Liverpool's 'work in progress' must translate into Premier League success, starting at Anfield Craig Bellamy, knees permitting, is still a force. Suárez, Liverpool's best player, and Andy Carroll, if he continues to concentrate on his craft, could provide the requisite cutting edge. Yet such is the anticipated transfer activity elsewhere in terms of quality and quantity, Liverpool's prospects of securing Champions League football will fade even further away unless they invest in a centre-half, a quick, creative midfielder (Jordan Henderson seems inhibited in Gerrard's shadow) and a pacy winger (as Dirk Kuyt and surprisingly Maxi do not seem in Kenny Dalglish's plans while Stewart Downing has yet to convince). Minimum three players. Minimum £40 million. As Liverpool reach for the stars, probably B-list ones in the absence of Champions League football, Everton will carry on being Everton, collectively greater than the sum of their individual parts, members of the mid-table class with occasional warming jaunts in the cup. Everton will remain reliant on David Moyes" skill in the transfer market, a strong team spirit and a club philosophy encapsulated in one Wembley banner declaring: "Our purse may be empty but our hearts are full." The fear that should stalk every Evertonian's sleep is the thought of Moyes moving on to more verdant pastures. If Harry Redknapp leaves Spurs for England, Moyes will be high on the list of successors. The question will immediately ensue over whether Moyes can deal with dressing-rooms containing stronger egos. Answer: he's tough enough. Another question will be the perceived quality of football. Moyes" Everton, especially with the arrival of Darron Gibson and Nikica Jelavic, are hardly the Dogs of War 2. They need a few more show-stoppers and scene-stealers like two of their watching fans, Dame Judy Dench and Amanda Holden, but the team is the star partly for financial reasons. What Everton need to acquire is a belief that they can live for 90 minutes with Liverpool, not just 45. Everton were largely in charge for the first half, barring a nervy opening when Jay Spearing shot over. Suárez and Carroll were struggling to elude Sylvain Distain and John Heitinga. Suárez even ended the half rugby-tackling Heitinga such was his frustration. Everton's full-backs, Phil Neville and Leighton Baines, impressed in snuffing out Dalglish's wide players, Henderson and Downing. Neville kept reading Liverpool moves well, including intercepting a Suárez cross for Gerrard. Marouane Fellaini and Gibson sat in the middle, picking off passes and picking out team-mates. In attack Tim Cahill, slightly disappointing, sought to support the excellent Jelavic. The Croatian pounced after 24 minutes when Jamie Carragher and Agger resembled lax doormen. Suddenly, the pre-match questions returned of why Carragher was starting, why Skrtel and Agger were not reforming their old central union and why Enriqué was not at left-back. Chastened, Liverpool emerged the hungrier after the break. Everton's hitherto terrific full-backs were caught out two minutes into the second half. Downing beat Baines and crossed to Carroll, who eluded Neville at the far-post but headed badly wide. It took a mistake to allow Liverpool back in. Distin, clearing up out wide, played the ball back to Tim Howard with his weaker right foot, underhitting it and suddenly Suárez scented blood. The Uruguayan's left foot guided the ball into the area and his right did the rest, the ball bent with the outside of the boot low past Howard. Out on the touchline, Distin held his head in his hands and then looked to the heavens, searching for salvation, even an explanation for a moment of madness. The grass was slightly long, giving protection for two games in 30 hours, but the error remained Distin's. One mistake by Distin, two touches from Suárez and this semi was turned on its head. Moyes made a move, replacing Magaye Gueye with Seamus Coleman. The Republic of Ireland international did not settle, got booked and then, the clock showing 87 minutes, needlessly fouled Gerrard when the Liverpool captain was heading to the corner-flag. Bellamy, who had replaced Downing three minutes earlier, clipped the ball in and Carroll, escaping the slow-reacting Fellaini, headed Liverpool into the final and Shangri-La. As Dalglish hugged all his players, Moyes consoled the vanquished, eventually being the last of the Everton staff off the pitch. Moyes" time will come, either at Everton or elsewhere. He's too good a manager not to experience silverware one day. Dalglish must know that the next few months defines his future, beginning with recruiting more shrewdly this summer.