Chelsea Draws with Everton

Chelsea missed a chance to take top spot in English soccer’s Premier League after being held to a 0-0 draw by Everton today.

Chelsea played for 55 minutes with 10 men at Goodison Park after captain John Terry was shown a red card by referee Phil Dowd for a tackle on Leon Osman. The draw ended Chelsea’s record run of 12 straight away wins in the league.

“They were in a positive mood, the crowd was right behind them and it’s a tough place to come when you play with 11 men,” Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech told Setanta Sports. “We can be satisfied with the point.”

Chelsea, on 38 points, trails first-place Liverpool by one point. Aston Villa has 34, Manchester United, which has played two fewer matches, is on 32 points with Arsenal one point back. Everton, on 26 points, remains in seventh.

Terry’s 35th-minute lunge at Osman swung the momentum Everton’s way as Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari adjusted his lineup, moving John Mikel Obi from center midfield to the middle of defense.

At the beginning of the second half he brought on striker Didier Drogba for Nicolas Anelka and Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic for Joe Cole. That allowed Mikel Obi to rejoin a four- man midfield in the England winger’s position and Deco to switch to the left side of the field outside Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack.

Fernando Torres Scored Twice to Give Liverpool 2-0 Victory over Everton

Everton 0-2 Liverpool

Fernando Torres scored twice to give Liverpool a deserved victory over Everton in the 208th Merseyside derby.

The first half had been a stalemate with few chances, but Torres struck twice in three minutes during the second period to maintain Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season.

Everton lost Tim Cahill late on when the Australian received a straight red card for a late tackle on Xabi Alonso.

Everton should have been ahead after 14 minutes when Tim Cahill failed to make decent contact with an Arteta corner from just six yards.

Joseph Yobo blocked a shot on the turn by Torres and Cahill saw a glancing header go wide at the other end.

Everton were content to commit just Ayegbeni Yakubu up front, with Mikel Arteta and Cahill attacking from deep. It meant that Liverpool had the majority of possession as Everton sat back and tried to hit them on the break.

After 26 minutes Joleon Lescott's cross was dropped by Jose Reina under minimal pressure from Fellaini, who spun to strike a fierce shot that Jamie Carragher somehow blocked on the line.

But referee Riley had spotted some sort of infringement, unseen by Everton eyes, and awarded a free-kick. The tempo had now risen a few notches, with Everton at last fired up.