Walter Smith's Everton produced a heroic performance to steal a richly deserved - and unexpected - point from the Merseyside derby at Anfield.

David Weir was outstanding for Everton, Lee Carsley and Scot Gemmill battled fiercely and an opportunist strike from fit-again Tomasz Radzinski almost gave Smith's side all three points.

With Arsenal and Manchester United both winning, the point Everton clawed from an enthralling Anfield showdown not only won them back some local pride but left Liverpool's championship hopes further undermined.

Everton had a game plan - commitment, concentration and sheer desire not to be rolled over by a team going for the title and European glory.

But Radzinski struck early in the second half and only an opportunist strike from Nicolas Anelka - created by the excellent Danny Murphy - allowed Liverpool to escape an embarrassment.

Michael Owen started - despite suggestions he may be rested - but Paul Gascoigne was not involved and Radzinski was left initially on the bench.

A simmering 166th Merseyside derby also had lost Steven Gerrard - out for three weeks with a groin injury - and there were seven men on the field who had not experienced the local rivalry before.

But everyone soon got into the swing of things, and Owen and Weir were involved in a finger-pointing, chest-pushing exchange right under referee David Elleray's nose after a tackle from the Scot.

Everton began with five at the back and Carsley, Tobias Linderoth and Scot Gemmill snapping away in midfield allowed the luxury of David Ginola on the wing.

With all this Everton effort, Liverpool were working with scraps and only two runs from Anelka - one shot into the side netting and another chipped over Steve Simonsen and cleared - really threatened to break the deadlock early on.

Weir had an outstanding game, along with his midfield commandos, and Everton even found enough time amidst all their scurrying to set up chances form Gary Naysmith and Carsley that were saved by Chris Kirkland.

The best chance of what was a tepid first half came in injury time when John Arne Riise - who had two wild attempts from free-kicks - produced a bouncing hook shot from the edge of the area that forced Simonsen into a pawing save before the young goalkeeper hurled himself bravely at Sami Hyypia's feet.

Before the restart, Everton dispensed with Ginola and sent on Radzinski up front and injected Thomas Gravesen's battling qualities in place of Linderoth.

Everton's confidence was growing and Campbell had a header blocked, with the ball being cleared frantically away from Stubbs.

And from their next break, Everton scored. Alessandro Pistone - playing his first game since December - played a neat one-two with Gemmill before surging down the left.

When the low cross came in, Radzinski scuffed a shot from the edge of the box that bounced away from Kirkland and into the bottom corner.

Immediately Emile Heskey replaced Stephen Wright as Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson desperately sought an equaliser.

And on 57 minutes, Heskey created Liverpool's best opening so far with a chip into the box that Owen spun and hooked over as he fell.

Anxiety, apart from a small corner of celebrating Everton fans, was all around Anfield now. Their side had looked strangely lethargic confronted with Everton's sheer desire.

Another Owen shot crashed into an Everton body and was hacked away, only now were Liverpool playing with any pace.

Owen then saw another effort go begging. Heskey chipped in from the left and his striking colleague ducked to head the ball over the crossbar.

Vladimir Smicer was next into the fray in place of Gary McAllister in an attempt to salvage a point at least for Liverpool.

And from persistence more than class, Liverpool finally clawed their way back level.

Heskey touched the ball on to Murphy on 71 minutes and he played in Anelka who had space at last to slide his shot past an exposed Simonsen.

It was all going one way now as Everton dug in to get some sort of reward for an outstanding contribution to a game many felt they were only there to make up the numbers.

But it was dogged. Owen surged from 40 yards out wide of three men before unleashing a shot that Pistone charged down.

From the corner Simonsen produced the save of the match to touch over a Murphy header.

But Everton still had something left and Kirkland almost matched Simonsen's save with a flying one-hander to keep out a Radzinski drive with five minutes left.

But the men from Goodison Park went home with a deserved point.

Teams:

Liverpool: Kirkland, Xavier, Henchoz, Hyypia, Wright (Heskey 55), Murphy, Hamann, McAllister (Smicer 66), Riise, Owen, Anelka.

Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Biscan, Litmanen.

Goals: Anelka 72.

Everton: Simonsen, Clarke, Weir, Stubbs, Pistone, Gemmill, Carsley, Linderoth (Gravesen 45), Naysmith, Campbell, Ginola (Radzinski 45).

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Unsworth, Pembridge.

Booked: Clarke, Gravesen.

Goals: Radzinski 52.

Att: 44,371

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).