

Att: 44,025

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).