Carsley scored from 20 yards past a motionless
Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland after he was set up by the impressive
Leon Osman after 68 minutes.
In a tense encounter, both sides had glorious
opportunities before Carsley struck to move Everton up to second place in
the Premiership.
Tim Cahill missed a headed chance, while
Everton's Nigel Martyn saved well from Neil Mellor and Steven Gerrard.
It was Everton's first win over Liverpool for
five years and put them 12 points clear of their arch-rivals.
Liverpool dropped Steve Finnan and Xabi Alonso
to the bench, bringing in Josemi and Dietmar Hamann.
The opening exchanges were predictably fierce,
but Everton created and wasted the first clear opportunity after 21 minutes.
Thomas Gravesen released Bent, and his perfect
cross was met by Cahill, who somehow headed wide from only six yards.
Salif Diao was acting as Liverpool's midfield
enforcer, and it was no surprise when he was booked for the latest in a
succession of fouls, this time on Cahill.
Liverpool had an opportunity that was just as
inviting as Cahill's after 32 minutes, but they also wasted the chance.
Gerrard's free-kick found Mellor inside the
six-yard box, but his point-blank header was brilliantly blocked by Martyn
and Alan Stubbs scrambled clear.
Osman was dangerous on Everton's right-flank,
and it took a desperate interception from John Arne Riise to stop him
forcing an opening for Bent as the interval approached.
Diao had an early opportunity after the break,
half-volleying narrowly over after Everton failed to clear another Gerrard
free-kick.
Liverpool started the second-half in control,
but Riise was booked by referee Steve Bennett for a foul on the busy Cahill.
Josemi had suffered an uncomfortable afternoon,
and he picked up an inevitable caution for a foul on Kevin Kilbane.
Everton broke the deadlock after 68 minutes
through Carsley.
Osman set up the Republic of Ireland midfield
man, and his shot from 20 yards beat Kirkland, with questions sure to be
asked about the goalkeeper's positioning.
And seconds later Riise had to kick off the
line from Cahill as Everton went for the kill.
Gerrard, who scored the wonder goal that beat
Olympiakos in the Champions League, missed a glorious chance to put
Liverpool level with 15 minutes left.
The ball fell perfectly for the Liverpool
captain on the edge of the area, and he fired inches wide with Martyn well
beaten.
Both sides made substitutions immediately, with
Duncan Ferguson replacing the tireless Bent and Djimi Traore coming on for
Florent Sinama Pongolle.
Gerrard was driving Liverpool forward, and it
needed a fine save from Martyn to deny him again after 78 minutes.
Liverpool mounted a belated rally, and Cahill needed to
scramble off the line in the dying seconds as Traore pressurised Martyn.
