Everton vs. Liverpool: 5 Things We Learned from Merseyside Derby

A typically frantic and incident-packed Merseyside derby was fought out between Everton and Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, with the Red half of the city coming out on top with a two-goal victory.

Jack Rodwell got a straight red card in the first half, Dirk Kuyt had a penalty saved by Tim Howard, Charlie Adam hit the crossbar and Louis Saha flashed an effort or two wide of the post, before first Andy Carroll and then Luis Suarez breached the Blues' back-line to give the three points to the away side.

Here are five things the latest Merseyside match-up taught us.

Incorrect Refereeing Decisions Continue to Affect Premier League Games

Red or Blue, there's no denying that Jack Rodwell should not have been sent off for his challenge on Luis Suarez today.

Yes, his studs were showing and he went into the tackle a little wildly—enough to signal the foul and even a yellow card, despite the fact he won the ball.

But a red? No chance.

The game swung in Liverpool's favour after the decision, and as an attacking force Everton were non-existent for most of the remaining hour or so.

Andy Carroll Might Just Be Finding His Goalscoring Form for Liverpool

He didn't have his most all-round impressive game in a Reds shirt, and before the goal he offered precious little telling involvement in the final third, but Andy Carroll has shown in the last two games that give him a chance on goal and he can put it away.

His header against Wolves only hit the post, but today's volley against Everton ended up giving Liverpool all three points, and if he can build on this with another goal or two in the coming games, Carroll might just go on and show the goalscoring form which saw Liverpool pay so much to take him from Newcastle—and those goals will benefit Liverpool an awful lot.

Liverpool's Attacking Diversity and Depth Will Win Them Games and Points

In addition to starting Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll up front, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish gave a starting berth on the right side to Dirk Kuyt.

Halfway through the second half, Craig Bellamy also came on, playing from the left—Liverpool had all four forwards on the pitch at the same time as they searched for an opening goal, as well as Steven Gerrard in midfield.

Throwing more attackers on won't always work, but Liverpool now have the depth and quality up front to change things around when needed and add more pressure on opposition defence.

It's not perfect, but it's a long way further along the road than having just Fernando Torres or David Ngog to choose from.

Everton Continue Goal Struggle, Denis Stracqualursi a Really Inspired Signing

Everton's top scorer this season is a player who doesn't even play for them any more.

That Mikel Arteta, with two goals, has yet to be overtaken over a month after leaving the club speaks volumes for where Everton's problems lie.

What is David Moyes' strategy when going a goal down? Throw on Apostolos Vellios and hope he scores from nothing? Denis Stracqualursi remained an unused substitute, again, and is yet to have any kind of meaningful impact on the Premier League.

Indeed, so reluctant is Moyes to use his Argentinian signing that he must not rate him to such an extent as you wonder why he bothered taking him on loan at all.

Saha showed flashes of danger with a few long range efforts, but even he is not usually picked, with Moyes opting for a front line of, erm, nobody on more than one occasion this season.

Charlie Adam Could Be the Man to Suffer After Steven Gerrard Returns

A largely ineffective display from Charlie Adam against Everton saw him replaced after the hour mark by returning skipper Steven Gerrard.

After several similarly low-key performances recently, he must surely be one of the candidates to be replaced in the starting line up when Gerrard is ready to move from the bench to the pitch at the start of matches.

Whether Gerrard is going to play central midfield all season remains to be seen—but Adam needs to improve if he is to remain in Liverpool's first team.