Everton celebrated an unexpected but deserved point at Anfield, where they dented Liverpool's hopes of claiming runners-up spot.

Liverpool toiled in growing frustration in the 205th Merseyside derby, but they could not find a way past Alan Stubbs and his team-mates, who added a point to the three they claimed back in September from a 3-0 victory at Anfield.

Everton took the gamble of playing Andrew Johnson up front, despite only a fortnight of treatment on what was thought to be a serious ankle injury.

He passed a late fitness test, while Tony Hibbert returned at full-back for the Toffees for the first time since October after a groin injury.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez opted to play all three of his main strikers - Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy - while leaving out Sami Hyypia and going with a central defence of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger.

At times it left Liverpool looking lopsided, with no width on the left where Mikel Arteta did a good job in halting the runs of John Arne Riise.

With fog rolling in across a packed and rocking stadium, Everton were the first to show real intent. Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta on the right worked space and possession, and Liverpool struggled to cope with the supply of crosses.

Xabi Alonso nervously prodded one low centre behind, adding to Steven Gerrard's general annoyance with the standard of defending, before Hibbert motored on to a ball on the edge of the box to crash a fierce drive into Jose Reina's chest.

There were few real chances in the first period, but Tim Howard produced an excellent reflex save with his feet to block a Crouch hook, before Bellamy got in on the left to take a return ball and fire past Howard, only to be rightly given offside.

Leon Osman was booked on 10 minutes for a foul on Jermaine Pennant. And, when Pennant's cross was nodded on by Kuyt, Bellamy just failed to connect with a header as the ball bounced wide of a post.

Everton were doing a decent job of containing Liverpool's attacking threat with their extra man in midfield.

Arteta, in particular, showed strength and skill on the right while Alan Stubbs and Joleon Lescott were coping with the aerial threat of Crouch.

It was not until the 25th minute that Liverpool created another chance, Howard saving well from Kuyt at full stretch, while Alonso saw a 20-yard dipping effort just clear the bar.

Liverpool's back line were being harassed into mistakes and poor distribution.

Benitez was pleading for better passing from Alonso and a quicker delivery to Pennant. This must have encouraged Everton, because they knew they were halting the accurate flow of Liverpool's attacks.

Liverpool came out for the second period with more intent, Alonso fired a 25-yard shot straight at Howard, and Carragher had a close-range effort blocked by Phil Neville.

Neville was never far from Gerrard, a constant annoyance to his fellow captain, and his marshalling of Everton's midfield was outstanding.

All the Toffees' toil was nearly rewarded on 60 minutes when Steve Finnan gave the ball away to Johnson, who cut into the box and pulled the ball away from the covering Alonso to force Reina into an excellent and crucial save from 12 yards

Joseph Yobo outpaced Bellamy on a long run on to an Alonso pass, and despite increased tempo and more urgency, Liverpool were continually frustrated.

But the pressure was mounting. Gerrard sent a dipping 20-yard free-kick inches wide, before Arteta was booked for a foul on Riise on 67 minutes.

On 72 minutes, Neville was booked for a foul on Bellamy as Everton were forced back leaving Johnson isolated up front.

Kuyt was thwarted by a Lee Carsley tackle, and then delayed too long after being set up by Bellamy. Liverpool just could not find the space and time in the box to make their possession tell.

On 80 minutes Johnson, who has chased everything diligently all game, was replaced by Victor Anichebe. Five minutes later the hard-grafting Bellamy was replaced by Robbie Fowler, for what will almost certainly be his last taste of a Mersey derby.

Crouch failed to connect after a neat Fowler touch on from a Carragher ball into the box.

Riise headed a deflected Arteta corner off the line as Everton made a rare appearance in Liverpool's box.

Teams:

Liverpool Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant,Alonso, Gerrard, Bellamy (Fowler 85), Kuyt, Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Zenden.

Everton Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Carsley,Neville, Cahill, Arteta, Osman, Johnson (Anichebe 80).

Subs Not Used: Wright, Naysmith, Beattie, Fernandes.

Booked: Osman, Neville, Arteta.

Att: 44,234

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).