Everton have not won at Liverpool since 1999 and the 222nd meeting between the two sides -- both previously unbeaten in the league in 2014 -- was effectively over by half-time, with Liverpool three goals up.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said in his programme notes that this derby had “double significance”, with vital points in the race to qualify for the Champions League at stake in addition to local pride.
But the Northern Irishman could probably not have envisaged the clinical manner in which his team would blow Roberto Martinez’s men away, with a double from Sturridge and one each for captain Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.
England striker Sturridge could even afford to miss a penalty as fourth-place Liverpool put four points between themselves and Everton in the Premier League table.
The hosts’ spell of pressure earned them a goal three minutes later when Suarez’s corner picked out Gerrard, who escaped his marker at the near post and headed home his eighth goal in Merseyside derbies.
Everton were subsequently forced to withdraw Romelu Lukaku due to injury, although without the Belgium international they still pressed for an equaliser, as Jagielka brought a save out of Mignolet.
However, Liverpool effectively made the result certain 10 minutes before half-time as Sturridge scored twice in the space of two minutes.
Moments later the hosts added a third when Kolo Toure’s long ball found Sturridge and with Howard off his line, the England man cleverly lobbed the ball over the American international and into the unguarded net.
Everton initially responded positively after half-time, with Mignolet forced to palm away a Leon Osman shot, but Liverpool remained hungry for goals and added a fourth five minutes into the second half.
Suarez dispossessed Jagielka just inside the Everton half and powered towards goal before coolly slotting past the exposed Howard.
Howard’s misery continued when a penalty was given against him by referee Martin Atkinson for a foul on Sterling, but Sturridge, on a hat-trick, struck the spot-kick over the bar and into the Kop.
Suarez was angry with Sturridge just after the hour-mark when his strike partner selfishly went for goal from a difficult angle rather than square the ball across goal.
SOUTHAMPTON HOLD ARSENAL 2-2, MAN UTD BEAT CARDIFF 2-0
LIVERPOOL: Arsenal missed a chance to move four points clear at the top of the Premier League table following a 2-2 draw at Southampton on Tuesday. Arsene Wenger’s side were on course to cement first place in the English top-flight after recovering from the shock of conceding Jose Fonte’s first half goal.
Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla had put Arsenal 2-1 ahead at St Mary’s, only for Adam Lallana to equalise after the break and deny Arsenal a vital three points.
Robin van Persie and Ashley Young scored as Manchester United recorded only their second Premier League victory of 2014 by beating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Cardiff City 2-0 on Tuesday.
Juan Mata made his debut after a £37.1 million move from Chelsea and he had a hand in both goals as David Moyes’s side breathed life into their hopes for CL.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said in his programme notes that this derby had “double significance”, with vital points in the race to qualify for the Champions League at stake in addition to local pride.
But the Northern Irishman could probably not have envisaged the clinical manner in which his team would blow Roberto Martinez’s men away, with a double from Sturridge and one each for captain Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.
England striker Sturridge could even afford to miss a penalty as fourth-place Liverpool put four points between themselves and Everton in the Premier League table.
The hosts’ spell of pressure earned them a goal three minutes later when Suarez’s corner picked out Gerrard, who escaped his marker at the near post and headed home his eighth goal in Merseyside derbies.
Everton were subsequently forced to withdraw Romelu Lukaku due to injury, although without the Belgium international they still pressed for an equaliser, as Jagielka brought a save out of Mignolet.
However, Liverpool effectively made the result certain 10 minutes before half-time as Sturridge scored twice in the space of two minutes.
Moments later the hosts added a third when Kolo Toure’s long ball found Sturridge and with Howard off his line, the England man cleverly lobbed the ball over the American international and into the unguarded net.
Everton initially responded positively after half-time, with Mignolet forced to palm away a Leon Osman shot, but Liverpool remained hungry for goals and added a fourth five minutes into the second half.
Suarez dispossessed Jagielka just inside the Everton half and powered towards goal before coolly slotting past the exposed Howard.
Howard’s misery continued when a penalty was given against him by referee Martin Atkinson for a foul on Sterling, but Sturridge, on a hat-trick, struck the spot-kick over the bar and into the Kop.
Suarez was angry with Sturridge just after the hour-mark when his strike partner selfishly went for goal from a difficult angle rather than square the ball across goal.
SOUTHAMPTON HOLD ARSENAL 2-2, MAN UTD BEAT CARDIFF 2-0
LIVERPOOL: Arsenal missed a chance to move four points clear at the top of the Premier League table following a 2-2 draw at Southampton on Tuesday. Arsene Wenger’s side were on course to cement first place in the English top-flight after recovering from the shock of conceding Jose Fonte’s first half goal.
Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla had put Arsenal 2-1 ahead at St Mary’s, only for Adam Lallana to equalise after the break and deny Arsenal a vital three points.
Robin van Persie and Ashley Young scored as Manchester United recorded only their second Premier League victory of 2014 by beating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Cardiff City 2-0 on Tuesday.
Juan Mata made his debut after a £37.1 million move from Chelsea and he had a hand in both goals as David Moyes’s side breathed life into their hopes for CL.