PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS: Relief for Benitez as Liverpool beat Everton

 JAVIER Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt eased the pressure on under-fire manager Rafa Benitez as Liverpool edged past local rivals Everton 2-0 at Goodison Park.

RELIEF: Javier Mascherano celebrates after scoring Liverpool's first half opener at Goodison Park (Getty Images)

However, this victory - their first since beating Manchester United over a month ago - was far from comprehensive.

But it moves Liverpool above Aston Villa to fifth in the Premier League, while Everton have won just once in 11 matches, leaving them just four points above the bottom three.

Benitez hasn't had much luck this season but there was certainly an element of fortune about Mascherano's 12th minute opener.

The early exchanges had been predictably frenetic with challenges flying in and neither goal threatened.

Mascherano unleashed a speculative shot from 30 yards, which left Everton keeper Tim Howard flat-footed after taking a deflection of Joseph Yobo's outstretched leg. The Argentine international will claim it but the defender’s contribution was vital.

Within seconds Everton spurned a chance to equalise as the atmosphere cranked up, an unmarked Diniyar Bilyaletdinov dragging a shot wide of the target with the goal at his mercy.

Liverpool's Pepe Reina was the busier of the keepers in the first half as Everton dominated both possession and territory.

He denied both Jo and Stephen Pienaar but he could do nothing to stop Jo netting in 36th minute, although his effort was disallowed for offside.

Everton continued to dominate after the break, Reina stopping another fizzing Pienaar effort before making a telling double save.

First he sprawled to his left to deny Tim Cahill before then beating away Marouane Fellaini's fiercely struck follow-up.

In contrast Liverpool looked nervous and lacklustre, with Stephen Gerrard enduring an uncharacteristically quiet Merseyside derby.

However, he played his part in Liverpool's decisive second ten minutes from time.

Yobo completed a miserable afternoon by shanking a defensive clearance and Gerrard pounced on the loose ball to set up substitute Alberto Riera.

His powerful and angled shot was pushed clear by Howard but Dirk Kuyt was on hand to tuck away the rebound for his fifth of the season.

"I think we shaded it but it wasn't a great game.  There were not many chances," said Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.

"It was a typical derby game with lots of long balls, plenty of fight and not a lot of quality but we are just relieved to have won it.

"The results went for us yesterday so this was an important game to move up the table.

"We haven't performed as we would have liked this season and there has been a lot of criticism flying about, but we are the only ones that can change that and a couple of wins will make things look different."

Chelsea increased their Premier League lead at the expense of London title rivals Arsenal at The Emirates.

Didier Drogba put the Blues ahead when he diverted an Ashely Cole cross into the top corner while Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen netted an own goal after another incisive Cole delivery caused confusion.

Drogba sealed the win with his second, a powerful free-kick, giving Chelsea a healthy 11-point cushion over Arsene Wenger's Gunners.

Lee Bowyer's third minute strike secured Birmingham City a close-fought 1-0 win over Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Bowyer fired home from 20 yards while Cameron Jerome and Sebastian Larsson had gilt-edged chances to increase the lead.