Wayne Rooney came within inches of snatching victory for Everton as the 167th Merseyside derby against Liverpool ended in a goalless Premier League tie on Sunday.
The result left Everton fourth in the premier league table, one place and one point above their neighbors.
If the hype is to be believed, the future of English football rests squarely on the broad shoulders of Rooney, the stocky 17-year-old striker.
On his derby debut, the Blues' second-half substitute came closest to extending Liverpool's recent slump with a stunning 73rd minute effort at Anfield.
Rooney latched on to Alessandro Pistone's throw and spun before unleashing a blistering drive from the edge of the area that cannoned off the bar via defender Stephane Henchoz's flailing boot.
Liverpool were again disappointing as the club's worst league run in 19 years continued -- Gerard Houllier's men now having picked up just two points from a possible 21.
But the more telling statistic was that seven players received yellow cards as the two city rivals cancelled each other out.
After a scrappy opening, John Arne Riise came close to giving Houllier's men the perfect pick-me-up in the seventh minute. Riise, standing unmarked fully 30m out, connected superbly with Danny Murphy's pinpoint corner and drilled a vicious volley into the midriff of Everton keeper Richard Wright.
Merseyside derby games are almost always intense, frenetic affairs, and this one followed that pattern to the letter.
However, it is clear that Houllier's men are lacking a vital spark as a result of their recent slump in form.
They continued to struggle against a superbly organized Everton side now under the tutelage of David Moyes, managing in his first derby game since arriving at Goodison Park last season.
Liverpool even enjoyed a huge slice of luck when Poll ignored Everton's strong appeals for a penalty after a bouncing ball clearly struck Stephane Henchoz on the arm.
Riise almost broke down the visitors' defensive barrier with a twisting run and drive on the half hour that cannoned off Alan Stubbs for a corner.
But it was Everton who should have broken the deadlock on 36 minutes as the defensive frailties that have haunted Liverpool in recent weeks showed signs of resurfacing.
Thomas Gravesen's long throw was headed on by David Weir and Canadian international forward Tomasz Radzinski -- totally alone 12 yards out, pulled his shot woefully wide.
Radzinski soon atoned for his error with a delightful crossfield ball to Lee Carsley, whose fierce, angled drive finger-tipped over by Reds' keeper Chris Kirkland.
Yet Everton keeper Wright kept the scores level in first half stoppage time with a full-length save from Riise.
Houllier replaced Salif Diao and Djimi Traore with Vladimir Smicer and Emile Heskey just seven minutes after the restart.
Heskey's first contribution nearly brought the house down as he headed Gerrard's hanging free kick just wide.
Moyes's instant response was to throw on Rooney, and as the game petered out, it was his first meaningful contribution that came closest to illuminating a fiery, but uninspiring shut-out.
Steven Gerrard was lucky to escape punishment in the dying minutes when he appeared to lunge two-footed at prone Everton defender Gary Naysmith, the England international's frustration apparently boiling over as his side's poor run continued.
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