Everton 3 - Liverpool 0

Andrew Johnson struck twice to send Liverpool crashing to their first defeat of the season as Everton claimed an emphatic 3-0 victory against their bitter rivals at Goodison Park.

Liverpool, tipped by many to emerge as Chelsea's strongest rivals for the Premiership title this season, produced one of their worst performances under manager Rafa Benitez as they were outfought by David Moyes' team.

Australian Tim Cahill's first-half opener, followed by Johnson's double, sealed a thoroughly deserved victory for the home side to leave their fans chanting 'easy, easy' at the final whistle.

Everton manager Moyes had urged his players to keep their cool and take the emotion out of the game in the build-up to the clash, but within seconds of the kick-off it was clear that his plea had gone unheard.

Benitez's team did send a couple of sighters on Tim Howard's goal in the early stages, but not enough to worry the American and when Cahill opened the scoring on 24 minutes, it was the least Everton deserved.

Four Everton players were involved in the move before Cahill stroked the ball past Jose Reina from 12 yards, but the crucial intervention came from Leon Osman, who held off the challenge of Steve Finnan inside the penalty area to tee up the Socceroos midfielder.

Liverpool players complained to Graham Poll about the challenge, but the referee ignored their appeals and rightly awarded the goal.

Luis Garcia came close to equalising seven minutes later when his left-footed curler from 20 yards was brilliantly saved by Howard, but Everton remained in control and they doubled their lead on 35 minutes when Johnson capitalised on slack defending.

Lee Carsley's pass picked out Johnson on the right flank and he brushed past the tame challenge of Sami Hyypia to break into the penalty area. Jamie Carragher had the chance to clear, but his mis-kick gifted Johnson a free strike on goal and the 8.6million pounds England forward slotted past Reina at the near post.

Liverpool had no answer to Everton's hunger and desire, but Benitez attempted to shake things up by throwing Dirk Kuyt, John-Arne Riise and Jermaine Pennant into the action in the second-half.

And the visitors upped their game as they went in search of a lifeline, but the home side stood firm and rode their luck, especially when Steven Gerrard rattled the post and referee Poll missed a clear handball in the penalty area by Everton full-back Tony Hibbert.

Riise then compounded Liverpool's misery when a late challenge on Mikel Arteta resulted in the Norwegian being stretchered off with a suspected ankle injury. To make matters worse, he was also booked for the foul.

Worse was to come for Liverpool, though, when Reina's failure to deal with an injury-time shot allowed Johnson to head home from close range to seal a 3-0 win.