Toffees boss David Moyes brought Tony Hibbert, Tim Cahill and Yakubu back into his starting line-up, while Mikel Arteta was fit to take his place in midfield.
Reds manager Rafa Benitez opted to keep faith with the strike partnership of Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane, despite them having scored just once between them this season.
The opening minutes were typically hectic, with both sides desperate to try and stamp their authority on the game, with Torres looking sharp up front for the visitors.
Eighteen minutes in, Albert Riera found Torres in the area with a ball in from the left, but Phil Jagielka made a superb block to deny the Spain ace from eight yards out.
After that chance the Blues began to dictate play and just before the half-hour mark Marouane Fellaini had a chance in the area, only to be penalised for a foul on keeper Jose Reina.
Shortly before half-time, Yakubu dragged a shot well wide from 25 yards as a disappointing first 45 minutes drew to a close.
Three minutes into the second half, Yakubu went into the book for a dive in the area, with referee Mike Riley spotting that Martin Skrtel had made no contact with the Toffees frontman.
A couple of minutes later, Torres got a shot on target from 25 yards, but it was too weak to cause Tim Howard any trouble.
Steven Gerrard then drove a 40-yard effort narrowly past the post with Howard slow to get down, before the Reds hit the front shortly before the hour mark.
Keane got to the byline on the left and his cross into the middle of the area found an unmarked Torres, who side-footed home from six yards out with little or no fuss after Joleon Lescott had been drawn out of position by Dirk Kuyt.
Torres made it 2-0 within a couple of minutes, lashing the ball home right-footed from 12 yards out after Jagielka's challenge on Kuyt had presented the ball to the Spaniard inside the area.
Everton's misery heightened ten minutes from time as Cahill was shown a straight red card by referee Mike Riley for a late challenge on Xabi Alonso, although the decision seemed harsh on the Australian midfielder.