Carragher wanted clean sheet

Jamie Carragher admitted the failure to keep a ninth successive league clean sheet took the shine off Liverpool's derby success at Everton.

Peter Crouch, Steven Gerrard and Djibril Cisse got the goals which gave Rafael Benitez's men victory in the 202nd Merseyside derby.

But James Beattie netted for Everton just before half-time in a 3-1 win for the Reds - the first goal they have conceded in nine Barclays Premiership matches.

And Carragher told Sky Sports afterwards: "It's disappointing to concede just before half-time - we were expecting a battle in the second half but the third goal (by Cisse) killed the game.

"We are disappointed to concede because the aim before the game was to keep a clean sheet and we haven't done it."

The defender continued: "I know how much this game means - people talk about the Manchester United games but I think for me and Steven it's the biggest game of the season."

Liverpool are currently third, four points behind second-placed ManScum with two games in hand and 15 adrift of champions Chelsea. They can cut that lead to nine and overtake ManScum in the process if they win those two games.