Sport 30-10-2000 Barmby Scores Opener In Merseyside Derby who: Liverpool what: Beat Everton 3-1 in Merseyside derby where: Anfield, LIVERPOOL when: Yesterday snippet: "Liverpool swept to a pulsating victory over Everton in Merseyside`s 163rd League derby yesterday," reports Phil Shaw in The Independent, "and regained third place in the Premiership in the process." Liverpool quickly took the lead at Anfield yesterday thanks to a goal by ex-Everton Nick Barmby and although Kevin Campbell fired back with a swift equaliser, on-form Emile Heskey made it 2-1 shortly after half-time and it ended 3-1 with a penalty struck by Patrik Berger. Most of the column inches in today`s postmortem focus on Nick Barmby, who was the subject of "frightful, spiteful abuse" in a stadium "which was so enveloped by emotion that, at times, it seemed fit to burst," says The Guardian`s Ian Ross. "He was, however, to have if not the day`s final word then a major say in the outcome." After the match, Barmby was "given a six-car police escort to the M62 and opted to spend the night with family in Humberside rather than return to Merseyside," according to The Mirror. "It wasn`t easy for him," says Houllier. "I just asked the boy to be focused, not to be worried about the rest of the things going on. His game was good enough to do that. People asked me if I would play him. Of course I would. You put your best team on the park. I thought he was very professional." [... more]

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