Rafa Benitez is convinced Liverpool will have learnt the lessons from last night's derby draw before Chelsea's visit to Anfield in 12 days time.

A 25-yard strike from Steven Gerrard on 68 minutes looked to be enough to power Liverpool back to the Premier League summit but Everton's Tim Cahill nodded home a late Mikel Arteta free-kick to ensure a share of the spoils and allow Manchester United to remain at the top of the League on goal difference, and with a game in hand.

Cahill's timely intervention means Liverpool have drawn five home games this term and with Chelsea now just two points behind and the next League visitors to Anfield on 1 February, a match that could define both teams' seasons is on the cards.

The Blues' supporters may have seen Frank Lampard give their team's title push the kiss-of-life with his late Stoke strike on Saturday but it was Cahill's goal that dragged that Luiz Felipe Scolari's Premier League ambitions out of the intensive care unit altogether.

Yet Benitez was in no mood afterwards to admit to such a thing and warned Liverpool will bounce back. He said: "I think we will be better, we can play better. Some players are coming back from injury so we will improve.

"We are on level points with United at the top of the table so we have to stay positive. We are losing some points we could have won but the bottle is still half-full.

"We have Wigan away and then Chelsea here and they are important games.

"Every game is difficult but the positive thing is we have Skrtel, Torres and Arbeloa ready so we can be positive for them."

Liverpool may have recently been the Capital of Culture but there was precious little on show in the 209th clash between these great rivals.

For most parts, the match was a studs up free-for-all which got the old stadium roaring in approval and those who believe foreign players do not understand the rituals of the English game would have had their theories tested if they witnessed this encounter.

Local lads Jamie Carragher, Gerrard and Leon Osman were always going to be ultra committed but every player on display knew exactly what this one meant, a point outlined Cahill.

He said: "We have worked so hard for this and it is a good effort and this means everything.

"To play for a football club like this, we go out and I know the fans get the hard end of the stick with Liverpool doing so well at the top of the League and the Champions League, so we have to make the most of this."

David Moyes was also full of praise for the effort that his players put in, saying: "We played really well. We had to defend, as you'd expect against a team top of the League, but the players deserve a lot of credit.

"They work hard for each other, they're honest and are improving no end. We're top of the league as far as spirit goes!"

Fernando Torres made his first Liverpool start since November and shaved the outside of Tim Howard's goalpost during the first half but was otherwise kept quiet by a superb defensive display from Phil Jagielka.

An equally cagey second half swung in Liverpool's favour after Gerrard's beautifully hit strike and bragging rights were the colour red until Cahill gleefully appeared from nowhere to head home from point-blank range and spoil the home team's party.