Barclays Premier League
Gareth Davis reports from Pride Park Stadium

Steven Gerrard scrambled home a last-minute winner to break Derby's hearts as they looked set to earn an excellent point at home to title-chasing Liverpool.

Fernando Torres had opened the scoring with an excellent solo goal - past debut-making keeper Lewis Price - 11 minutes in, but the Rams came out strongly after the break.

They eventually equalised with 25 minutes to go through an emphatic close-range finish from lifelong Evertonian Jay McEveley, his first goal for the club.

Price produced some fine saves to ensure parity and Barnes almost won it for the home side before Gerrard did do for the visitors.

Derby's plans were hit during the warm-up for the second game in succession as goalkeeper Stephen Bywater - originally down to start against Liverpool - pulled out with a shoulder injury.

He had been struggling since the draw at Newcastle two days ago and looked to have got over his knock but he felt it again while preparing to face the Reds, his place taken by Lewis Price.

An unexpected debut for Welsh international price meant a first call-up to the senior squad for 19-year-old Ben Hinchliffe, signed on a free transfer from Preston North End ahead of the start of the season.

Hinchliffe was among the substitutes, along with the experienced Michael Johnson - his first senior involvement of the season after returning from a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday.

Price's early touches showed plenty of confidence, a couple of solid kicks followed by an impressive claim from a through-ball with Fernando Torres looking set to pounce.

The first chance fell to Derby six minutes in. Gary Teale's teasing cross was almost reached by Giles Barnes, but the visitors failed to clear and Kenny Miller flashed a shot narrowly wide of the nar post from a tight angle.

But Price was beaten for the first time in a Derby shirt on 11 minutes as Torres netted his seventh goal in as many minutes with another trademark solo finish.

John Arne Riise helps Fernando Torres celebrate opening the scoring. Picture by EMPICS Sport

The Spaniard picked up the ball outside the Derby box and skipped past Darren Moore, who appeared to lose his footing at the vital moment, before turning inside Dean Leacock and finding the far corner.

Torres is certainly in fantastic form and - with his third goal of the season against the Rams, following two in the 6-0 Anfield encounter back in September - is showing why Liverpool were so willing to spend big to land him.

Ryan Babel eyed a second six minutes later as he dropped his shoulder and ran past Jay McEveley but could only screw his shot safely across goal.

Skipper Steven Gerrard was next to threaten with a swerving 25-yard shot that dipped dangerously close to Price's bar.

Liverpool were stepping up the pressure and a fine move sent Torrest clear, only for McEveley to get back with an excellent last-ditch challenge with the trigger about to be pulled from 12 yards.

Babel should have doubled the lead on 24, only to volley over John Arne Riise's cross from close-range, though there would have been controversy had the Dutchman scored.

Stephen Pearson was lying prone in midfield for the duration of the move, looking groggy after an accidental collision with Moore, but the game never looked likely to be stopped.

The Scotsman couldn't continue and was helped off the field with his right arm being supported, leading to a return to action for Johnson - and Leacock moving up into midfield.

News filtered through shortly afterwards that Pearson had dislocated his shoulder and would be taken to hospital for further examination.

Jamie Carragher - not normally a deadly finisher - blazed a Gerrard corner over the bar 11 minutes before the break with Liverpool enjoying far more of the ball.

Michael Johnson puts in a challenge on Steven Gerrard. Picture by EMPICS Sport

Referee Alan Wiley hit the deck in a midfield scrum, much to the merriment of both sets of fans, and there was another big cheer shortly before half-time when assistant referee Glenn Turner's flag had to be replaced after breaking while he signalled for offside.

Pepe Reina's first action came with stoppage-time approaching as he dived to save an Eddie Lewis effort but the American had already been called back for offside - and this time Turner's flag stayed intact.

Half-time soon arrived however and with just a solitary goal separating the two sides, you never do know what the next 45 minutes will bring.

Derby made their second change at the interval as Benny Feilhaber was introduced to replace Moore, which meant Leacock moved back in at centre-half again after a brief sojourn in midfield.

Leacock also took over the captain's armband for the first time in his Rams career.

Feilhaber immediately showed some neat touches in midfield and helped to spark off a 53rd-minute move that ultimately saw Miller just fail to gather Teale's right-wing cross.

Liverpool's first substitution followed as Yossi Benayoun took over from Sami Hyypia but moved to the right of midfield, Babel switched to the left, while Riise dropped in at centre-half.

And the Rams' final throw of the dice arrived ten minutes into the second period with Robert Earnshaw taking over from Teale as Paul Jewell's boys chased the equaliser.

Jay McEveley puts in a fine challenge on Fernando Torres. Picture by EMPICS Sport

Howard immediately created space for himself on the edge of the Liverpool box but skewed his shot well wide of the target - though the move helped to lift Pride Park's noise levels.

Earnshaw was then sniffing an opportunity from Gerrard's poor clearance, though the Welshman couldn't get his foot far enough around the ball from a narrow angle.

Price produced a fine save on 64 to deny Alonso, who aimed a placed effort towards the bottom-corner from the edge of the box after a move involving Gerrard, Andriy Voronin and Babel.

And the equaliser arrived seconds later - from an unlikely source.

Lewis's free-kick from deep wasn't cleared by the Liverpool defence, who had also left McEveley - a lifelong Evertonian - clear on the edge of the six-yard box for the relatively easy task of finishing past Reina.

Liverpool immediately piled the pressure straight back on and Price tipped a Torres shot around the post, with Benayoun heading wide from the resulting corner.

McEveley then became the first caution of the afternoon for a late challenge on Voronin, who went down as though he'd been shot but wasn't badly injured at all.

The Reds, sensing the need for victory to keep their title hopes alive, introduced Dirk Kuyt for Babel on 71 minutes.

And they came close to restoring their lead soon afterwards as Gerrard picked up on a half-clearance and shot just wide from the edge of the box.

The action continued as Steve Howard rocketed a long-range volley that almost caught the retreating Reina by surprise.

Price then flew to his right and got a touch on Fabio Aurelio's 78th-minute drive, though it looked as though Derby's task was going to become more difficult with Earnshaw struggling.

The Welshman had gone off for treatment a couple of minutes before Aurelio's effort and was still on the sidelines as the 80-minute mark was reached.

But he was able to return, the diagnosis a calf problem, though he didn't appear his usual spritely self.

Price showed his athleticism on 82 with a flying one-handed save to keep out a swerving Alonso 20-yarder.

Feilhaber and Miller both saw efforts deflected into the arms of Reina as time ticked ever more excitingly on.

Barnes had the chance to put Derby 2-1 up with five minutes remaining as he sprung through the Liverpool defence to meet Lewis's cross but couldn't keep his close-range header on target.

Price was beaten by Gerrard on 87 but the England man's shot bounced down off the underside of the bar and away, where Johnson got in to clear with Kuyt eyeing the rebound up.

And Derby hearts were broken with seconds of the 90 minutes remaining by a scrambled Gerrard effort.

Benayoun made ground down the left and pulled back a low cross for Torres, who looked set to win the game but was denied by a fine Price block on the line.

And as McEveley cleared, Liverpool's skipper stuck out a boot to deflect the ball into the corner and net all three points for his side.

Steven Gerrard celebrates his last-minute winner. Picture by EMPICS Sport

There was controversy in the build-up as Mears appeared to be fouled by Aurelio deep in the Liverpool half, but Wiley waved the appeals away and the Reds broke for their winner.

Boos rang around Pride Park for Wiley's decision, but they were interspersed with plenty of appreciation for another performance by the Rams that deserved far more than it got.

DERBY: Price, McEveley, Leacock, Howard, Miller, Lewis, Teale (Earnshaw 55), Moore (C) (Feilhaber HT), Mears, Pearson (Johnson 26), Barnes.

SUBSTITUTES: Hinchliffe (GK), Fagan.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia (Benayoun 53), Riise, Gerrard (C), Torres, Voronin, Aurelio, Alonso, Babel (Kuyt 71), Carragher.

SUBSTITUTES: Itandje (GK), Mascherano, Lucas.

ATTENDANCE: 33,029 (3,039 visiting fans).