Everton grabs 1-1 draw at Liverpool in derby

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) Everton defender Phil Jagielka fired in a stoppage-time equalizer to clinch a 1-1 draw in the 223rd Merseyside derby on Saturday and extend Liverpool's winless run to three Premier League matches.

Jagielka unleashed a half-volley from outside the penalty area just when it appeared captain Steven Gerrard had secured Liverpool's win with his ninth derby league goal.

Gerrard curled a free kick into the net in the 65th minute at Anfield, with goalkeeper Tim Howard getting a touch to the ball but unable to keep it out.

''It was three points we deserved,'' Gerrard said. ''Over the 90 minutes with the chances we created we are disappointed not to get three points.''

But it was at least a point for a Liverpool side that had lost its previous two league games. While Liverpool has won two of its opening six games, Everton has recorded just one victory in the league.

''We were clearly the dominant side in the game,'' Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said. ''Everton are very fortunate to come away from here with a point.''

The game started at a frenetic pace and referee Martin Atkinson might have given two penalties and a red card in the opening 10 minutes.

Everton appealed for a spot kick when Alberto Moreno appeared to bring down striker Romelu Lukaku but Atkinson waved it off, as he did four minutes later when Raheem Sterling's shot struck the arm of Everton midfielder Gareth Barry.

Liverpool was attacking with verve and lots of pace, keen to get on top of Everton's leaky defense early on.

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli drew Howard into a first save with a deflected free kick, and from the corner the U.S. goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to keep out Adam Lallana's header.

Lallana looked particularly bright, and the space down the flanks created by Everton's narrow midfield was giving full backs Moreno and Javier Manquillo plenty of space to attack into.

Applying the finishing touch was the problem, though, and Balotelli lacked the necessary conviction on a number of occasions as he sought his first Premier League goal for Liverpool.

Everton's attacks were ponderous in comparison, although Baines did get away down the left and rolled the ball across goal, where it was scrambled clear by Dejan Lovren.

The visitors were dealt a blow on the half-hour mark when Kevin Mirallas appeared to pull a hamstring in full flight and was carried off to be replaced by Aiden McGeady.

The good news for Everton was that its defense - the league's worst - was holding up well and, when Liverpool did get through, Howard was on form, keeping out shots from Jordan Henderson and Sterling as the half drew to a close.

Liverpool was straight on the attack after the break and James McCarthy did well to foil Lazar Markovic.

Markovic was taken off to be replaced by Philippe Coutinho, and five minutes later Liverpool finally made the breakthrough.

Baines was judged to have brought down Balotelli 22 yards (meters) out and Gerrard found the net from the dead-ball.

''It was nice to remind people that, although I am 34, I can still run and still play,'' Gerrard said.

It should have been two as Sterling got away down the left before crossing for Balotelli, who hit the top of the bar from six yards (meters).

Everton piled on the pressure without really looking like finding a leveler until Jagielka's dramatic intervention.

''The swinging worked,'' Jagielka said. ''A point is decent but we would have loved three. Going into the last few minutes 1-0 down to get a point is fantastic.''

Barry could even have won it with a late back-heel, but Everton remains without a win at Anfield in 15 years.