Agony over Anfield derby draw

The sight of David Weir and Alan Stubbs marshalling a resolute Everton rearguard to restrict Liverpool to just a handful of chances reinforced the feeling that the championship could yet be lost at Anfield, rather than won.

According to Thompson, though, all Liverpool lack at their once-impregnable headquarters is good fortune. 'It is just a shame that once again our football did not get its just rewards,' he said.

'We dominated from start to finish and deserved to win. But that has so often been the story of our home games.

'As soon as we drop a couple of points, people go on about width, but we had plenty of that from Danny Murphy and John Arne Riise. Teams get more bodies behind the ball when they come here, and our finishing perhaps has not been as clinical as in away games.

'We are not turning our superiority into goals at home, but all we need is a change of luck.'

Credit where it is due. Liverpool's response to the trauma of Gerard Houllier's illness speaks volumes for Thompson as much as the team as a whole.

But there is no escaping their costly lack of creativity at home, and it was under discussion again as Stubbs presented the Everton version of a typical derby tussle.

'The only time they opened us up was when they scored their equaliser,' he said. 'Other-wise, it was just a case of a couple of half-chances, and while we came under a lot of pressure towards the end, we battled against the tide and held out without too many worries.'

Everton manager Walter Smith has had his critics but almost won the game with a half-time reshuffle, sending on Tomasz Radzinski and seeing the fit-again striker fire his side in front within six minutes.

Liverpool belatedly discovered a cutting edge in th 71st minute as Owen, Emile Heskey and Danny Murphy combined for a chance Anelka tucked away with relish.

It could not alter the impression, however, that while a three-hour-plus flight to Istanbul may not be everyone's idea of an ideal Sunday afternoon pursuit, Liverpool's players may have been quietly relieved that their Champions League prospects are coming under scrutiny on foreign soil as they headed for tomorrow night's showdown with Galatasaray.

Paul Gascoigne was left out of the Everton squad on Saturday and may be on his way out of the club.

The 34-year-old former England midfielder is considering a host of offers from abroad, including one to play in Dubai.