Rafa Benitez frustrated? Now he knows how that feels

Seriously, what did he expect Everton to do? Stick Anichebe and Cahill in a 4-4-2 and go for it? Everton were always going to sit back and soak up Liverpool's pressure because that's always going to be their best chance of staying in the tie.

And, let's face it, after the success other teams have had at Anfield in applying that tactic this season, why would you play any other way?

Stoke, West Ham, Hull, Fulham. All came away with points because they put the onus on Liverpool to go at the and find a way through.

And the fact is, Liverpool weren't good enough to do it.

So it concerns me that Benitez takes it so badly when a team comes to primarily defend (although to be fair, I don't actually think Everton were too negative overall and at least, like Hull, they gave themselves a lead to sit on).

But what Benitez has to get used to is sides playing that way against him. It will be that way for the rest of the season and it's not going to change.

So what does have to change is the lack of cutting edge in trying to finish these teams off.

It's no good letting yourself get frustrated because you have way more possession but then fail to make it count. Just like Everton on Sunday, teams who come away form Anfield without getting beaten will see it as an excellent result and offer no apologies.

But the problem is that once again you come away from a game, as we did after the league meeting on the Monday, saying the same thing.

Everton get the praise for making the most of their shortage of players and for Liverpool you still dread the prospect of them being without Torres and Gerrard for any sustained amount of time.

Their link-up for the goal only confirms just how much their team need them and how much they would be missed if they had to go without them.

As outstanding as Lescott and Jagielka were in dealing with everything thrown at them, even they couldn't cope with having to defend on the turn. Torres and Gerrard were too quick for them.

And those players also had the bravery to take a chance and make a decisive move to break a stubborn defence down.

That's the kind of action Benitez needs to encourage more of and he'll only do that by focusing on his own team's shortcomings rather than what he sees as the opposition's.

Getting a taste for the derby day again

A FEW more derby observations:

SUNDAY'S cup tie had a great atmosphere. There were some insults flying around but having 15% of the ground blue worked really well and it was great to be there.

THERE wasn't a bad tackle in either derby last week. The games were both competitive but it never crossed the line into nastiness or violence as it has in the past.

IF you can't even find a place for Robbie Keane ion the bench in a game like this then maybe it's time to cut losses. He's still a good player but this transfer hasn't worked and it's time to admit that and move on.

AND finally....LIverpool to win the replay. They are much better away from home, as are Everton.

Mark Lawrenson was talking to NICK SMITH