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Merseyside derby
Merseyside derby
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Merseyside derby
The derby at Anfield on 10 December 2017
Other namesThe friendly derby
LocationLiverpool
TeamsEverton
Liverpool
First meeting13 October 1894
First Division
Everton 3–0 Liverpool[1]
Latest meeting20 September 2025
Premier League
Liverpool 2–1 Everton
Next meeting18 April 2026
Premier League
Everton v Liverpool
StadiumsAnfield (Liverpool)
Hill Dickinson Stadium, Goodison Park (Everton)
Statistics
Meetings total247
Most winsLiverpool (101)
Most player appearancesNeville Southall (41)
Top scorerIan Rush (25)
All-time seriesLiverpool: 101
Drawn: 78
Everton: 68
Largest victoryLiverpool 6–0 Everton (1935)
Merseyside derby is located in Merseyside
Everton (Goodison Park)
Everton
(Goodison Park)
Liverpool
Liverpool
Everton (Hill Dickinson Stadium)
Everton
(Hill Dickinson Stadium)

The Merseyside derby is an association football match between Everton and Liverpool, two clubs based in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is the longest running top-flight derby in England, with its first official match being played on 13 October 1894. The derby has been played continuously since the 1962–63 season. Part of the rivalry is due to the close proximity of the two clubs' home grounds, being less than a mile apart and within sight of each other across Stanley Park, when Everton played at Goodison Park; they now play their home matches at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Vauxhall, while Liverpool still play theirs at Anfield.[2][3]

The Merseyside derby was traditionally referred to as the "friendly derby" because of the large number of families in the city with both Everton and Liverpool supporters,[4] and it was one of the few that did not enforce total fan segregation.[5] The 1984 Football League Cup final at Wembley was nicknamed the "friendly final" due to almost all sections of the ground being mixed and supporters of both teams banding together to chant "Merseyside". The 1986 FA Cup final witnessed similar scenes of solidarity.[6] Since the mid-1980s, the rivalry has intensified on and off the field, and has seen more red cards given than any other game since the creation of the Premier League.[7] In the 2010s, the derby was dominated by Liverpool, arguably becoming the most one-sided in the English top-flight. Despite this, it has become more competitive in recent years.

History

[edit]

Early history

[edit]

Everton Football Club were founded in 1878[8] and from 1884 played their home matches at Anfield, which was owned by club chairman John Houlding. Several board members of Everton were members of the Liberal Party,[9] who were associated with the National Temperance Federation, whilst Houlding was a Conservative Party member and a brewer whose business interests were diametrically opposed to the temperance movement. Politics and disputes over money meant that Houlding was increasingly at odds with other members of the Everton board. Friction arose between the retention of an autocratic ownership structure versus the creation of a more democratic one which closely mapped the sociopolitical divide. The result was that the Everton directors vacated Anfield in 1892 and purchased a new ground at Goodison Park on the other side of Stanley Park. Houlding responded by creating a new club, Liverpool Football Club, to use Anfield.[10][11]

The professional football clubs of the 1890s attracted much interest among the public, both on and off the field. The 1867 Reform Act had given what would become football-attending masses the opportunity to vote in the local and national elections. Everton and Liverpool attendances would reach around 10–15,000 in a local authority ward with a population of 23,000. Local politicians saw involvement in the two football clubs as an opportunity to gain media exposure to the local electorate. Irish roots and religion are also sometimes considered as theories for the split on the grounds that Houlding was a prominent Orange Order member, while Everton's new chairman George Mahon was a rival Liberal Home Rule-advocating MP.[12] Orangemen are strongly Unionist, whereas someone favouring home rule for Ireland was in favour of some degree of separation of the whole island of Ireland from the UK.[13] The city of Liverpool has more Irish blood than any other city in the UK, with the possible exception of Glasgow, and division between Protestant and Catholic groups in Ireland closely matched the division between Unionism and Republicanism in Liverpool.[14] However, at the time of the split, James Clement Baxter was the only Catholic among the Everton committee members whereas the rest were Protestants.[15]

During the 1960s, Liverpool and Everton were regular winners of domestic trophies, but while Liverpool went from strength to strength in the 1970s and 1980s, Everton went through a relatively barren spell after their 1970 title triumph and did not win a major trophy for the next 14 years.[16]

1980s

[edit]

Everton, however, started to emerge as a serious threat to Liverpool's dominance of the domestic scene following the appointment of Howard Kendall as manager at the start of the 1981–82 season. The first Merseyside derby that Kendall oversaw was at Anfield on 7 November, when his side lost 3–1 to Bob Paisley's.[17] This saw Liverpool standing seventh in the league and Everton 13th.[18] An identical scoreline followed in the return game at Goodison Park in late March, by which time Liverpool had overcome a dismal start to the season to muscle in on a title race which they eventually won, while Everton were still mid-table.[19]

Historical league game outcomes from the Merseyside derby as of April 2025.
Key: Everton wins ; Liverpool wins ; Draws .

In 1982–83, the final season of Bob Paisley's management before he retired to make way for Joe Fagan, Liverpool were champions once again with Everton finishing mid-table, and the most notable of the two derbies occurred in early November when Liverpool triumphed 0–5 at Goodison Park. The return match at Anfield in mid-March brought a goalless draw.[20]

1983–84 was the season when Everton (who won the FA Cup at the end of the campaign) started to emerge as a serious threat to Liverpool. Though Liverpool won the league title and Everton still could not make the top five, Liverpool needed a replay to defeat Everton 1–0 in the League Cup final at Wembley. The Anfield derby in early November saw Liverpool triumph 3–0, while the clash at Goodison Park four months later ended in a 1–1 draw.[21]

The 1984–85 season began with a Merseyside derby in the FA Charity Shield at Wembley, when league champions Liverpool faced FA Cup winners Everton in a game which Everton won 1–0 due to an own goal by Bruce Grobbelaar. The first league clash came on 20 October 1984, when a 0–1 win for Everton at Anfield saw Howard Kendall's team occupy fourth place in the league and show signs of challenging for the title for the first time in his four seasons in charge, while Liverpool were a lowly 17th and just 2 points outside the relegation zone.[22] Liverpool's final game of the season came on 23 May when they lost 1–0 to Everton (who still had two games left to play) at Goodison Park. Everton had been crowned champions by this stage, while Liverpool had rallied since their terrible start to the season to occupy second place.[23][24]

1985–86 was perhaps the most exciting season for the fans of both clubs, as Liverpool and Everton battled it out for both the league title and the FA Cup. The first Merseyside derby of the season came at Goodison Park on 21 September 1985 and was won 2–3 by Liverpool, who stood second behind Manchester United while Everton occupied sixth place.[25] Everton triumphed 0–2 in the return match at Anfield five months later, by which time Everton had just taken over from Manchester United as league leaders and Liverpool were eight points behind them in second place.[26] The climax to this exciting campaign came at Wembley Stadium when Liverpool and Everton contested the first all Merseyside FA Cup final on 10 May 1986. An early goal by Gary Lineker suggested that Everton could gain revenge on Liverpool for beating them to the league title by defeating them in the FA Cup final, but in the second half the tables were turned as a double from Ian Rush and another goal from Craig Johnston made Liverpool only the fifth English club to complete the double.[27]

The 1986 FA Charity Shield was shared between Liverpool and Everton, who drew 1–1 at Wembley, but the first league derby of the season between the two clubs did not happen until late November in a goalless draw at Goodison Park. Both clubs were challenging for the title at this stage alongside Arsenal (leaders), Nottingham Forest and unlikely contenders Luton Town and Coventry City.[28] The League Cup quarter-final on 21 January 1987 saw Liverpool win 0–1 at Goodison Park. The Anfield derby in late April saw Liverpool triumph 3–1, but it was not enough to prevent Everton from winning the title within the next couple of weeks.[29] The 1986–87 season was the last time that Everton overshadowed Liverpool until 2005.[30]

In the 1988–89 season, Everton were Liverpool's first opponents in a competitive game after the Hillsborough disaster on 15 April 1989, which resulted in the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans at the FA Cup semi-final. The game between the two sides was a league fixture on 3 May which ended in a goalless draw.[31] On 20 May, the two sides met at Wembley for the second all Merseyside FA Cup final in four seasons. The match went into extra time before Liverpool triumphed 3–2, with Ian Rush (twice) and John Aldridge scoring for Liverpool and both of Everton's goals coming from Stuart McCall.[32]

1990s

[edit]
Side-by-side comparison of Everton's and Liverpool's final league positions beginning in 1889

By 1990–91, Everton were in something of a slump (finishing ninth that season having started the season near the foot of the table), while Liverpool finished second in the league, but the campaign still brought one of the most pulsating clashes between the two clubs. Liverpool and Everton were drawn for the FA Cup fifth round at Anfield on 17 February 1991. The match ended in a goalless draw, and the replay three days later ended in a thrilling 4–4 draw at Goodison Park, in which Peter Beardsley scored twice. 1990–91 was Kenny Dalglish's last season as Liverpool manager, as he resigned two days after the 4–4 draw with Everton. It was also the last season of "replays of replays" as penalties after extra time took over as the competition's ultimate tie winner decider for the 1991–92 season. The second replay ended with a 1–0 win for Everton on 27 February, and ended the Reds double hopes.[33]

The close season of 1991 saw Peter Beardsley move from Liverpool to Everton, followed within a year by defender Gary Ablett, causing more tension in the Merseyside derby, though the first couple of years after their transfers saw Liverpool and Everton firmly overtaken by Manchester United and the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Arsenal as the biggest challengers in English football. On 7 December 1992, in the first derby of the Premier League era, Everton defeated Liverpool 2–1 at Goodison Park in a game where Peter Beardsley became only the second man in history to score for both clubs in the derby.[34]

The 1993–94 derby at Anfield saw Liverpool defeat Everton 2–1, not having much effect for a mid-table Liverpool side but increasing the risk of relegation (a battle which was ultimately won) for Everton. Perhaps the most notable event of this game was the winning goal by Robbie Fowler, who turned 19 the following month and was one of the most promising young players in England at the time.[35] It was the last Merseyside derby Liverpool would win for five years during a period of success for Everton in the fixture. Joe Royle's appointment as Everton manager in November 1994 following Mike Walker's dismissal began with a 2–0 win over Liverpool at Goodison Park which lifted Everton from the bottom of the table and saw Duncan Ferguson score his first goal for the club. Royle's team followed it up with an away win at Anfield with two goals from Andrei Kanchelskis the following season. Everton's derby form at Goodison Park, despite the club's travails through most of the decade, was a strong suit in the 1990s, with five victories and no defeats at home in the ten years from February 1991.

In 1997–98, Everton triumphed 2–0 at Goodison in a victory that ultimately saved them from relegation (they only stayed up by having a greater goal difference than Bolton Wanderers) and helped end Liverpool's title bid.[36] The following season Liverpool would end their barren run with a 3–2 victory over Everton at Anfield.[37]

2000s

[edit]

The 2000–01 season saw one of the most exciting derbies of the Premier League era. Liverpool, having won the first derby at Anfield, completed the double with a thrilling 2–3 victory over Everton at Goodison in April, with the injury-time winner by Gary McAllister proving to be crucial at the end of the season in helping Liverpool qualify for the UEFA Champions League—which replaced the European Cup in 1992—for the first time.

By the end of the 2001–02, Liverpool had finished above Everton in the league for 15 seasons in succession. After a brilliant run of form saw Liverpool top the Premier League in October, an 11-match winless league run followed their 2–0 home win over West Ham United in early November and during that barren spell they drew 0–0 at home to an Everton side who were briefly above them in the table after several seasons of persistent relegation battles. However, they were on course for their fifth-place finish when they next met Everton on 19 April and won 1–2 at Goodison Park, a result which pushed their city neighbours towards seventh place and narrowly deprived them of European football.[38]

In 2004–05, Everton finished fourth in the league and Liverpool came fifth, the first time since Everton's 1987 title win that Liverpool had finished below them. In a season which saw Liverpool win the Champions League title, Everton gave their neighbours a reminder of how far they had progressed under the management of David Moyes with a 1–0 win at Goodison Park on 11 December 2004, though Liverpool won the return match at Anfield 2–1 three months later.[39]

In the derby in March 2006, Steven Gerrard of Liverpool and James Beattie of Everton wore the number "08" as the city had been voted European Capital of Culture for 2008.[40]

Everton had a setback and finished mid-table in 2005–06, while Liverpool's compensation for their prolonged title wait came in the form of a narrow FA Cup final triumph. Liverpool triumphed 3–1 in both of the Merseyside derbies that season.[41][42]

In 2006–07, Everton recovered to finish in the top six, while Liverpool finished third, and there was an early season triumph for the blue half of Liverpool as Everton beat Liverpool 3–0 at Goodison Park in early September, in a game that saw an uncharacteristic mistake from Liverpool 'keeper Pepe Reina. They also held them to a goalless draw at Anfield in early February.[43]

Liverpool did the double over Everton in 2007–08. The first meeting of the sides that season saw one of the most controversial derbies in recent memory, with Everton finishing an ill-tempered game with 9 men. Everton took a first half lead as Sami Hyypiä skewed a left footed clearance into his own goal from a corner. The scoreline was levelled by Dirk Kuyt from the penalty spot after Everton's Tony Hibbert fouled Steven Gerrard in the area. Referee Mark Clattenburg earned the ire of the Goodison faithful as Steven Gerrard appeared to persuade him to change his mind in favour of a red card after first brandishing a yellow. Kuyt was fortunate to escape with a yellow card following a two-footed, aerial lunge on Phil Neville. Liverpool's pressure against the 10 men eventually told, as Liverpool were awarded a second penalty when Neville handled a goal bound shot from derby debutante Lucas Leiva. Neville was dismissed and Everton finished the game two players short. Kuyt scored his second goal of the game from the spot as Liverpool won the game 2–1. The victory helped secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification for Liverpool, leaving Everton to settle for a UEFA Cup place.[44] Referee Clattenburg was not chosen to officiate again at Goodison Park after that match until December 2013, six years later, and in that period only officiated one Everton game, away at Aston Villa.

In the 2008–09 season, Liverpool and Everton met four times, Liverpool winning the League encounter at Goodison Park 0–2 while drawing the other League fixture that dealt a blow to their title ambitions. The FA Cup saw Everton defeat ten-man Liverpool in extra time in the replay thanks to an injury-time winner by Dan Gosling after a 1–1 draw at Anfield. Both teams enjoyed strong campaigns in the Premier League, as Liverpool challenged for the title and Everton qualified for Europe finishing in fifth place and 9 points adrift of the Champions League places. Everton also progressed to the 2009 FA Cup final, but lost to Chelsea, despite taking the lead through a Louis Saha goal after just 25 seconds – the fastest goal ever scored in an FA Cup Final until İlkay Gündoğan's goal against Manchester United in the 2023 FA Cup final.[45]

2010s

[edit]

When the sides met in the 2009–10 season, both clubs were suffering from a poor start to the season. Liverpool won the first meeting at Goodison Park with a 2–0 victory despite Everton enjoying a greater share of possession for the game, with poor finishing and the heroics of Pepe Reina costing the home side.[46] The following game saw 10-man Liverpool win 1–0 following a first-half red card for Greek centre-half Sotirios Kyrgiakos. The Greek fiercely contested a tackle with Fellaini who was fortunate to escape similar punishment having caught the centre-back high on the shin. A solitary goal from Kuyt was enough to secure the three points, as the Dutchmen nodded home smartly from a Steven Gerrard corner.[47]

In the Goodison Park encounter on 17 October 2010 in the 2010–11 season, Everton won 2–0 with goals from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta, while the return league game at Anfield in January 2011 ended in a 2–2 draw.[48] This was the last win for Everton in the derby in all competitions for more than a decade, failing to win in the following 23 games whilst losing 11 times.[49]

In the 2011–12 season, Liverpool and Everton met three times, twice in the league and once in the FA Cup, with Liverpool winning all three. The first meeting took place on 1 October 2011, with Liverpool winning 0–2 in the league at Goodison Park (goals from Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez) against an Everton side depleted by Jack Rodwell's early, controversial red card, which was later rescinded by The Football Association. On 13 March 2012, Liverpool won the Anfield fixture 3–0 after a hat-trick by Steven Gerrard, who became the first player to score a hat-trick in the derby since Ian Rush in 1982.[50] The third meeting of the season was the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on 14 April. Everton took the lead through Nikica Jelavić's goal in the first half. Liverpool equalized through a Luis Suárez goal midway through the second half, and Andy Carroll scored the winning goal for Liverpool in the 87th minute.[51] However, despite Liverpool having success throughout the season against their traditional rivals, Everton finished one place higher than Liverpool at the end of the Premier League season, whilst the Reds finished the season as the winners of the League Cup.

In the 2013–14 season, the two sides contested an eventful 3–3 draw at Goodison Park, with the lead changing on three separate occasions between both teams.[52] Later that season, Liverpool beat Everton 4–0 at Anfield during the beginning of an improbable title challenge for the Reds.[53] The result was replicated in the 2015–16 season, as Liverpool again ran out 4–0 winners in Jürgen Klopp's first experience of the Merseyside derby.[54] The game was notable for a Ramiro Funes Mori red card which saw in-form striker Divock Origi injured – the Belgian missed the remainder of the season. The result ended a run of three consecutive draws in the fixture, which was Everton's best streak in the derby for six years.[55]

Liverpool won both derbies in Klopp's first full season at the club, as dominance continued from the Red half of Merseyside. Sadio Mané scored an injury time winner at Goodison Park in December 2016, following a Daniel Sturridge left footed shot that rebounded off the post.[56] The second meeting was a more straightforward affair for the Reds, with a 3–1 victory following goals from Mané, Philippe Coutinho and Origi.

In the 2017–18 season, Mohamed Salah scored a curling left footed effort for the Reds, which would go on to win the 2018 FIFA Puskás Award for goal of the year, picking up 38% of the public vote.[57] The match ended in a 1–1 draw, after returning Evertonian Wayne Rooney equalized with a penalty.[58]

In the following season, Divock Origi scored one of the most memorable goals ever witnessed in a Merseyside derby. With the score goalless after 90 minutes, Virgil van Dijk volleyed a speculative effort towards goal which skewed off his boot and high into the air. Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford attempted to catch the ball but missed, as it came back down off the crossbar in front of the waiting Origi, who nodded in the winner in the sixth minute of added time.[59] The return game in March 2019 ended in a 0–0 draw at Goodison Park and saw Liverpool move down to second place, where they remained until the end of the season.[60]

Since 2019

[edit]

The first meeting of the following season saw Liverpool, whose Champions league win was some compensation for their failure to secure the Premier League, welcoming a struggling Everton to Anfield. The Reds had surged into an early lead at the top of the Premier League table while the Toffees sat just above the relegation zone, which lead to the derby being described as perhaps "the most unbalanced meeting" in recent years.[61] Liverpool won the match 5–2 despite playing a rotated side, and soon after Everton sacked their manager, Marco Silva.[62] The return league fixture, which was both sides' first match in the Premier League since the season had been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was played on 21 June 2020 behind closed doors at Goodison Park, and ended in a goalless draw.[63]

In between these two games, on 5 January 2020, a Liverpool team largely made up of reserves and teenagers defeated Everton 1–0 in the third round of the FA Cup at Anfield, with the winning goal coming from a curling strike outside of the area, courtesy of 18 year-old Toxteth born Curtis Jones.[64]

The first meeting of the 2020–21 season saw Everton, with a 100 percent record after four games, welcome champions Liverpool to Goodison Park. The game ended in a 2–2 draw after Jordan Henderson's strike to make it 3–2 to Liverpool in second half stoppage time was ruled out by VAR.[65] With 23 matches unbeaten in the Merseyside derby, Liverpool set a new club record for highest number of games unbeaten against the same opponent.[66] The record lasted only until the return game at Anfield on 20 February 2021, which Everton won 2–0, their first win at Anfield in any competition since 1999.[67] The defeat was also a fourth consecutive home defeat for Liverpool, a run not endured since 1923.[68]

In the 2021–22 season, goals from Jordan Henderson, Mohamed Salah (two) and Diogo Jota saw Liverpool record a 4–1 away win against Everton in the Premier League, the club's biggest winning margin at Goodison since a 5–0 victory in 1982, as Liverpool became the first team in English top-flight history to score at least two goals in 18 successive games in all competitions.[69] The victory also took Liverpool ahead of Everton in the number of wins in Everton's home stadium.[70] In the reverse fixture at Anfield in April, Liverpool won 2–0, with goals from Andy Robertson and Divock Origi, his sixth overall against Everton. This was the first season since 2016–17 that Liverpool did the double over their rivals. The following season saw another 0–0 draw in the fixture, with Liverpool supporter Conor Coady scoring what looked to be a winner only for the VAR to rule it out. In the reverse fixture, an Everton side coming off a win against league leaders Arsenal went to Anfield under new manager Sean Dyche. Liverpool won 2–0 with goals from Salah and Cody Gakpo. The second goal would the latter's first for Liverpool.[71]

The 2023–24 season saw Liverpool win 2–0 with a Salah brace at Anfield,[72] but also featured Everton's first derby win in three years, and their first win at Goodison Park in 14. Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin secured a 2–0 victory by the Blues on 24 April 2024, greatly increasing Everton's odds of survival from relegation and significantly reducing Liverpool's title hopes in the process. Some Everton fans reportedly chanted "You lost the league at Goodison Park" towards the end of the game.[73][74]

In the 2024–25 season, Liverpool travelled to Everton on 12 February 2025, Beto opened the scoring in the 11th minute, slotting it past Alisson, however their celebrations were short lived as Alexis Mac Allister quickly equalised for Liverpool in the 16th minute. Mohamed Salah put Liverpool 2–1 up in the 73rd minute; during added time, James Tarkowski scored the equaliser with a volley. However, the game was massively overshadowed by an incident at full time. Abdoulaye Doucouré, following the final whistle, went to celebrate in front of the Liverpool fans, angering Curtis Jones, who ran and attacked Doucouré. Both players ended up getting sent off by referee Michael Oliver. It was also the last ever derby at Goodison Park.[75] On 2 April 2025, Everton travelled to Anfield for the second match of the derby, with Liverpool winning 1-0 when Diogo Jota scored the only goal of the match in the 57th minute. This was the final ever goal scored by Jota, who died along with his brother André Silva in a car accident three months later. On 27 April 2025, Liverpool supporters celebrated their second Premier League title and their 20th English league title win, during which unexpected blue flares went off during the celebration. This incident was traced back to an Everton fan who reportedly bought 10,000 blue flares and resold them to Liverpool fans, disguised as red flares, as a prank.[76]

The friendly derby

[edit]

There are a number of reasons for the "friendly derby" name. Firstly, both of the clubs' home grounds are situated in the north of the city and are very close to each other (just under a mile) with only Stanley Park separating them. From 1902 to 1932, the two clubs even shared the same match day programme. Today there are no evident geographical, political, social, or religious divides as there are in other derbies, although a sectarian divide did exist within the city for many years. It is unclear how, if at all, this influenced the support bases of the two clubs and research conducted in 2013 indicated that it was more likely to have been a political allegiance that influenced support.[77]

During the 1950s and 1960s, Everton became known as the Catholic club mainly as a result of successful Irish players such as Tommy Eglington, Peter Farrell, and Jimmy O'Neill, as well as manager Johnny Carey. This in turn caused Liverpool to be thought of as the Protestant club, especially as they did not sign an Irish Catholic player until Ronnie Whelan in 1979.[78] A comparison of the two Merseyside clubs in relation the differences existing between Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers has been made in David Kennedy's 2017 book Merseyside's Old Firm?[79]

Unlike many other local derbies, violence between Everton and Liverpool supporters in Liverpool itself is a rarity. In the fallout from the Heysel Stadium disaster, fan relationships became strained when the actions of Liverpool-supporting hooligans caused both Liverpool and Everton to be banned from European club competition despite no involvement from the latter. Relations improved after the Hillsborough disaster when both sets of fans rallied together, with Evertonians even joining in on the boycott of The Sun, while Everton and Liverpool scarves were intertwined and stretched across Stanley Park between the two teams' stadiums. After the murder of 11-year-old Evertonian Rhys Jones in 2007, Liverpool invited his parents and older brother to Anfield for a Champions League match as a sign of respect.[80] The Z-Cars theme tune, to which Everton players traditionally run out, was played for the first time ever at Anfield while Jones' family stood on the pitch wearing Everton shirts and scarves. A standing ovation was then given before "You'll Never Walk Alone" was played. Upon the vindication of Liverpool fans related to the Hillsborough disaster in August 2012, Everton hosted Newcastle United at Goodison Park, and the sides were led out by two children wearing Everton and Liverpool shirts with numbers 9 and 6 on the back; an announcer read out the names of all 96 Hillsborough victims while "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" played to a standing ovation.[81][82]

Tranmere Rovers

[edit]

Matches between Everton/Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers, based in Birkenhead on the other side of the River Mersey, are also classed as Merseyside derbies, but as Tranmere have spent all of their history outside the top flight, competitive matches are a rarity. They have occasionally faced Everton and Liverpool in cup competitions. Their last meeting with both clubs came in the FA Cup in 2001. Tranmere caused an upset by beating Everton 3–0 in the fourth round,[83] before losing 4–2 to Liverpool in the quarter-finals.[84]

Statistics

[edit]
As of 20 September 2025
Competition Played Everton wins Draws Liverpool wins Everton goals Liverpool goals
Football League First Division 146 48 44 54 181 203
Premier League 67 11 26 30 58 94
FA Cup 25 7 6 12 28 40
Football League/EFL Cup 4 1 1 2 1 2
FA Charity/Community Shield 3 1 1 1 2 2
Football League Super Cup 2 0 0 2 2 7
Total 247 68 78 101 272 348

Honours

[edit]
As of 27 April 2025
National competitions Everton Liverpool
English champions First Division 9 18
Premier League 0 2
Total 9 20
FA Cup 5 8
League Cup 0 10
FA Community Shield 9 16
FL Super Cup 0 1
Total 23 55
European and International competitions Everton Liverpool
UEFA Champions League 0 6
UEFA Europa League 0 3
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1 0
UEFA Super Cup 0 4
FIFA Club World Cup 0 1
Total 1 14
Total 24 69
Regional competitions Everton Liverpool
Lancashire Senior Cup 7 13
Liverpool Senior Cup 47 41
Total 54 54
All competitions Everton Liverpool
Total 78 123

Records

[edit]

This derby is responsible for many records across all derby matches, largely due to it being contested on so many occasions:[85]

  • The longest unbeaten derby run in all competitions is held by Liverpool, with Everton failing to find victory in 23 consecutive games between 2011 and 2020. This streak is also the longest such run that Liverpool have had against any opponent in club history.[66]
  • The longest unbeaten derby run in home matches is held by Liverpool, with Everton failing to win in the league (plus two cup games) for 22 games between 2000 and 2020.
  • The longest unbeaten derby run in away matches is held by Everton, with a 16-match run at Anfield between 1899 and 1920, which included ten victories.[86]
  • The longest unbroken winning run at home belongs to Liverpool, with five wins between the 1932–33 and 1936–37 seasons.
  • The longest unbroken winning run away from home belongs to Everton, who won seven consecutive games at Anfield between the 1908–09 and 1914–15 seasons.
  • Recent games have been marred by sendings off, and the fixture has seen 23 red cards in the Premier League, the highest tally for any fixture (though the 20th of these was subsequently rescinded by the FA). Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and former Everton captain Phil Neville both saw red twice in derby games.

The following are records just for the Merseyside derby itself:

  • The record home victory in a league match is 6–0, recorded by Liverpool at Anfield in the 1935–36 season.[citation needed]
  • The record away victory in a league match is 5–0, recorded by both Everton at Anfield in the 1914–15 season, and by Liverpool at Goodison Park in the 1982–83 season.[87][88]
  • The highest-scoring match had 11 goals, when Liverpool won 7–4 at Anfield in the 1932–33 season.[89]
  • Neville Southall of Everton holds the record for most derby appearances, with 41 across all competitions.[90]
  • Ian Rush of Liverpool holds the mark for the most derby goals with 25, overtaking Dixie Dean of Everton's long-standing record when he scored a brace in Liverpool's 3–2 win over Everton in the second all-Merseyside FA Cup Final in 1989.
  • William C. Cuff of Everton holds the record for the most wins as a manager, with 16 wins over Liverpool from 1901 to 1918.[91]
  • Tom Watson of Liverpool holds the record for the most losses as a manager, with 21 defeats to Everton from 1896 to 1915.
  • Record attendance: 78,599 at Goodison Park, 18 September 1948 (First Division)[92]
  • Lowest attendance: 18,000 at Anfield, 19 January 1901 (First Division) (* does not include matches played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic)

All-time top goalscorers

[edit]
Ian Rush, top goalscorer in the derby with 25 goals for Liverpool
Statue of Dixie Dean, top league goalscorer in the derby with 18 goals for Everton

The following players have scored four or more goals in the derby. This includes Premier League matches, its predecessor the Football League First Division, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Football League Super Cup and the Charity Shield. This list is correct as of the match played on 12 February 2025.

Dixie Dean is the top goalscorer in league games, with 18 goals, while Steven Gerrard is the top goalscorer in the fixture in the Premier League era, with nine goals.[93]

Nation Player[94] Club(s) League FA Cup League
Cup
Charity
Shield
Screen
Sport
Overall Years
Wales Ian Rush Liverpool 13 5 1 1 5 25 1980–1987
1988–1996
England Dixie Dean Everton 18 1 19 1925–1937
Scotland Alex "Sandy" Young Everton 9 3 12 1901–1911
England Steven Gerrard Liverpool 9 1 10 1998–2015
Egypt Mohamed Salah Liverpool 8 8 2017–
England Harry Chambers Liverpool 8 8 1915–1928
England Jimmy Settle Everton 8 8 1899–1908
England Jack Parkinson Liverpool 6 2 8 1903–1914
England Peter Beardsley Liverpool / Everton 4/1 2/0 7 1987–1991 (L)
1991–1993 (E)
Scotland Graeme Sharp Everton 4 2 1 7 1980–1991
England Jack Balmer Liverpool 6 6 1935–1952
England Robbie Fowler Liverpool 6 6 1992–2001
2006–2007
Scotland Bobby Parker Everton 6 6 1913–1922
Belgium Divock Origi Liverpool 6 6 2014–2022
England Gordon Hodgson Liverpool 5 1 6 1925–1936
Australia Tim Cahill Everton 5 5 2004–2012
Scotland Kenny Dalglish Liverpool 5 5 1977–1990
England Fred Howe Liverpool 5 5 1935–1938
Scotland Jack Taylor Everton 5 5 1896–1910
Netherlands Dirk Kuyt Liverpool 5 5 2006–2012
Uruguay Luis Suárez Liverpool 4 1 5 2011–2014
England Roger Hunt Liverpool 4 1 5 1958–1969
Scotland Duncan Ferguson Everton 4 4 1994–1998
2000–2006
England Tommy Lawton Everton 4 4 1936–1939
England Michael Owen Liverpool 4 4 1997–2004
England Sam Raybould Liverpool 4 4 1900–1907
Wales Roy Vernon Everton 4 4 1960–1965
England Daniel Sturridge Liverpool 4 4 2013–2019
Senegal Sadio Mané Liverpool 4 4 2016–2022

Current scorers: Current players with multiple derby goals include Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (8) and Everton's Michael Keane (2).

Goals from "overseas" players: A total of 42 non-British (Isles) players from 24 countries have scored in the derby (not including own goals, which add four countries to the list) since Liverpool's Craig Johnston became the first such player to do so, in the 1986 Cup Final.,[95] though Bruce Grobelaar's own goal in the 1984 Charity Shield makes him technically the first "overseas" player to score a derby goal. Most recently Everton's Beto (Guinea-Bissau) and Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) added the two newest countries to this list in the February 2025 match. Mohamed Salah (Egypt) is the leading "overseas" player with eight goals.[96] In terms of countries, France leads the way with five different scorers, but Australia and Netherlands are just behind, with four each.[97]

More goals than years: Liverpool's Fred Howe and Everton's Tommy Lawton bear the distinction of scoring more goals than they actually spent in years in the city of Liverpool, with Howe scoring five goals in three years and Lawton four goals in three years.

Hat-tricks: The first derby hat-trick was scored by Everton's Alex "Sandy" Young, who scored four in a 5–1 win at Goodison in 1904.[98] Other Evertonians to manage hat-ticks include Bobby Parker in 1914 and Dixie Dean twice, in 1928 and 1931, the last Everton player to net a treble.[99] Liverpool hat-tricks have come from Chambers (1922), Forshaw (1925), Hanson (1933) and Howe (four goals in 1935). Nearly fifty years passed before the next derby hat-trick, scored by Ian Rush, who managed four goals in a 5–0 win at Goodison in 1982; a further thirty years passed until Steven Gerrard scored a hat-trick against Everton at Anfield in a 3–0 win. Of all the league hat-tricks, only two (Young's in 1904 and Rush's in 1982) were managed at Goodison; all the others were at Anfield.[100][101]

Own goals: Sandy Brown's famous own goal in Everton's championship winning 1969–70 season was, surprisingly, only the second own goal in the history of the fixture, the first having been scored by Balmer (Everton) in 1902.[102] Since then, eight Evertonians have been "credited" with an own goal, including two in the same match at Anfield in 1972. There have only been three Liverpool own goals. Leighton Baines's unlucky deflection at Goodison in 2012–13 is the most recent of all derby-day own goals.

Scoring in consecutive matches: Between May and September 1986, Ian Rush scored for Liverpool in four consecutive derbies, none of them league games (Cup final, Charity Shield and two Super Cup finals). Several players have scored in three consecutive games: Hardman (Everton, 1905–06), Freeman (Everton, 1909–10), Parkinson (Liverpool, 1910–11), King (Everton, 1978–79), Lineker (Everton, 1985–86), Barnes (Liverpool, 1989–90) and Fowler (Liverpool, 1995–96).

Youngest derby goalscorer: Although difficult to verify, since birthdates of early players are not always known, the youngest confirmed derby goalscorer is Everton's Danny Cadamarteri, who scored the winner at Goodison six days after his 18th birthday in October 1997.[103]

All-time most appearances

[edit]
Nation[90] Player Club Appearances Years Position
Wales Neville Southall Everton 41 1981–1998 Goalkeeper
Wales Ian Rush Liverpool 36 1980–1987
1988–1996
Striker
Zimbabwe Bruce Grobbelaar Liverpool 34 1980–1994 Goalkeeper
Scotland Alan Hansen Liverpool 33 1977–1990 Defender
Wales Kevin Ratcliffe Everton 32 1980–1992 Defender

Clean sheets

[edit]
Nation Player Club Clean sheets Games Years
England Ray Clemence Liverpool 15 27 1967–1981
Wales Neville Southall Everton 15 41 1981–1998
Zimbabwe Bruce Grobbelaar Liverpool 10 34 1980–1994
England Gordon West Everton 9 20 1962–1973
Scotland Tommy Lawrence Liverpool 8 16 1957–1971
Spain Pepe Reina Liverpool 8[104] 17 2005–2013
Brazil Alisson Liverpool 7 10 2018–present
Wales Cyril Sidlow Liverpool 6 10 1946–1952
Republic of Ireland Billy Scott Everton 6 15 1904–1912
England Ted Sagar Everton 6 20 1929–1953
England Jordan Pickford Everton 6 16 2017–present
United States Tim Howard Everton 5 18 2006–2016
Northern Ireland Elisha Scott Liverpool 5 20 1912–1917
1919–1934
Wales Dai Davies Everton 3 5 1970–1977

League games only. Highest ever attendance 100,000 estimate at 1984 Milk Cup final and 1984 Charity Shield. Highest attendance at Anfield 56,060 for the 1962–63 league game.[105]

  • Not including matches played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Games on neutral ground

[edit]

There have been twelve derby games played on neutral grounds: six at Wembley (both the old and new grounds), four at Maine Road and one each at Villa Park and Old Trafford:

Date Competition Venue Score Attendance
31 March 1906 FA Cup Semi-final Villa Park Everton 2–0 Liverpool 37,000
25 March 1950 FA Cup Semi-final Maine Road Liverpool 2–0 Everton 72,000
27 March 1971 FA Cup Semi-final Old Trafford Everton 1–2 Liverpool 62,144
23 April 1977 FA Cup Semi-final Maine Road Everton 2–2 Liverpool 56,637
27 April 1977 FA Cup Semi-final replay Maine Road Everton 0–3 Liverpool 56,579
25 March 1984 League Cup Final Wembley Everton 0–0 Liverpool (a.e.t.) 100,000
28 March 1984 League Cup Final replay Maine Road Everton 0–1 Liverpool 52,089
8 August 1984 FA Charity Shield Wembley Everton 1–0 Liverpool 100,000
10 May 1986 FA Cup Final Wembley Liverpool 3–1 Everton 98,000
16 August 1986 FA Charity Shield Wembley Everton 1–1 Liverpool 88,231
20 May 1989 FA Cup Final Wembley Liverpool 3–2 Everton (a.e.t.) 82,800
14 April 2012 FA Cup Semi-final Wembley Everton 1–2 Liverpool 87,231

Penalties

[edit]

Since World War I, Everton have been awarded just three penalties during Anfield derbies (all scored), while Liverpool have had eleven at Goodison, of which three have been missed (though only one of these misses affected the final result).[107]

Crossing the park

[edit]

Players transferring between the clubs are said to be "crossing the Park". The phrase refers to Stanley Park, which lies between Anfield and Goodison Park. Since Liverpool were formed when Everton left Anfield, which had been their home ground, the two players who stayed behind (Duncan McLean and Thomas G. Wylie) did not actually cross the park. The first player to have had both Anfield and Goodison as his home ground was Patrick Gordon.

Transfer embargo: Liverpool did not buy directly from Everton between 1959 and 2000, while there was a similar freeze in the opposite direction between 1961 and 1982.

Played for all three: Dave Hickson, John Heydon and Frank Mitchell are the only three players to have played for Liverpool, Everton and Tranmere Rovers, the three main Merseyside clubs still in existence. New Brighton were football league members from 1923 to 1951; Bill Lacey and Neil McBain played for all three of Everton, Liverpool and New Brighton. John Whitehead played for Liverpool, Everton and also for Bootle in their one year as a league team (1892–93), before they were replaced in Division 2 by local rivals Liverpool.

The list below shows transfer dates and fees, where known.[108][109]

Everton, then Liverpool

  • Abel Xavier – 2002 – £750,000 (only player to play in derby matches for both teams in the same season)
  • Nick Barmby – 2000 – £6 million (the highest fee Liverpool have paid Everton)
  • Dave Hickson – 1959 – £12,000 (also played for Tranmere Rovers one of six players to play for three different Merseyside clubs)
  • Tony McNamara – 1957 – £4,000
  • John Heydon – 1949 – no fee (also played for Tranmere Rovers, one of six players to play for three different Merseyside clubs)
  • Bill Harthill – 1936
  • Jack Balmer – 1935 – no fee
  • Thomas Johnson – 1934
  • Frank Mitchell – 1919 (also played for Tranmere Rovers, one of six players to play for three different Merseyside clubs)
  • Bill Lacey – 1912 – part of exchange deal for Uren (Lacey also played for New Brighton, one of six players to have played for three different Merseyside clubs)
    Andrew Hannah, captain with both Everton and Liverpool
  • Tom Gracie – 1912 – part of exchange deal for Uren
  • Arthur Berry – Signed first for Liverpool in 1906, then played for Wrexham, Fulham, and Oxford University before signing for Everton. He returned directly to Liverpool from Everton for a brief spell in 1912.
  • Don Sloan – 1908 – no fee
  • David Murray – 1904
  • Abe Hartley – 1897
  • Alex Latta – 1896 (Did not make a senior appearance for Liverpool)
  • Fred Geary – 1895 – £60
  • John Whitehead – 1894 – (also played for Bootle), one of six players to have played for three different Merseyside clubs
  • Patrick Gordon – 1893
  • Duncan McLean – 1892; along with Wylie, the only two players to stay at Liverpool when Everton left Anfield.
  • Thomas G. Wylie – 1892

The following played for other clubs before moving to Liverpool:

Liverpool, then Everton

  • Gary Ablett – 1992 – £750,000 (only player to win the FA Cup with both clubs).
  • Peter Beardsley – 1991 – £1 million; was Everton's most expensive signing from Liverpool.
  • Alan Harper – 1983 – £100,000; though on Liverpool's books, he never made a first-team appearance.
  • Kevin Sheedy – 1982 – £100,000.
  • David Johnson – 1982 – £100,000; started at Everton, went to Ipswich Town then Liverpool then back to Everton.
  • Johnny Morrissey –1962 – £10,000
  • Jimmy Payne – 1956 – £5,000
  • Dick Forshaw – 1927 – only player to win the League Championship with both clubs
  • Harold Uren – 1912 – part of exchange deal for Lacey and Gracie
  • Benjamin Howard Baker – c. 1910

The following played for other clubs before moving to Everton:

As well as players "crossing the park", Everton's first ever manager, William Edward Barclay, stayed on at Anfield after Everton moved to Goodison Park to become Liverpool's first manager.

On 30 June 2021, former Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez signed a three-year contract with Everton. He was fired on 16 January 2022.

Scored for both sides in a derby

[edit]

Only three players have scored for both sides in a Merseyside derby:

  • David Johnson scored on his derby debut for Everton in November 1971 and later scored two derby goals during his spell with Liverpool, the last of them on 1 March 1980.[111][112]
  • Peter Beardsley added to his tally of six derby goals for Liverpool with one for Everton on 7 December 1992.[113][114]
  • Sandy Brown famously scored an own goal in 1969 to add to his goal scored at the right end in 1966.

Boyhood allegiances

[edit]

Doubles

[edit]

Liverpool have beaten Everton twice in a league season sixteen times and Everton doing the inverse nine times, in what is known as the "double". With the occasional meeting at Wembley, both Everton and Liverpool have completed a "treble", in which a victory has been achieved three times (and at three different venues) in a season.

With cup games, replays, and so on, the two have often met three or four times a season. In the 1986–87 season, they played each other six times, starting with a 1–1 draw at Wembley in the Charity Shield. There were the two league games, the two-legged Screen Sport Super Cup Final (held over from the previous season), and a League Cup fifth round tie. Despite the fact that Everton finished the season as champions, they could not beat Liverpool that year, with four losses and two draws.[135]

Liverpool have achieved the most Premier League doubles over Everton, doing so seven times since 2000. Everton have yet to do the double over Liverpool in the Premier League – their last league double over Liverpool was in 1985 when they won 1–0 in both legs to complete a treble for that season, having also won at Wembley in the Charity Shield.[133]

Full list of results

[edit]

Fixtures from 1894 to the present day featuring League games, FA Cup, League Cup, Charity Shield and Super Cup sorted from the most recent.[136][137] Testimonial matches are listed separately. Other friendlies and Inter-War fixtures are not included.

No. (Lg) Date Competition Venue Score Liverpool scorers/red cards Everton scorers/red cards Attendance Ref.
248 (214) 18 April 2026 25–26 Premier League Hill Dickinson Stadium
247 (213) 20 September 2025 25–26 Premier League Anfield 2–1 Gravenberch, Ekitike Gueye 60,342 [138]
246 (212) 2 April 2025 24–25 Premier League Anfield 1–0 Jota 60,331 [139]
245 (211) 12 February 2025 24–25 Premier League Goodison Park 2–2 Mac Allister, Salah, Red card Jones Beto, Tarkowski, Red card Doucouré 39,280 [140]
244 (210) 24 April 2024 23–24 Premier League Goodison Park 2–0 Branthwaite, Calvert-Lewin 39,222 [141]
243 (209) 21 October 2023 23–24 Premier League Anfield 2–0 Salah (1 pen.) Red card Young 50,201 [142]
242 (208) 13 February 2023 22–23 Premier League Anfield 2–0 Salah, Gakpo 53,027 [143]
241 (207) 3 September 2022 22–23 Premier League Goodison Park 0–0 39,240 [144]
240 (206) 24 April 2022 21–22 Premier League Anfield 2–0 Robertson, Origi 53,213 [145]
239 (205) 1 December 2021 21–22 Premier League Goodison Park 1–4 Henderson, Salah, Jota Gray 39,641 [146]
238 (204) 20 February 2021 20–21 Premier League Anfield 0–2 Richarlison, Sigurðsson (pen.) 0[a] [147]
237 (203) 17 October 2020 20–21 Premier League Goodison Park 2–2 Mané, Salah Keane, Calvert-Lewin, Red card Richarlison 0[a] [148]
236 (202) 21 June 2020 19–20 Premier League Goodison Park 0–0 0[a] [149]
235 5 January 2020 19–20 FA Cup Rnd 3 Anfield 1–0 Jones 52,583 [150]
234 (201) 4 December 2019 19–20 Premier League Anfield 5–2 Origi, Shaqiri, Mané, Wijnaldum Keane, Richarlison 53,094 [151]
233 (200) 3 March 2019 18–19 Premier League Goodison Park 0–0 39,335 [152]
232 (199) 2 December 2018 18–19 Premier League Anfield 1–0 Origi 51,756 [153]
231 (198) 7 April 2018 17–18 Premier League Goodison Park 0–0 39,220 [154]
230 5 January 2018 17–18 FA Cup Rnd 3 Anfield 2–1 Milner (pen.), Van Dijk Sigurðsson 52,513 [155]
229 (197) 10 December 2017 17–18 Premier League Anfield 1–1 Salah Rooney (pen.) 53,082 [156]
228 (196) 1 April 2017 16–17 Premier League Anfield 3–1 Mané, Coutinho, Origi Pennington 52,920 [157]
227 (195) 19 December 2016 16–17 Premier League Goodison Park 0–1 Mané 39,590 [158]
226 (194) 20 April 2016 15–16 Premier League Anfield 4–0 Origi, Sakho, Sturridge, Coutinho Red card Funes Mori 43,854 [159]
225 (193) 4 October 2015 15–16 Premier League Goodison Park 1–1 Ings Lukaku 39,598 [160]
224 (192) 7 February 2015 14–15 Premier League Goodison Park 0–0 39,621 [161]
223 (191) 27 September 2014 14–15 Premier League Anfield 1–1 Gerrard Jagielka 44,511 [162]
222 (190) 28 January 2014 13–14 Premier League Anfield 4–0 Gerrard, Sturridge, Suárez 44,450 [163]
221 (189) 23 November 2013 13–14 Premier League Goodison Park 3–3 Coutinho, Suárez, Sturridge Mirallas, Lukaku 39,576 [164]
220 (188) 5 May 2013 12–13 Premier League Anfield 0–0 44,991 [165]
219 (187) 28 October 2012 12–13 Premier League Goodison Park 2–2 Baines (o.g.), Suárez Osman, Naismith 39,613 [166]
218 14 April 2012 11–12 FA Cup Semi-final Wembley 2–1 Suárez, Carroll Jelavić 87,231 [167]
217 (186) 13 March 2012 11–12 Premier League Anfield 3–0 Gerrard 44,921 [168]
216 (185) 1 October 2011 11–12 Premier League Goodison Park 0–2 Suárez, Carroll Red card Rodwell (subsequently rescinded) 39,510 [169]
215 (184) 16 January 2011 10–11 Premier League Anfield 2–2 Meireles, Kuyt (pen.) Distin, Beckford 44,795 [170]
214 (183) 17 October 2010 10–11 Premier League Goodison Park 2–0 Cahill, Arteta 39,673 [171]
213 (182) 6 February 2010 09–10 Premier League Anfield 1–0 KuytRed card Kyrgiakos Red card Pienaar 44,316 [172]
212 (181) 29 November 2009 09–10 Premier League Goodison Park 0–2 Yobo (o.g.), Kuyt 39,652 [173]
211 4 February 2009 08–09 FA Cup Rnd 4 Rep. Goodison Park 1–0 (aet) Red card Lucas Gosling 37,918 [174]
210 25 January 2009 08–09 FA Cup Rnd 4 Anfield 1–1 Gerrard Lescott 43,524 [175]
209 (180) 19 January 2009 08–09 Premier League Anfield 1–1 Gerrard Cahill 44,382 [176]
208 (179) 27 September 2008 08–09 Premier League Goodison Park 0–2 Torres Red card Cahill 39,574 [177]
207 (178) 30 March 2008 07–08 Premier League Anfield 1–0 Torres 44,295 [178]
206 (177) 20 October 2007 07–08 Premier League Goodison Park 1–2 Kuyt (2 pens.) Hyypiä (o.g.) – Red card Hibbert, Red card Neville 40,049 [179]
205 (176) 3 February 2007 06–07 Premier League Anfield 0–0 44,234 [180]
204 (175) 9 September 2006 06–07 Premier League Goodison Park 3–0 Cahill, Johnson 40,004 [181]
203 (174) 25 March 2006 05–06 Premier League Anfield 3–1 Neville (o.g.), García, KewellRed card Gerrard CahillRed card Van der Meyde 44,923 [41]
202 (173) 28 December 2005 05–06 Premier League Goodison Park 1–3 Crouch, Gerrard, Cissé BeattieRed card Arteta, Red card Neville 40,158 [42]
201 (172) 20 March 2005 04–05 Premier League Anfield 2–1 Gerrard, GarcíaRed card Baroš Cahill 44,224 [182]
200 (171) 11 December 2004 04–05 Premier League Goodison Park 1–0 Carsley 40,552 [183]
199 (170) 31 January 2004 03–04 Premier League Anfield 0–0 44,056 [184]
198 (169) 30 August 2003 03–04 Premier League Goodison Park 0–3 Owen, Kewell 40,200 [185]
197 (168) 19 April 2003 02–03 Premier League Goodison Park 1–2 Owen, Murphy UnsworthRed card Weir, Red card Naysmith 40,162 [186]
196 (167) 22 December 2002 02–03 Premier League Anfield 0–0 44,025 [187]
195 (166) 23 February 2002 01–02 Premier League Anfield 1–1 Anelka Radzinski 44,371 [188]
194 (165) 15 September 2001 01–02 Premier League Goodison Park 1–3 Gerrard, Owen, Riise Campbell 39,554 [189]
193 (164) 16 April 2001 00–01 Premier League Goodison Park 2–3 Heskey, Babbel, McAllisterRed card Bišćan Ferguson, Unsworth 40,260 [190]
192 (163) 29 October 2000 00–01 Premier League Anfield 3–1 Barmby, Heskey, Berger CampbellRed card Gravesen 44,718 [191]
191 (162) 21 April 2000 99–00 Premier League Goodison Park 0–0 40,052 [192]
190 (161) 27 September 1999 99–00 Premier League Anfield 0–1 Red card Westerveld, Red card Gerrard CampbellRed card Jeffers 44,802 [193]
189 (160) 3 April 1999 98–99 Premier League Anfield 3–2 Fowler, Berger Dacourt, Jeffers 44,852 [194]
188 (159) 17 October 1998 98–99 Premier League Goodison Park 0–0 40,185 [195]
187 (158) 23 February 1998 97–98 Premier League Anfield 1–1 Ince Ferguson 44,501 [196]
186 (157) 18 October 1997 97–98 Premier League Goodison Park 2–0 Ruddock (o.g.), Cadamarteri 40,112 [197]
185 (156) 16 April 1997 96–97 Premier League Goodison Park 1–1 RedknappRed card Fowler FergusonRed card Unsworth 40,177 [198]
184 (155) 20 November 1996 96–97 Premier League Anfield 1–1 Fowler Speed 40,751 [199]
183 (154) 16 April 1996 95–96 Premier League Goodison Park 1–1 Fowler Kanchelskis 40,120 [200]
182 (153) 18 November 1995 95–96 Premier League Anfield 1–2 Fowler Kanchelskis 40,818 [201]
181 (152) 24 January 1995 94–95 Premier League Anfield 0–0 39,505 [202]
180 (151) 21 November 1994 94–95 Premier League Goodison Park 2–0 Ferguson, Rideout 39,866 [203]
179 (150) 14 March 1994 93–94 Premier League Anfield 2–1 Fowler, Rush Watson 44,281 [204]
178 (149) 18 September 1993 93–94 Premier League Goodison Park 2–0 Cottee, Ward 38,157 [205]
177 (148) 20 March 1993 92–93 Premier League Anfield 1–0 Rosenthal 44,619 [206]
176 (147) 7 December 1992 92–93 Premier League Goodison Park 2–1 Wright Johnston, Beardsley 35,826 [207]
175 (146) 28 December 1991 91–92 First Division Goodison Park 1–1 Tanner Johnston 37,681 [208]
174 (145) 31 August 1991 91–92 First Division Anfield 3–1 Burrows, Saunders, Houghton Newell 39,072 [209]
173 27 February 1991 90–91 FA Cup Rnd 5 R. 2 Goodison Park 1–0 Watson 40,201 [210]
172 20 February 1991 90–91 FA Cup Rnd 5 Rep. Goodison Park 4–4 (aet) Beardsley, Rush, Barnes Cottee, Sharp 37,766 [211]
171 17 February 1991 90–91 FA Cup Rnd 5 Anfield 0–0 38,323 [212]
170 (144) 9 February 1991 90–91 First Division Anfield 3–1 Molby, Speedie Nevin 38,127 [213]
169 (143) 22 September 1990 90–91 First Division Goodison Park 2–3 Beardsley, Barnes (pen.) Hinchcliffe, McCall 39,847 [214]
168 (142) 3 February 1990 89–90 First Division Anfield 2–1 Barnes, Beardsley (pen.) Sharp 38,730 [215]
167 (141) 23 September 1989 89–90 First Division Goodison Park 1–3 Barnes, Rush Newell 42,453 [216]
166 20 May 1989 88–89 FA Cup Final Wembley 3–2 (aet) Aldridge, Rush McCall 82,800 [217]
165 (140) 3 May 1989 88–89 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 45,994 [218]
164 (139) 11 December 1988 88–89 First Division Anfield 1–1 Houghton Clarke (pen.) 42,372 [219]
163 (138) 20 March 1988 87–88 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 Clarke 44,162 [220]
162 21 February 1988 87–88 FA Cup Rnd 5 Goodison Park 0–1 Houghton 48,270 [221]
161 (137) 1 November 1987 87–88 First Division Anfield 2–0 McMahon, Beardsley 44,760 [222]
160 28 October 1987 87–88 League Cup Rnd 3 Anfield 0–1 Stevens 44,071 [223]
159 (136) 25 April 1987 86–87 First Division Anfield 3–1 McMahon, Rush Sheedy 44,827 [224]
158 21 January 1987 86–87 League Cup Rnd 5 Goodison Park 0–1 Rush 53,323 [225]
157 (135) 23 November 1986 86–87 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 48,247 [226]
156 30 September 1986 Super Cup Final 2nd leg Goodison Park 1–4 Rush, Nicol Sharp (pen.) 26,068 [227]
155 16 September 1986 Super Cup Final 1st leg Anfield 3–1 Rush, McMahon Sheedy 20,660 [228]
154 16 August 1986 1986 FA Charity Shield Wembley 1–1 Rush Heath 88,231 [229]
153 10 May 1986 85–86 FA Cup Final Wembley 3–1 Rush, Johnston Lineker 98,000 [230]
152 (134) 22 February 1986 85–86 First Division Anfield 0–2 Ratcliffe, Lineker 45,445 [231]
151 (133) 21 September 1985 85–86 First Division Goodison Park 2–3 Dalglish, Rush, McMahon Sharp, Lineker 51,509 [232]
150 (132) 23 May 1985 84–85 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 Wilkinson 51,045 [233]
149 (131) 20 October 1984 84–85 First Division Anfield 0–1 Sharp 45,545 [234]
148 18 August 1984 1984 FA Charity Shield Wembley 1–0 Grobbelaar (o.g.) 100,000 [235]
147 28 March 1984 83–84 League Cup Final R. Maine Road 1–0 Souness 52,089 [236]
146 25 March 1984 83–84 League Cup Final Wembley 0–0 100,000 [237]
145 (130) 3 March 1984 83–84 First Division Goodison Park 1–1 Rush Harper 51,245 [238]
144 (129) 6 November 1983 83–84 First Division Anfield 3–0 Rush, Robinson, Nicol 40,875 [239]
143 (128) 19 March 1983 82–83 First Division Anfield 0–0 44,737 [240]
142 (127) 6 November 1982 82–83 First Division Goodison Park 0–5 Rush, Lawrenson Red card Keeley 52,741 [241]
141 (126) 27 March 1982 81–82 First Division Goodison Park 1–3 Whelan, Souness, Johnston Sharp 51,847 [242]
140 (125) 7 November 1981 81–82 First Division Anfield 3–1 Dalglish, Rush FergusonRed card O'Keefe 48,861 [243]
139 (124) 21 March 1981 80–81 First Division Anfield 1–0 Bailey (o.g.) 49,743 [244]
138 24 January 1981 80–81 FA Cup Rnd 4 Goodison Park 2–1 Case Eastoe, Varadi 53,804 [245]
137 (123) 18 October 1980 80–81 First Division Goodison Park 2–2 Lee, Dalglish Hartford, McBride 52,565 [246]
136 (122) 1 March 1980 79–80 First Division Goodison Park 1–2 Johnson, Neal (pen.) Eastoe 53,018 [247]
135 (121) 20 October 1979 79–80 First Division Anfield 2–2 Lyons (o.g.), R. KennedyRed card McDermott Kidd, KingRed card Stanley 52,201 [248]
134 (120) 13 March 1979 78–79 First Division Anfield 1–1 Dalglish King 52,352 [249]
133 (119) 28 October 1978 78–79 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 King 53,141 [250]
132 (118) 5 April 1978 77–78 First Division Goodison Park 0–1 Johnson 52,759 [251]
131 (117) 22 October 1977 77–78 First Division Anfield 0–0 51,668 [252]
130 27 April 1977 76–77 FA Cup Semi-final R. Maine Road 3–0 Neal (pen.), Case, Kennedy 56,579 [253]
129 23 April 1977 76–77 FA Cup Semi-final Maine Road 2–2 McDermott, Case Rioch, McKenzie 56,637 [254]
128 (116) 22 March 1977 76–77 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 56,562 [255]
127 (115) 16 October 1976 76–77 First Division Anfield 3–1 Heighway, Neal (pen.), Toshack Dobson 55,141 [256]
126 (114) 3 April 1976 75–76 First Division Anfield 1–0 Fairclough 54,632 [257]
125 (113) 27 September 1975 75–76 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 55,769 [258]
124 (112) 22 February 1975 74–75 First Division Anfield 0–0 55,853 [259]
123 (111) 16 November 1974 74–75 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 57,190 [260]
122 (110) 20 April 1974 73–74 First Division Anfield 0–0 55,848 [261]
121 (109) 8 December 1973 73–74 First Division Goodison Park 0–1 Waddle 56,098 [262]
120 (108) 3 March 1973 72–73 First Division Goodison Park 0–2 Hughes 54,856 [263]
119 (107) 7 October 1972 72–73 First Division Anfield 1–0 Cormack 55,975 [264]
118 (106) 4 March 1972 71–72 First Division Anfield 4–0 Wright (o.g.), McLaughlin (o.g.), Lawler, Hughes 53,922 [265]
117 (105) 13 November 1971 71–72 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 Johnson 56,293 [266]
116 27 March 1971 70–71 FA Cup Semi-final Old Trafford 2–1 Evans, Hall Ball 62,144 [267]
115 (104) 20 February 1971 70–71 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 56,846 [268]
114 (103) 21 November 1970 70–71 First Division Anfield 3–2 Heighway, Toshack, Lawler Royle, Whittle 53,777 [269]
113 (102) 21 March 1970 69–70 First Division Anfield 0–2 Royle, Whittle 54,496 [270]
112 (101) 6 December 1969 69–70 First Division Goodison Park 0–3 Hughes, Brown (o.g.), Graham 57,370 [271]
111 (100) 8 October 1968 68–69 First Division Anfield 1–1 Smith Ball 54,496 [272]
110 (99) 27 August 1968 68–69 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 63,938 [273]
109 (98) 3 February 1968 67–68 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 Kendall 64,482 [274]
108 (97) 23 September 1967 67–68 First Division Anfield 1–0 Hunt 54,189 [275]
107 11 March 1967 66–67 FA Cup Rnd 5 Goodison Park 1–0 Ball 64,851 [276]
106 (96) 31 December 1966 66–67 First Division Anfield 0–0 53,744 [277]
105 (95) 27 August 1966 66–67 First Division Goodison Park 3–1 Smith Ball, Brown 64,318 [278]
104 13 August 1966 1966 FA Charity Shield Goodison Park 0–1 Hunt 63,329 [279]
103 (94) 19 March 1966 65–66 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 62,337 [280]
102 (93) 25 September 1965 65–66 First Division Anfield 5–0 Smith, Hunt, Stevenson, St. John 53,557 [281]
101 (92) 12 April 1965 64–65 First Division Goodison Park 2–1 Stevenson (pen.) Morrissey, Temple 65,402 [282]
100 (91) 19 September 1964 64–65 First Division Anfield 0–4 Harvey, Morrissey, Pickering, Temple 52,619 [283]
99 (90) 8 February 1964 63–64 First Division Goodison Park 3–1 St. John Vernon, Gabriel 66,515 [284]
98 (89) 28 September 1963 63–64 First Division Anfield 2–1 Callaghan Vernon 51,976 [285]
97 (88) 8 April 1963 62–63 First Division Anfield 0–0 56,060 [286]
96 (87) 22 September 1962 62–63 First Division Goodison Park 2–2 Lewis, Hunt Morrissey, Vernon 72,488 [287]
95 29 January 1955 54–55 FA Cup Rnd 4 Goodison Park 0–4 Liddell, A'Court, Evans 72,000 [288]
There were no league derbies between 1951 and 1962. Everton were relegated in 1951 and were in the Football League Second Division for 3 seasons (1951–52 to 1953–54).
Everton were promoted in 1953–54 (1953–54), whilst Liverpool were relegated to the Football League Second Division that same season. Liverpool were in the Football League Second Division for 8 seasons (1954–55 to 1961–62).
94 (86) 20 January 1951 50–51 First Division Anfield 0–2 McIntosh 48,688 [289]
93 (85) 16 September 1950 50–51 First Division Goodison Park 1–3 Stubbins, Balmer Eglington 71,150 [290]
92 25 March 1950 49–50 FA Cup Semi-final Maine Road 2–0 Paisley, Liddell 72,000 [291]
91 (84) 24 December 1949 49–50 First Division Anfield 3–1 Baron, Fagan Farrell 50,485 [292]
90 (83) 27 August 1949 49–50 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 70,812 [293]
89 (82) 5 February 1949 48–49 First Division Anfield 0–0 50,132 [294]
88 (81) 18 September 1948 48–49 First Division Goodison Park 1–1 Fagan Dodds 78,299 [295]
87 (80) 21 April 1948 47–48 First Division Anfield 4–0 Stubbins, Liddell, Brierley, Balmer 55,305 [296]
86 (79) 27 September 1947 47–48 First Division Goodison Park 0–3 Balmer, Stubbins, Fagan 66,776 [297]
85 (78) 29 January 1947 46–47 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 Wainwright 50,612 [298]
84 (77) 21 September 1946 46–47 First Division Anfield 0–0 48,875 [299]
No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to World War II
83 (76) 4 February 1939 38–39 First Division Anfield 0–3 Lawton, Bentham 55,994 [300]
82 (75) 1 October 1938 38–39 First Division Goodison Park 2–1 Fagan (pen.) Bentham, Boyes 64,977 [301]
81 (74) 16 February 1938 37–38 First Division Goodison Park 1–3 Balmer, Shafto Lawton 33,465 [302]
80 (73) 2 October 1937 37–38 First Division Anfield 1–2 Nieuwenhuys Lawton, Trentham 43,904 [303]
79 (72) 23 January 1937 36–37 First Division Anfield 3–2 Howe, Taylor, Balmer Stevenson 37,055 [304]
78 (71) 19 September 1936 36–37 First Division Goodison Park 2–0 Dean, Stevenson 55,835 [305]
77 (70) 4 January 1936 35–36 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 52,282 [306]
76 (69) 7 September 1935 35–36 First Division Anfield 6–0 Howe, Hodgson 46,082 [307]
75 (68) 20 March 1935 34–35 First Division Anfield 2–1 Hodgson (1 pen.) Dean 31,965 [308]
74 (67) 15 September 1934 34–35 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 Dean 43,001 [309]
73 (66) 10 February 1934 33–34 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 52,088 [310]
72 (65) 30 September 1933 33–34 First Division Anfield 3–2 Nieuwenhuys, Hanson, English Johnson, White 53,698 [311]
71 (64) 11 February 1933 32–33 First Division Anfield 7–4 Hanson, Barton, Morrison, Taylor, Roberts Dean, Johnson, Stein 41,469 [312]
70 (63) 1 October 1932 32–33 First Division Goodison Park 3–1 Gunson Dean, Critchley 44,214 [313]
69 (62) 30 January 1932 31–32 First Division Goodison Park 2–1 Wright Critchley, White 46,537 [314]
68 9 January 1932 31–32 FA Cup Rnd 3 Goodison Park 1–2 Gunson, Hodgson Dean 57,090 [315]
67 (61) 19 September 1931 31–32 First Division Anfield 1–3 Wright Dean 53,220 [316]
1930–31 Everton were in the Football League Second Division
66 (60) 4 January 1930 29–30 First Division Goodison Park 3–3 Edmed, McPherson, McDougall Dean, Critchley 52,600 [317]
65 (59) 7 September 1929 29–30 First Division Anfield 0–3 Dean, Martin 44,891 [318]
64 (58) 9 February 1929 28–29 First Division Anfield 1–2 Race Griffiths, White 45,095 [319]
63 (57) 29 September 1928 28–29 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 Troup 55,415 [320]
62 (56) 25 February 1928 27–28 First Division Anfield 3–3 Hopkin, Bromilow, Hodgson Dean 55,361 [321]
61 (55) 15 October 1927 27–28 First Division Goodison Park 1–1 Edmed Troup 65,729 [322]
60 (54) 12 February 1927 26–27 First Division Anfield 1–0 Chambers 52,840 [323]
59 (53) 25 September 1926 26–27 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 O'Donnell 43,973 [324]
58 (52) 6 February 1926 25–26 First Division Goodison Park 3–3 Oxley, Forshaw Chedgzoy, Dean, Irvine 45,793 [325]
57 (51) 26 September 1925 25–26 First Division Anfield 5–1 Forshaw, Walsh, Chambers Kennedy 49,426 [326]
56 (50) 7 February 1925 24–25 First Division Anfield 3–1 Shone, Hopkin, Chambers Chadwick 56,000 [327]
55 (49) 4 October 1924 24–25 First Division Goodison Park 0–1 Rawlings 53,000 [328]
54 (48) 13 October 1923 23–24 First Division Anfield 1–2 Walsh Cock, Chedgzoy 50,000 [329]
53 (47) 6 October 1923 23–24 First Division Goodison Park 1–0 Chadwick 51,000 [330]
52 (46) 14 October 1922 22–23 First Division Goodison Park 0–1 Johnson 52,000 [331]
51 (45) 7 October 1922 22–23 First Division Anfield 5–1 Chambers, McNab, Bromilow Williams 54,000 [332]
50 (44) 12 November 1921 21–22 First Division Anfield 1–1 Forshaw Chedgzoy 50,000 [333]
49 (43) 5 November 1921 21–22 First Division Goodison Park 1–1 Shone Brewster 52,000 [334]
48 (42) 30 October 1920 20–21 First Division Goodison Park 0–3 Johnson, Chambers 55,000 [335]
47 (41) 23 October 1920 20–21 First Division Anfield 1–0 Forshaw 50,000 [336]
46 (40) 27 December 1919 19–20 First Division Anfield 1–3 Lewis, Miller Parker 49,662 [337]
45 (39) 20 December 1919 19–20 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 40,000 [338]
No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to World War I
44 (38) 6 February 1915 14–15 First Division Goodison Park 1–3 Sheldon, Nicholl, Pagnam Clennell 30,000 [339]
43 (37) 3 October 1914 14–15 First Division Anfield 0–5 Parker, Clennell 32,000 [340]
42 (36) 17 January 1914 13–14 First Division Anfield 1–2 Metcalf Parker 35,000 [341]
41 (35) 20 September 1913 13–14 First Division Goodison Park 1–2 Lacey Wareing 40,000 [342]
40 (34) 8 February 1913 12–13 First Division Goodison Park 0–2 Parkinson 40,000 [343]
39 (33) 5 October 1912 12–13 First Division Anfield 0–2 Browell, Gault 46,000 [344]
38 (32) 20 January 1912 11–12 First Division Anfield 1–3 Gilligan Beare, Browell, Jefferis 35,000 [345]
37 (31) 16 September 1911 11–12 First Division Goodison Park 2–1 Parkinson Beare, Gourlay 40,000 [346]
36 4 February 1911 10–11 FA Cup Rnd 2 Goodison Park 2–1 Parkinson Young 50,000 [347]
35 (30) 27 December 1910 10–11 First Division Goodison Park 0–1 Parkinson 51,000 [348]
34 (29) 1 October 1910 10–11 First Division Anfield 0–2 Makepeace, Young 40,000 [349]
33 (28) 12 February 1910 09–10 First Division Anfield 0–1 Freeman 40,000 [350]
32 (27) 2 October 1909 09–10 First Division Goodison Park 2–3 Goddard, Stewart, Parkinson Coleman, Freeman 45,000 [351]
31 (26) 9 April 1909 08–09 First Division Goodison Park 5–0 Freeman, Coleman, Turner, White 45,000 [352]
30 (25) 3 October 1908 08–09 First Division Anfield 0–1 Barlow 40,000 [353]
29 (24) 17 April 1908 07–08 First Division Anfield 0–0 35,000 [354]
28 (23) 5 October 1907 07–08 First Division Goodison Park 2–4 J. Hewitt, Raisbeck, Cox, C. Hewitt Makepeace, Settle 40,000 [355]
27 (22) 29 March 1907 06–07 First Division Goodison Park 0–0 45,000 [356]
26 (21) 29 September 1906 06–07 First Division Anfield 1–2 Parkinson Young 40,000 [357]
25 (20) 13 April 1906 05–06 First Division Anfield 1–1 West (pen.) Taylor 33,000 [358]
24 31 March 1906 05–06 FA Cup Semi-final Villa Park 2–0 Abbott, Hardman 37,000 [359]
23 (19) 30 September 1905 05–06 First Division Goodison Park 4–2 Hewitt Abbott, Hardman, Settle, Sharp 40,000 [360]
1904–05 Liverpool were in the Football League Second Division
22 8 February 1905 04–05 FA Cup Rnd 1 Rep. Goodison Park 2–1 Goddard Hardman, McDermott 40,000 [361]
21 4 February 1905 04–05 FA Cup Rnd 1 Anfield 1–1 Parkinson Makepeace 28,000 [362]
20 (18) 1 April 1904 03–04 First Division Goodison Park 5–2 Robinson, Cox Young, Wolstenholme 40,000 [363]
19 (17) 10 October 1903 03–04 First Division Anfield 2–2 Morris Sheridan 30,000 [364]
18 (16) 10 April 1903 02–03 First Division Anfield 0–0 28,000 [365]
17 (15) 27 September 1902 02–03 First Division Goodison Park 3–1 Raybould (pen.) Abbott, Brearley, Young 40,000 [366]
16 30 January 1902 01–02 FA Cup Rnd 1 Rep. Goodison Park 0–2 Balmer (o.g.), Hunter 20,000 [367]
15 25 January 1902 01–02 FA Cup Rnd 1 Anfield 2–2 Robertson, Hunter Sharp, Young 25,000 [368]
14 (14) 11 January 1902 01–02 First Division Goodison Park 4–0 Settle, Bell, Young 25,000 [369]
13 (13) 14 September 1901 01–02 First Division Anfield 2–2 White, Raybould Settle, Sharp 30,000 [370]
12 (12) 19 January 1901 00–01 First Division Anfield 1–2 Cox Taylor 18,000 [371]
11 (11) 22 September 1900 00–01 First Division Goodison Park 1–1 Raybould McDonald 50,000 [372]
10 (10) 20 January 1900 99–00 First Division Goodison Park 3–1 Raybould Settle, Blythe 30,000 [373]
9 (9) 23 September 1899 99–00 First Division Anfield 1–2 Robertson Settle, Taylor 30,000 [374]
8 (8) 21 January 1899 98–99 First Division Anfield 2–0 Walker, Robertson 30,000 [375]
7 (7) 24 September 1898 98–99 First Division Goodison Park 1–2 McCowie (1 pen.) Proudfoot 45,000 [376]
6 (6) 16 October 1897 97–98 First Division Goodison Park 3–0 Williams, Bell 40,000 [377]
5 (5) 25 September 1897 97–98 First Division Anfield 3–1 Cunliffe, McQue, Becton Taylor 30,000 [378]
4 (4) 21 November 1896 96–97 First Division Anfield 0–0 30,000 [379]
3 (3) 3 October 1896 96–97 First Division Goodison Park 2–1 Ross Hartley, Milward 45,000 [380]
1895–96 Liverpool were in the Football League Second Division
2 (2) 17 November 1894 94–95 First Division Anfield 2–2 Hannah, Ross (pen.) Kelso, Latta 30,000 [381]
1 (1) 13 October 1894 94–95 First Division Goodison Park 3–0 Bell, Latta, McInnes 44,000 [1]

Testimonials

[edit]
Date Beneficiary Venue Score Liverpool scorers Everton scorers Attendance Ref.
4 September 2010 Jamie Carragher Anfield 4–1 Luis García, Carragher, Cole, Eccleston Carragher (o.g.) 35,631 [382]
10 October 1992 Bruce Grobbelaar Anfield 2–2 Burrows, Rosenthal Beagrie, Barlow 20,516 [383]
12 August 1985 Phil Neal Anfield 2–3 Neal, Johnston Heath Mountfield 23,480 [384]
11 May 1981 Steve Heighway Anfield 2–2 Johnson Hickson (pen.) Latchford 17,137 [385]
13 March 1973 Brian Labone Goodison Park 2–1 Toshack Lyons, Husband 25,779 [386]

See also

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Merseyside derby is the association football rivalry between and , the two primary professional clubs based in the city of , , . The contest originated from a 1892 schism within Everton, when a faction of the club's committee—denied permission to purchase land for a new stadium—was expelled from and subsequently founded as a breakaway entity. Their inaugural competitive meeting occurred on 13 October 1894, with Everton prevailing 3–0 in an first-round tie. The derby's enduring intensity arises from the clubs' geographic proximity—their historic stadia, and , lie approximately 0.8 miles (1.3 km) apart—and a shared local fanbase often divided by family loyalties, though it lacks the sectarian undertones of rivalries like the . As English football's longest continuously contested top-flight derby since the 1962–63 season, it typically features twice annually in the , influencing title races, relegation battles, and European qualification. Liverpool holds a commanding all-time edge across 246 meetings in all competitions, with 102 victories to Everton's 69 and 75 draws, reflecting their greater success: 19 league titles and six triumphs compared to Everton's nine league crowns and no European Cup wins. At specifically, the record remains tightly balanced after 119 fixtures, with each side netting 141 goals. Key defining characteristics include memorable individual performances—such as Steven Gerrard's in a 2001 FA Cup fifth-round win for —and rare high-scoring thrillers, though recent decades have seen tighter contests amid Everton's relative decline. Controversies have centered on refereeing decisions, player transfers across the divide (e.g., from Everton to in 1982), and occasional pitch invasions or crowd unrest, but empirical data on fan behavior indicates lower violence rates than in other major English derbies, attributable to causal factors like economic interdependence in 's working-class communities. The fixture's cultural significance persists, symbolizing civic pride amid 's post-industrial challenges, with both clubs' global followings amplifying its profile despite 's dominance in honors and revenue.

Historical Development

Origins and Early Years

The Merseyside derby originated from a schism within Everton Football Club in 1892, stemming from disputes over financial control and stadium ownership at . Everton, founded in 1878 as St. Domingo's Methodist Church football team and renamed Everton in 1881, had played at since 1884 under a from local brewer and politician . Tensions escalated when Houlding proposed increasing the rent from £100 to £250 annually and sought greater influence over club affairs, including share ownership, which the Everton committee interpreted as an attempt to dominate the amateur-led organization. Refusing these terms, the committee resolved to relocate, purchasing land and constructing , which opened for a match against Bolton Wanderers on August 27, 1892. In response, Houlding founded Liverpool Football Club on March 15, 1892, retaining as its home and positioning the new entity as the rightful representative of professional football in . entered the Lancashire League in 1893 before joining the Football League's Second Division for the 1893–94 season, winning promotion as champions to reach the First Division by 1894–95, where Everton had remained since 1888. This split, often termed "The Split," birthed the rivalry without initial sectarian or profound class divides, distinguishing it from more acrimonious English derbies; early encounters were characterized as relatively amicable, earning the fixture the moniker "Friendly Derby." The first official competitive match occurred on October 13, 1894, in the First Division at , with Everton securing a 3–0 victory before a crowd of approximately 40,000; goals came from Fred Geary (two) and Edgar Chadwick. The return fixture at on November 24, 1894, ended 0–0, reflecting competitive balance in the nascent rivalry. Through the 1890s and into the early 1900s, matches alternated wins, with claiming their first derby triumph on September 29, 1906 (2–1 at ), amid both clubs' inconsistent league performances—Everton winning the First Division in 1890–91 and 1914–15, while secured titles in 1900–01 and 1905–06. Attendance figures grew steadily, underscoring local fervor, though the rivalry's intensity remained tempered compared to later decades.

Pre-World War II Period

The formation of the Merseyside derby stemmed directly from the 1892 schism at Everton Football Club, precipitated by escalating disputes between club officials and Anfield landlord over rent increases, profit-sharing, and control of the ground. Everton, founded in 1878 as St. Domingo's Methodist Church team and professionalized in 1885, had occupied since 1884 but relocated to the newly built in 1892 amid the acrimony, leaving Houlding to establish on the same site later that year with a core of former Everton players. This split, rooted in financial and administrative pragmatism rather than ideological or sectarian divides, laid the groundwork for a defined by local pride and competition for dominance in Liverpool's working-class football culture, without the religious undertones seen in other English derbies. The first competitive encounter took place on 13 October 1894 in a Lancashire League match at , where Everton prevailed 3–0 before a crowd of approximately 20,000, marking the onset of regular fixtures as both clubs ascended to the in 1893 and Everton maintaining their status. Early derbies were characterized by closely contested results, with Everton holding a slight edge in the initial decade; for instance, they won 7–4 in a high-scoring First Division thriller on 28 October 1898 at . Both sides experienced fluctuating fortunes, but the period saw mutual success in English football: secured league championships in 1900–01, 1905–06, 1921–22, and 1922–23 under managers Tom Watson and Matt McQueen, while Everton lifted the title in 1914–15, 1927–28, 1931–32, and 1938–39, often mirroring each other's competitive cycles and intensifying the stakes of the twice-seasonal league clashes. By the interwar years, the derby had solidified as a staple of football, with growing attendances reflecting the city's industrial populace's passion, though the rivalry remained comparatively restrained—earning the "friendly derby" moniker from contemporary observers due to shared fanbases across divided families and absence of entrenched hatreds. Notable imbalances emerged, such as Liverpool's record 6–0 home league victory in the 1935–36 season at , underscoring tactical evolutions like Liverpool's emphasis on passing play versus Everton's physical style. Pre-war head-to-head records showed parity, with roughly even wins in league fixtures up to 1939, interrupted briefly by Everton's Second Division relegation in 1930–31 but restored by promotion the following year. The onset of in September 1939 halted official competitive play, preserving the fixture's pre-war legacy of balanced antagonism amid broader league achievements.

Post-War to 1970s

Following the resumption of league football after , Liverpool claimed the First Division title in the 1946–47 season, their first major honour since 1930, amid a derby landscape initially marked by mixed results, including a 4–0 Liverpool victory at in April 1948 and an Everton home win by the same scoreline in January 1947. Both clubs soon entered a period of decline, however, with Everton suffering relegation to the Second Division at the conclusion of the 1950–51 campaign and Liverpool following suit in 1953–54, suspending top-flight derbies for over a decade. A rare encounter during this interlude came in the 1955 fourth round, where defeated Everton 4–0 at , advancing to the fifth round before elimination. Everton secured promotion back to the First Division in 1954 under manager Cliff Britton, while languished until Bill Shankly's appointment in December 1959 sparked a revival, culminating in Second Division championship and promotion in 1961–62. League derbies resumed in the 1962–63 season, coinciding with both clubs' ascent: a 2–2 draw at in was followed by Liverpool's 2–1 Anfield win in April, though Everton clinched the title that year. The 1960s epitomized reciprocal success, with Everton retaining the league crown in 1962–63 and winning it again in 1969–70 alongside the 1966 , while Liverpool responded with First Division titles in 1963–64 and 1965–66, plus the 1965 . Derby fixtures mirrored this parity through volatile outcomes, including Everton's 4–0 rout at on 19 1964, Liverpool's reprisal 5–0 victory five weeks later, and Everton's 3–1 home win amid their 1966–67 league campaign despite a goalless Anfield return. Everton also ousted Liverpool 1–0 in the 1966–67 fifth round, reaching the semi-finals. Liverpool's 1966 Charity Shield triumph over Everton, 1–0 at Goodison Park before a 63,329 crowd, underscored emerging edge, as did their 1971 FA Cup semi-final 2–1 extra-time win against Everton at Old Trafford. The 1970s amplified Liverpool's ascendancy under Shankly and successor , yielding 10 league derby victories to Everton's 3, highlighted by a 4–0 Anfield thrashing on 4 March 1972 and a run of five consecutive home wins from 1971–76. Everton notched sporadic successes, such as a 2–0 Goodison victory on 21 March 1970 during their title push, but frequent draws—22 in league play overall from 1945–79—preserved the fixture's reputation for tension without consistent acrimony. Across the era, Liverpool amassed 18 league wins to Everton's 13, plus a 3–2 cup advantage.

1980s: Heightened Tensions

The 1980s represented a peak of competitive intensity in the Merseyside derby, as both and Everton achieved substantial success amid Merseyside's economic hardships, amplifying on-pitch rivalries and off-field resentments. won First Division titles in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, and 1988, alongside European triumphs, while Everton claimed the league in 1985 and 1987, plus the 1984 Cup Winners' Cup. This mutual dominance led to direct clashes in major finals, including the 1984 final, where defeated Everton 1–0 at with a goal, and FA Cup finals in 1986 ( 3–1 Everton) and 1989 ( 3–2 Everton after extra time, with scoring the winner). Across league and cup encounters from 1984 to 1989, edged Everton with seven wins to five, alongside three draws, fostering a period of "best enemies" where matches were characterized by bravado and emotional stakes over tactical precision. On the pitch, derbies grew more physical, with players like Liverpool's describing games as "full of bravado," and incidents such as Everton's Kevin Sheedy flashing a V-sign at Liverpool fans after scoring underscoring the rising fervor. The rivalry saw an uptick in dismissals compared to prior decades, reflecting broader trends in English football's combative era, though specific red card tallies remained lower than in later periods. Off-field tensions escalated following the 1985 , where Liverpool fans' actions contributed to 39 deaths during the European Cup final against Juventus, prompting a five-year ban on English clubs. This penalized Everton, who had qualified for Europe as 1985 champions and later in 1987, fueling resentment among some Everton supporters who attributed their exclusion to Liverpool's role in the tragedy. Such grievances manifested in occasional chants referencing Heysel during derbies, deepening divides despite the clubs' shared regional identity. The 1989 , claiming 96 Liverpool lives, elicited solidarity from Everton, including joint memorials and fan tributes, temporarily bridging gaps but not erasing prior strains. Overall, the decade's blend of triumphs and tragedies transformed the derby from a relatively amicable intra-city contest into one marked by sharper edges, though mutual respect endured amid the city's collective challenges.

1990s: Shifting Dynamics

In the 1990s, the Merseyside derby reflected broader challenges for both clubs, as and Everton transitioned from their dominant eras of the and into a period of stagnation amid the rise of Manchester United and the commercialization of the newly formed in 1992. , who had last won the league title in 1989–90, failed to secure another First Division or Premier League crown during the decade, finishing second in 1990–91 before settling for mid-table positions under managers and . Everton, champions as recently as 1986–87, endured consistent lower-table struggles, narrowly avoiding relegation multiple times, such as in 1993–94 and 1997–98. Despite these parallel declines, the rivalry intensified through high-stakes encounters, with Everton claiming the edge in league derbies, winning six to 's five across 18 meetings from 1990 to 1999, alongside seven draws. A pivotal shift occurred with intra-city transfers that heightened tensions, exemplified by Peter Beardsley's move from to Everton in July 1991 for £500,000, followed by Gary Ablett's transfer in 1992. Beardsley scored the decisive goal in a 2–1 Everton victory at on 7 November 1992, becoming the first player to net for both sides in the fixture and underscoring the personal stakes amid fan divides. Other notable results included Everton's 1–0 win at on 27 September 1999, their first there since 1991, and a 2–1 triumph at Goodison in April 1998, contributing to Liverpool's frustration in a season where they finished seventh. These outcomes contrasted with Liverpool's overall superior league standings, as Everton's derby successes often came during their own precarious campaigns, fostering a narrative of resilient underdog defiance. Cup competitions amplified the decade's volatility, highlighted by the fifth-round ties, which produced a 4–4 thriller at on 20 February 1991—featuring goals from (2), , and for Everton, and (2), , and for —before Liverpool advanced 2–1 on aggregate after replays. Such matches maintained the derby's ferocity, with 23 red cards issued across derbies since 1992, many in the amid physical confrontations. By decade's end, Liverpool's 3–2 home win on 3 April 1999 signaled emerging momentum, but Everton's derby resilience marked a departure from Liverpool's prior hegemony, emphasizing local pride over national contention.

2000s: Uneven Competition

The 2000s marked a period of dominance for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, reflecting their broader resurgence under managers Gérard Houllier (until 2004) and Rafael Benítez (2004–2010), contrasted with Everton's stabilization under Walter Smith (until 2002) and David Moyes (2002–2013). In 20 Premier League fixtures between 2000 and 2009, Liverpool recorded 12 wins, 6 draws, and 2 losses to Everton. This imbalance extended to cup competitions, though Everton claimed a notable victory in the 2009 FA Cup fourth-round replay (1–0 after extra time following a 1–1 draw). Everton's scarcity of successes underscored the chasm: their only league triumphs were a 1–0 win at on 11 December 2004 ( scoring) and a 3–0 home victory on 9 September 2006 ( and James Vaughan with two), the latter marking their largest margin in a derby league in 42 years. Liverpool, meanwhile, inflicted heavy defeats, including a 3–0 away win on 30 August 2003 ( with two goals) and multiple 3–1 victories, such as at on 25 March 2006 (own goal by , Luis García, and scoring). Everton failed to win any league or cup at for 22 consecutive derbies starting from 2000, spanning over a . Discipline issues plagued Everton, with multiple red cards in losses, including three players dismissed in the 20 October 2007 derby (Gary Neville, Tony Hibbert, and Phil Jagielka) en route to a 2–1 defeat. Key Liverpool contributors included Steven Gerrard, who scored in several encounters, and forwards like Owen, Milan Baroš, and Fernando Torres. The derby's intensity persisted, but Liverpool's tactical edge and European campaigns—culminating in the 2005 UEFA Champions League triumph—mirrored their superiority in head-to-heads, while Everton's top-six Premier League finishes under Moyes offered respectability without bridging the gap.

2010s: Liverpool Ascendancy

![2017 Merseyside Derby](./assets/Merseyside_Derby_2017_11 The 2010s witnessed 's pronounced dominance in the Merseyside derby, with the club securing victories in most encounters following Everton's 2–0 league win at on 17 October 2010, goals from and marking the Toffees' sole triumph of the decade. Thereafter, Everton failed to defeat in any competitive fixture until June 2021, enduring 20 consecutive derbies without a win by the end of 2019. This shift reflected 's resurgence under interim manager from January 2011, followed by (2012–2015) and (from October 2015), who instilled a high-pressing style that overwhelmed Everton's more defensive setups under (until 2013), , , and . In matches alone from the 2011–12 to 2019–20 seasons, claimed nine wins and seven draws against Everton, conceding just eight goals while scoring 25. Notable victories included a 4–0 thrashing at on 28 December 2014 under Rodgers, with goals from , , and a brace from , and Klopp's debut derby on 28 October 2015, another 4–0 rout featuring strikes from (two), , and . A 3–1 home win on 7 February 2016, highlighted by Jordon Ibe's opener and Divock Origi's brace, further underscored 's superiority, though draws like the 0–0 at on 3 March 2019 prevented total subjugation. Cup competitions offered limited respite for Everton, with no victories but occasional resistance, such as a 2–2 draw in the 2010–11 fourth round at on 29 September 2010, followed by Liverpool's 2–0 extra-time win in the replay. Liverpool's broader success—finishing as high as second in 2013–14 and 2018–19, contrasted with Everton's mid-table consistency (seventh to sixteenth)—amplified the derby's imbalance, driven by Liverpool's recruitment of talents like (pre-2014) and (2017), outpacing Everton's reliance on players like . By December 2019, Liverpool's 5–2 demolition, with a hat-trick, epitomized the era's lopsided nature, extending their unbeaten streak to 19 derbies.
SeasonDateVenueResultCompetition
2010–1117 Oct 2010Goodison ParkEverton 2–0 LiverpoolPremier League
2011–121 Oct 2011AnfieldLiverpool 0–0 EvertonPremier League
2011–1221 Jan 2012Goodison ParkEverton 1–2 LiverpoolPremier League
2012–1311 Nov 2012Goodison ParkEverton 2–2 LiverpoolPremier League
2012–1328 Apr 2013AnfieldLiverpool 4–0 EvertonPremier League
2013–1428 Sep 2013AnfieldLiverpool 3–3 EvertonPremier League
2013–1428 Dec 2014Goodison ParkEverton 0–0 LiverpoolPremier League
2014–1527 Sep 2014Goodison ParkEverton 1–1 LiverpoolPremier League
2014–1522 Feb 2015AnfieldLiverpool 2–0 EvertonPremier League
2015–1617 Oct 2015Goodison ParkEverton 1–1 LiverpoolPremier League
2015–1620 Feb 2016AnfieldLiverpool 3–0 EvertonPremier League
2016–171 Dec 2016Goodison ParkEverton 0–1 LiverpoolPremier League
2016–171 Apr 2017AnfieldLiverpool 2–0 EvertonPremier League
2017–1829 Oct 2017AnfieldLiverpool 0–0 EvertonPremier League
2017–1813 Jan 2018Goodison ParkEverton 1–1 LiverpoolPremier League
2018–197 Dec 2018AnfieldLiverpool 1–0 EvertonPremier League
2018–193 Mar 2019Goodison ParkEverton 0–0 LiverpoolPremier League
2019–204 Dec 2019AnfieldLiverpool 5–2 EvertonPremier League
Note: Table focuses on Premier League fixtures; cup matches were sparse and similarly favored Liverpool.

2020s: Contemporary Matches

The Merseyside derby in the 2020s has been characterized by Liverpool's sustained dominance in the , with the club winning six of the 12 encounters against Everton, who managed two victories and four draws up to September 2025. No major cup competitions featured derby clashes during this period, limiting encounters to league fixtures amid Liverpool's title challenges and Everton's battles against relegation. Under until 2024 and then , Liverpool maintained high pressing and attacking prowess, while Everton, managed by , , , and , relied on defensive resilience and counter-attacks for sporadic successes. Early fixtures set a tone of competitiveness, including a 0–0 draw at on June 21, 2020, during the affected season, followed by a thrilling 2–2 stalemate on October 17, 2020, where Everton twice came from behind, with equalizing late, though a potential Liverpool winner was disallowed by VAR for offside. Everton's standout result came on February 20, 2021, with a 2–0 victory at —their first win there since 1999—thanks to goals from Gylmar Ayew and Michael Keane, capitalizing on Liverpool's injury crisis and defensive errors. Liverpool responded emphatically on December 1, 2021, thrashing Everton 4–1 at , highlighted by Mohamed Salah's . Subsequent years underscored Liverpool's control, with consecutive 2–0 home wins in April 2022 and February 2023, both featuring clean sheets and goals from Liverpool's forward line, including contributions from and . A goalless draw at Goodison on September 3, 2022, preceded another 2–0 Anfield triumph on October 21, 2023. Everton interrupted the sequence with a 2–0 home win on April 24, 2024, scoring through and Calvert-Lewin to end a run of 25 winless derbies against Liverpool. The 2024–25 season saw draws in both fixtures—a 2–2 at Goodison on February 12, 2025—and narrow Liverpool wins, including 1–0 on April 2, 2025, and 2–1 on September 20, 2025, preserving their edge despite Everton's improved organization under Dyche.
DateVenueScoreCompetitionKey Scorers
2020-06-21Everton 0–0 LiverpoolNone
2020-10-17Everton 2–2 LiverpoolCalvert-Lewin (2) for Everton; Mané, Henderson for Liverpool
2021-02-20Liverpool 0–2 EvertonMina, Calvert-Lewin for Everton
2021-12-01Everton 1–4 Liverpool (3), Oxlade-Chamberlain for Liverpool; Gray for Everton
2022-04-24Liverpool 2–0 EvertonHenderson, Firmino for Liverpool
2022-09-03Everton 0–0 LiverpoolNone
2023-02-13Liverpool 2–0 Everton, Núñez for Liverpool
2023-10-21Liverpool 2–0 EvertonGakpo, Jota for Liverpool
2024-04-24Everton 2–0 LiverpoolBranthwaite, Calvert-Lewin for Everton
2025-02-12Everton 2–2 LiverpoolMcNeil, Gueye for Everton; Details unavailable for Liverpool goals
2025-04-02Liverpool 1–0 EvertonDíaz for Liverpool
2025-09-20Liverpool 2–1 EvertonGravenberch, for Liverpool; Details unavailable for Everton goal
Aggregate: Liverpool 6 wins, 16 goals; Everton 2 wins, 9 goals; 4 draws.

Rivalry Characteristics

Geographical and Socioeconomic Context

The Merseyside derby pits Everton Football Club, based at , against Liverpool Football Club, based at , both situated in the city of within the metropolitan county of , . The stadiums are separated by , with a walking distance of approximately 0.59 miles (0.95 km) between them, making it one of the closest major derbies in world football. This proximity has historically facilitated intense local interactions among supporters, contributing to the rivalry's fervor despite the clubs sharing the same urban fabric. Liverpool's geography as a port city on the River Mersey has shaped its identity, with both clubs emerging from neighborhoods tied to the docks, shipbuilding, and trade industries that dominated the local economy from the 18th to mid-20th centuries. Everton originated in 1878 from the St. Domingo Methodist New Connexion Church in the north of the city, reflecting early working-class community ties, while formed in 1892 following a split from Everton over disputes at their shared ground, . The city's socioeconomic landscape, marked by heavy reliance on maritime commerce and manufacturing, fostered a unified working-class base for both fanbases, with after exacerbating economic challenges but not creating divergent class affiliations between the clubs. Perceptions of religious divides, such as Everton as Protestant and as Catholic, stem from the city's historical Irish immigration and sectarian tensions peaking in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but shows no strict alignment; supporters of both faiths have historically backed either team, with Everton's Methodist roots and 's Protestant founder underscoring the overlap rather than opposition. Socioeconomic homogeneity is evident in the clubs' shared role in community identity amid post-industrial decline, where football provided cultural continuity and economic anchors through employment and , rather than fueling class-based antagonism. The thus arises more from territorial proximity and historical than entrenched socioeconomic cleavages.

Fan Loyalties and Family Divides

The Merseyside derby is characterized by deeply entrenched fan loyalties that frequently traverse familial lines, with numerous households in and surrounding areas containing supporters of both Everton and . This phenomenon stems from the clubs' shared origins and proximity, as Everton was founded in 1878 and emerged from its in 1892, fostering intergenerational attachments that do not uniformly align with parental allegiances. Such divisions often manifest during matchdays, where family members may attend games together or share seating at stadiums like , yet loyalties remain sharply delineated, leading to temporary estrangements or heightened banter centered on bragging rights. The rivalry's intensity persists despite these ties, as evidenced by accounts of siblings or parent-child pairs divided by and affiliations, with no predominant geographic segregation dictating support—fans are interspersed across rather than clustered by neighborhood. This pattern of split allegiances has contributed to the derby's historical designation as the "friendly derby," a term reflecting reduced inter-fan violence compared to other English rivalries, though underlying tensions have reportedly intensified in recent decades amid competitive disparities and cultural shifts. Bragging rights within families amplify the stakes, with loyalties passed down or chosen independently, underscoring the clubs' role as communal anchors in a city where football identity overrides broader societal divides.

The "Friendly Derby" Narrative

The designation of the Merseyside derby as the "friendly derby" stems from its historical characterization by relative civility among supporters, attributed to the absence of deep-seated sectarian, political, or class-based divisions that exacerbate other major rivalries, such as the in . Unlike derbies divided by religious or socioeconomic fault lines, the Merseyside fixture has long featured mixed family loyalties and friendships across club lines, with supporters from both Everton and often sharing neighborhoods in the city. This dynamic contributed to a tradition of non-segregated seating in stadiums for decades, allowing fans of opposing allegiances to sit together without widespread violence, a practice uncommon in more fractious English derbies until concerns prompted changes in the . The narrative gained traction in the early 20th century, reflecting the clubs' shared roots—Everton forming in 1892 after a split from the former—and a focus on local pride over external antagonisms. Instances of cross-club solidarity, such as Everton fans' tributes to supporters following the on April 15, 1989, and the joint city mourning after the Heysel Stadium tragedy on May 29, 1985, have reinforced perceptions of underlying amity amid competition. Proponents argue this fosters mutual respect, with players and managers from both sides occasionally acknowledging the personal stakes without descending into the vitriol seen elsewhere; for example, divided households remain commonplace, where siblings or parents support rival clubs without irreparable rifts. However, the "friendly" label has faced scrutiny for understating the fixture's intensity, particularly on the pitch, where the derby holds the record for the most red cards issued, totaling 28 as of 2025, indicative of heightened aggression and stakes. Participants, including former players, describe matches as devoid of mercy, with physical confrontations and amplifying the bitterness, challenging the notion of inherent friendliness. Off-field incidents, though rarer than in derbies like Manchester's, have occurred, including arrests for disorder after the March 20, 2005, league match and sporadic hooligan clashes in the amid broader English football unrest. Critics contend the narrative romanticizes a fueled by trophy disparities and local dominance contests, where Everton's historical grievances over Liverpool's success add a layer of resentment not diluted by proximity. Empirical comparisons reveal fewer large-scale violent outbreaks relative to peers, yet the emotional toll—evident in player testimonials of familial strains—suggests the amity is conditional, preserved more by shared civic identity than absence of enmity.

Traditions and Atmosphere

The Merseyside derby generates an electric atmosphere marked by fervent support from both fanbases, with matches at and drawing capacities often surpassing 50,000 spectators, as seen in the 53,596 attendance for the February 2025 fixture at Goodison, Everton's final home derby before relocation. Pre-match build-up includes fan zones and street gatherings hours before kick-off, amplifying tension through shared routes and close geographical proximity, which fosters both rivalry and occasional regional camaraderie. The fixture's traditions encompass club anthems and derby-specific chants that underscore mutual antagonism, such as Liverpool supporters' renditions mocking Everton's trophy drought since their 1995 win—"Since 1995!"—and Everton's "Grand Old Team" hymn affirming their foundational status in the city. Liverpool's "," adopted from Everton in , contrasts with Everton's "" theme, both blaring pre-match to rally crowds, while taunts like Liverpool's "Tell your ma, your ma, to wipe away all your tears" target perceived Evertonian underachievement. These vocal exchanges contribute to a cauldron-like intensity, with players noting the psychological pressure from audible barracking throughout games. Historically dubbed the "friendly derby" for lower violence rates—attributed to familial splits across clubs and fewer organized hooligan clashes than in or derbies—this label belies on-field ferocity, as evidenced by rare but pointed dismissals like Duncan Ferguson's 1994 sending-off at for headbutting . Participants, including ex-Liverpool defender , reject the notion as mythical, stressing a visceral urge to dominate rivals rooted in local pride rather than mere amicability. Instances of unity, such as joint "" chants during the parade following Everton's victory, highlight shared identity amid competition, though modern disparities in success have intensified Evertonian resentment.

Extended Rivalries Including Tranmere Rovers

Tranmere Rovers, based in on the across the River Mersey from , extends the rivalry framework beyond the primary Liverpool-Everton contest due to shared regional identity and occasional competitive encounters. Matches involving Tranmere are occasionally termed "other Merseyside derbies," reflecting geographic proximity within the county of , though Tranmere's lower league status has limited frequency and intensity compared to the top-flight clashes. For Tranmere supporters, Liverpool represents the primary antagonist in this extended dynamic, fueled by proximity, historical aspirations to rival the Reds' dominance, and sporadic ties where upsets have occurred. A notable wartime example came on December 25, 1942, when Tranmere defeated 3-1 at , followed by a 4-1 victory over Everton the next day, showcasing rare triumphs amid consistent league disparities. Overall head-to-head records heavily favor , with 28 wins, 10 draws, and 5 losses across 43 competitive meetings up to 2019, predominantly in friendlies and rather than league play. Relations with Everton carry less mutual animosity but include memorable confrontations, such as Tranmere's 3-0 fourth-round upset on January 27, 2001, at —goals from Paul Yates (two) and —before a 4-2 fifth-round loss to four days later. Everton holds a stronger record against Tranmere, with 22 wins to Tranmere's 7 in 36 league and cup fixtures, yet these games underscore Wirral-Merseyside tensions, occasionally amplified by local bragging rights. These rivalries, while asymmetrical due to Tranmere's prolonged presence in and below since relegation from the in 2001, contribute to a broader tapestry of football loyalty divides, where family and community ties often span clubs but intensify during cross-Mersey fixtures. Fan surveys and anecdotal reports indicate Tranmere views both giants as adversaries, though elicits stronger resentment given unfulfilled ambitions to match their stature in the 1990s under manager . No league meetings have occurred since 1972, confining interactions to cups and pre-seasons, which tempers but does not erase the regional friction.

Competitive Outcomes

Aggregate Statistics

In competitive fixtures excluding wartime games and friendlies, Everton and have met 245 times, with recording 99 wins, Everton 68 wins, and 78 draws. have scored 341 goals to Everton's 270 across these encounters.
AspectLiverpoolDrawsEverton
Total Matches99 wins7868 wins
Goals Scored341-270
At , Everton's home, the record stands at 42 Everton wins, 38 draws, and 39 wins. In matches at , hold a stronger 53 wins to Everton's 25, with 37 draws. The goal difference favors by 71 overall, reflecting their historical edge in scoring efficiency despite Everton's occasional periods of parity, such as in the interwar years.

League vs. Cup Results

In league fixtures of the English First Division (later ), Liverpool hold a dominant record over Everton, with 96 wins, 75 draws, and 63 defeats across 234 matches as of 2025. This disparity underscores Liverpool's greater consistency in the regular-season format, where endurance and squad depth play larger roles compared to the knockout intensity of cups. Everton's successes in league derbies have often clustered in eras of their own competitive peaks, such as the early and the , but Liverpool's post-1960s ascendancy has widened the gap. Cup competitions, including the and (formerly Football League Cup), have yielded more balanced outcomes, with fewer total encounters amplifying individual results' significance. In the , the clubs have met 23 times, resulting in 10 Liverpool wins, 7 Everton victories, and 6 draws; notable among these are Liverpool's triumphs in both finals contested between them—a 3–1 victory in 1986 and a 3–2 extra-time win in 1989. ties, numbering around a dozen, have seen competitive exchanges, including Everton's 2–1 upset at in the 1970 second round, though Liverpool have edged more recent knockout stages. Community Shield meetings remain rare, with Liverpool prevailing on penalties after a 1–1 draw in 1986. Overall, cups exhibit higher draw rates and closer scorelines, reflecting the high-pressure, single-elimination nature that tempers Liverpool's league advantage.
CompetitionMatchesEverton WinsDrawsLiverpool Wins
League234637596
237610
(approx.)~12~3~3~6
The table illustrates the quantitative edge in league play, while cup data highlights relative parity, with sources like and historical match logs confirming these trends through verified results rather than anecdotal narratives.

Honours and Trophy Disparities

Liverpool and Everton have accumulated disparate levels of major honours, with Liverpool securing 52 major trophies as of 2025, compared to Everton's 15 major domestic and European titles. This gap has widened since the mid-20th century, as Everton's nine English top-flight league titles—achieved between 1891 and 1987—contrast with Liverpool's 20 titles, the most recent in the 2024–25 season under manager . Everton's last league championship came in 1987, after which financial constraints and managerial instability limited their competitiveness, while Liverpool's era of dominance under , , and subsequent managers yielded multiple titles and European triumphs. In cup competitions, Liverpool hold advantages in both volume and recency: eight FA Cups (latest 2022) and ten League Cups (latest 2024), whereas Everton have five FA Cups (latest 1995) and no League Cups. European honours underscore the disparity most starkly, with Liverpool claiming six UEFA Champions Leagues (formerly European Cups, latest 2019) and three UEFA Cups/Europa Leagues, achievements absent from Everton's record beyond a single 1985 Cup Winners' Cup victory.
Major HonourLiverpoolEverton
English Top-Flight League Titles209
FA Cup85
League Cup100
UEFA Champions League/European Cup60
Other UEFA Competitions
FIFA Club World Cup10
¹Includes 3 UEFA Cups and 1 European Super Cup; ²Cup Winners' Cup. This imbalance fuels dynamics, as Everton fans often invoke their club's foundational role in English football and early successes to counter 's modern trophy haul, while supporters highlight the latter's global prestige and sustained excellence. No peer-reviewed analyses directly attribute causal factors beyond observable patterns of stability, and squad quality, though Everton's post-1995 trophyless streak aligns with periods of ownership transitions and relegation battles.

Records and Milestones

Top Goalscorers

Ian Rush holds the record for the most goals in Merseyside derby matches, scoring 25 times for Liverpool across all competitions from 1981 to 1996. His haul includes four goals in a 5–0 league victory over Everton on 6 November 1982, equaling a previous derby record set by Fred Howe in 1935. Dixie Dean is the highest-scoring player for Everton, with 19 goals primarily during the 1920s and 1930s. The following table lists the top goalscorers in derby history (all competitive matches):
RankPlayerClubGoals
125
2Everton19
313
4Alex YoungEverton9
5Everton9
Steven Gerrard ranks among Liverpool's leading derby scorers with 10 goals, mostly in the Premier League era. Mohamed Salah had scored 12 goals by early 2025, placing him fifth all-time and the highest active player.

Most Appearances

Neville Southall holds the record for the most appearances in Merseyside derby matches, featuring 41 times for Everton as goalkeeper between 1982 and 1997. His longevity coincided with a sustained period of top-flight competition between the clubs, allowing consistent participation across league and cup fixtures. Southall's record underscores the defensive demands of the fixture, where goalkeepers often accumulate high totals due to rare substitutions in that era. Ian Rush ranks second overall with 36 appearances for from 1981 to 1996, spanning two spells at the club. follows with 34 for between 1981 and 1993, another whose career overlapped multiple successful seasons for the Reds. The table below lists the top 11 players by appearances, reflecting data up to 2024 with no subsequent players surpassing these figures given the infrequency of modern derbies relative to historical rates.
RankPlayerClubAppearancesYears Active
1Everton411982–1997
2Liverpool361981–1996
3Liverpool341981–1993
4Liverpool331977–1990
5Liverpool331999–2015
6Everton321981–1991
7Liverpool311962–1977
8Liverpool311981–1994
9Everton301982–1991
10Everton301987–1999
11Liverpool301998–2013
Everton players dominate the upper Everton-specific rankings after Southall, with Ratcliffe's 32 highlighting defensive stalwarts, while Liverpool's list features a mix of defenders, midfielders, and forwards reflective of the club's deeper historical derby involvement. These figures include all competitive , emphasizing players' endurance in high-stakes local rivalries.

Attendance and Clean Sheet Records

The highest recorded attendance for a Merseyside derby was 78,299 at Goodison Park on 18 September 1948, during an Everton home match against Liverpool. At Anfield, the previous record stood at 56,060 for a 0-0 draw on 20 October 1963, which was surpassed on 2 April 2025 with an official crowd of 60,331 for Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Everton. Post-World War II, the peak attendance was 58,771 for Liverpool's 3-1 FA Cup win over Everton on 17 September 1949. In aggregate competitive fixtures, Liverpool have recorded 75 clean sheets against Everton, exceeding Everton's 60, reflecting a 30% shutout rate for Liverpool versus 24% for Everton. Among Liverpool goalkeepers, has secured seven clean sheets in 11 league derbies against Everton as of September 2025, with only two predecessors— and another historical figure—achieving more in league encounters. Becker also maintained four consecutive clean sheets in derbies from 2021 to 2025, underscoring defensive dominance in recent clashes. The Merseyside derby holds the record for the most red cards issued, with 25 dismissals across matches since 1992, comprising 17 to Everton players and 8 to players. This exceeds any other fixture in the competition, reflecting the intense competitiveness and frequent disciplinary incidents, such as straight reds for denying goalscoring opportunities or second yellows for persistent fouling. Everton's higher tally suggests a trend of greater vulnerability to ejections, often in defensive scenarios, as evidenced by instances like Tony Hibbert's 2011 red card for fouling in the penalty area.
TeamRed Cards (Premier League Era)
Everton17
Liverpool8
Penalties awarded in derby history show a disparity favoring Liverpool, with 24 granted to them compared to 14 for Everton across 38 total instances up to 2013, though comprehensive post-2013 aggregates remain sparse. Since , Liverpool have received 9 penalties at , while Everton have been awarded only 3 at , indicating potential refereeing patterns or differing foul-prone styles in each venue. Liverpool converted 18 of their penalties in the recorded period, underscoring their clinical edge from the spot amid the fixture's physicality. Recent derbies, such as the February 2025 draw, have extended disciplinary trends with post-match ejections, including reds to Liverpool's Curtis Jones and Everton's for on-pitch altercations, alongside staff dismissals, prompting FA charges for both clubs over player control failures. These incidents align with historical patterns of heightened tensions leading to sanctions, though yellow card data lacks centralized tracking, limiting broader foul trend analysis.

Player Crossovers and Loyalties

Instances of Switching Clubs

Direct transfers between Everton and Liverpool are exceptionally rare, a consequence of the profound rivalry that discourages such moves and often provokes intense fan opposition. Historical records indicate fewer than a dozen direct senior switches since the early , with most occurring amid financial pressures or contractual disputes rather than mutual club agreements. One early instance was forward Dick Forshaw's transfer from to Everton in December 1928 for £3,250, after he had scored 49 goals in 143 appearances for ; the move drew criticism from supporters but allowed Forshaw to continue his career locally. Defender Alan Harper moved directly from to Everton in August 1983 for £100,000, having made 25 appearances for ; he later reflected on the transfer as a pragmatic career step despite the backlash. In the early 1990s, two high-profile switches from to Everton heightened tensions. joined Everton from in July 1991 for £500,000, following 175 appearances and 59 goals for ; the transfer, driven by Beardsley's desire for regular play, alienated many fans and symbolized a rare post-Heysel era crossover. Gary Ablett followed in July 1992 for £500,000, after 238 appearances and five goals for , exacerbating the rift as both players thrived at Everton but faced enduring hostility from their former club's supporters. Conversely, the 2000s saw rare direct moves in the opposite direction. transferred from Everton to in July 2000 for £3.4 million, marking the first such switch since and igniting outrage among Evertonians; Barmby, who had scored 20 goals in 97 Everton games, made 58 appearances for Liverpool before departing in 2002. followed from Everton to Liverpool in January 2002 for £800,000, after 20 appearances for Everton; his brief, nine-game stint at Liverpool ended acrimoniously, underscoring the challenges of crossing the divide. No direct senior transfers have occurred between the clubs since 2002, reinforcing the unwritten taboo amid evolving transfer markets and heightened commercial sensitivities.

Boyhood Allegiances and Transfers

Despite the fierce loyalties fostered by the Merseyside derby, several players have navigated boyhood allegiances that conflicted with the clubs they ultimately represented, often prioritizing professional opportunities over childhood fandom. Direct transfers between Everton and remain exceedingly rare—none since Abel Xavier's move from to Everton in 2002—but instances of players featuring for the rival side they did not support as youths underscore the pragmatic side of football careers. A notable pattern involves Liverpool players who grew up favoring Everton. Jamie Carragher, born in , supported Everton in his early years and even acquired a Toffees tattoo, before switching allegiance around age 11 amid Liverpool's dominance; he debuted for the Reds in 1996 and made 737 appearances. Similarly, Robbie Fowler backed Everton as a young child in but changed at age 11 upon joining Liverpool's youth system, going on to score 183 goals for the club from 1993 to 2001 and 2006 to 2007. Ian Rush, from in , supported Everton growing up before signing with Liverpool in 1980, where he netted 346 goals over two spells ending in 1996. Steve McMahon, a native and Everton ballboy who idolized Toffees midfielder Alan Ball, began his career at Goodison Park with 150 appearances from 1977 to 1985 before transferring to Liverpool for £155,000 in 1985, contributing to their 1987-88 league title. Other examples include , whose father Terry played for Everton, and , who sought a youth deal with the Blues at age 15 but joined Liverpool instead, debuting in 1990. Conversely, Everton has attracted boyhood supporters, highlighting reciprocal crossings. , a Huyton-born fan of the Reds, rejected overtures from but signed for Everton from Wanderers on February 12, 1982, for £60,000; he made 159 appearances, captaining the side to the 1984 league title, 1985 European Cup Winners' Cup, and 1987 . , raised near as a supporter, started in their youth setup but failed to break through, moving to Everton from on July 5, 1992, for £1.5 million; he captained the Toffees to their 1995 triumph and amassed 522 appearances before retiring in 2001. These cases, while exceptional, illustrate how career progression can supersede parochial ties, though they often drew fan scrutiny in derbies marked by heightened tribalism.

Notable Dual Performances

David Johnson achieved the distinction of being the first player to score for both and Everton in a Merseyside derby, netting the winning goal for Everton in a 1–0 victory over at on 13 November 1971. He replicated the feat for by scoring in their 3–0 win against Everton at on 4 November 1978, contributing to one of his five goals in 17 appearances during his Anfield spell. Johnson's performances underscored his predatory finishing, earning him recognition as a rare cross-divide contributor despite the intense rivalry. Peter Beardsley joined Johnson as only the second player to score winning goals in the derby for both clubs, tallying for including a brace in a 1987 fixture and later securing victory for Everton in their 2–1 triumph over at on 7 December 1992, the inaugural Premier League-era derby. Beardsley's technical skill and goal-scoring prowess across 59 goals in 175 appearances contrasted with his Everton output, yet his dual successes highlighted his adaptability amid fan scrutiny. Abel Xavier holds the unique record of appearing in Merseyside derbies for both clubs within the same 2001–02 season, featuring for Everton earlier that campaign before transferring to Liverpool and playing in a subsequent fixture. As a versatile defender, his involvement in home games for each side avoided away hostility but amplified perceptions of disloyalty, marking a rare modern crossover in the fixture's history.

Controversies and Conflicts

Hooliganism and Fan Violence

The Merseyside derby has long been distinguished by comparatively low incidences of and inter-fan violence relative to other major English football rivalries, such as the or North West derbies, with supporters rarely engaging in organized clashes within city limits. This relative restraint stems from shared regional identity and geographic proximity, fostering a culture where aggression is more often directed externally rather than at one another; for instance, in the 1980s, contingents of and Everton hooligans reportedly allied against firms from United during away fixtures, prioritizing common adversaries over intra-Merseyside conflict. Despite this, sporadic outbursts have occurred, often linked to broader trends in English football disorder during the late . Post-match disturbances following the March 20, 2005, derby at resulted in violence that injured several , prompting arrests for public order offenses amid clashes between dispersing crowds. Similarly, during the October 21, 2023, match at , bottles were thrown toward the pitch, leading to multiple arrests by for offenses including possession of missiles and public disorder. One individual involved in the 2023 incident received a five-year football banning order after throwing a at an . Arrest figures for derby days remain low by historical standards, reflecting effective policing and fan self-regulation; reported no major incidents and commended supporter behavior after the February 12, 2025, fixture at , with zero arrests for violence. This contrasts with national upticks in football-related arrests, which rose 59% in the 2021-22 season to 2,198, though Merseyside derbies have not proportionally contributed. Academic analyses of Liverpool's urban disorder from 1965-1985 note occasional crowd unrest at derbies but attribute it more to socioeconomic pressures than entrenched hooligan firms, unlike in cities with sharper sectarian divides.

Stadium Disasters' Influence

The Heysel Stadium disaster on May 29, 1985, during the European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus, resulted in 39 deaths and over 600 injuries due to a crowd crush initiated by Liverpool supporters charging toward Juventus fans in a dilapidated stadium section. This tragedy led to a five-year ban on English clubs from European competitions, extended to six years for Liverpool, depriving Everton—who had won the league title in 1985 and 1987—of potential continental success and exacerbating perceptions among Everton supporters that Liverpool's actions indirectly halted their momentum. The ban's fallout contributed to lingering resentment in the Merseyside derby, with some Everton fans viewing Heysel as a pivotal event that widened the clubs' competitive and relational divide, fostering a narrative of Liverpool's European dominance at Everton's expense. In contrast, the Hillsborough disaster on April 15, 1989, at an semi-final involving against Nottingham Forest, claimed 97 lives and injured 766 due to overcrowding and inadequate policing in fenced terraces, prompting widespread safety reforms like the Taylor Report's recommendations for all-seater stadiums. This event elicited cross-rivalry solidarity, as Everton fans and club officials treated it as a Merseyside-wide tragedy rather than a Liverpool-specific one, with gestures including joint vigils, wreath-laying at memorials before derbies, and Everton's impeccable conduct post-disaster. Everton supporters laid wreaths at Anfield's Hillsborough memorial ahead of matches, such as in April 2022, symbolizing "Scouse solidarity" that temporarily softened derby hostilities and highlighted shared regional identity over club partisanship. These disasters thus exerted a dual influence on the rivalry: Heysel amplified competitive bitterness and fanbase tensions through lost opportunities and blame attribution, while Hillsborough underscored instances of unity, with Everton's support aiding Liverpool's justice campaigns and reinforcing communal bonds amid grief, though underlying animosities persisted beyond such moments. The events collectively shaped derby atmospheres, prompting tributes that paused rivalries—such as pre-match silences—and influenced broader fan conduct, yet did not eradicate the intrinsic competitiveness, as evidenced by ongoing intense encounters.

On-Field Disputes and Racism Incidents

The Merseyside derby has been marked by frequent on-field disputes, reflected in its record for the most red cards shown, totaling 23 dismissals across matches since 1992 as of April 2024, with Everton players receiving the majority. This disciplinary intensity stems from the fixture's high emotional stakes, often leading to heated confrontations, yellow cards accumulating into reds, and occasional mass altercations among players. Historical data indicates relative restraint in earlier eras, with only five sendings-off in the first 88 years of competitive derbies, the initial one being Everton's Alf Milward in 1896 for violent conduct. A prominent example of escalation occurred on February 12, 2025, in the final derby at , which finished 2-2 after James Tarkowski's stoppage-time equalizer for Everton. Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré's celebration toward supporters provoked an on-pitch scuffle with 's Curtis Jones; both, already on yellow cards, received second bookings and subsequent red cards from Michael Oliver. The incident snowballed into a broader involving players from both sides, prompting manager Arne Slot's dismissal for dissent after confronting the at full-time, contributing to four reds overall in the chaotic aftermath. captain attributed the flare-up to poor game management by Oliver, stating the "failed to control" the match's rising tensions. Racism incidents tied to derby matches have primarily involved fan abuse directed at players during or immediately after games, underscoring persistent challenges despite broader societal shifts. In a 1988 derby, Liverpool winger encountered monkey chants and a thrown banana from Everton supporters, which he iconically backheeled away mid-play; Barnes later reflected that such overt racial taunts were "normal" in era derbies, endured routinely without halting play. More recently, following the February 2025 draw, Doucouré faced a barrage of online racist messages after posting about the match, prompting joint condemnation from both clubs as "reprehensible" and having "no place" in football or society; launched an investigation into the abuse. Isolated fan prosecutions include a Liverpool supporter's 2022 three-year ban for racially abusing an Everton player during a 4-1 Liverpool win, and an Everton fan's 2024 guilty plea for racist shouts alongside Heysel taunts at an 2023 derby. No verified instances of player-on-player racial abuse on the pitch during derbies have been documented in available records.

Cultural and Societal Impact

Representation in Media

The Merseyside derby has been depicted in early film footage dating back to , with the British Film Institute's digitized recording of a match between and Everton becoming one of its most viewed online clips by December 2019, highlighting the fixture's historical allure even in rudimentary visual media. In contemporary television broadcasting, the rivalry receives extensive live coverage on networks such as , TNT Sports, and , where it is frequently framed as one of the Premier League's most storied encounters, emphasizing intense competition tempered by mutual respect absent in more fractious derbies like or . This portrayal underscores the shared identity, with pundits like recounting personal memories to illustrate the emotional stakes without overt antagonism. Documentaries and retrospective segments, such as compilations of iconic moments featuring players like Luis Suarez and , reinforce the derby's legacy of dramatic, high-stakes play. Recent media productions include an documentary segment in 2025, capturing Jurgen Klopp's post-match frustration after Liverpool's April 2024 defeat to Everton—his final as manager—which aired amid reflections on the fixture's unyielding competitiveness. programs like "Grudge Matches" in September 2025 have also examined grudge elements tied to the , linking it to broader narratives of player histories such as Steven Gerrard's career. Print and literary media represent the derby through dedicated histories, such as Tony Evans' 2018 book Two Tribes: Liverpool, Everton and a City on the Brink, which contextualizes the against 1980s socio-economic turmoil in , portraying it as a unifying force amid urban decline rather than divisive hatred. Ian Welch's Classic Merseyside Derby Games chronicles key matches from 1892 onward, focusing on on-field intensity without sensationalizing off-field myths. These works counterbalance broadcast hype by grounding depictions in verifiable match data and local testimonies, avoiding unsubstantiated claims of sectarian origins that media occasionally amplifies despite evidence of shared working-class roots.

Broader Merseyside Identity

The Merseyside derby encapsulates the intertwined identities of Liverpool FC and Everton FC within the metropolitan county of Merseyside, a region encompassing Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens, and Wirral, formed in 1974 to reflect shared economic and cultural ties centered on the port city. Both clubs, originating from Liverpool—Everton in 1878 as a church team in the Vauxhall area and Liverpool in 1892 after Everton's departure from Anfield—draw from the same historic working-class communities of dockworkers, shipbuilders, and tradesmen that defined the area's industrial boom in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This proximity fosters a rivalry unique among English top-flight derbies, as the teams represent adjacent neighborhoods rather than distinct cities or ideologies, reinforcing a collective Merseyside football heritage. Unlike derbies marked by sectarian or political divides, such as Glasgow's , the fixture lacks underlying social cleavages, with supporters often sharing family loyalties, workplaces, and neighborhoods across the divide. Historical data shows minimal compared to peers; for instance, the derby has recorded fewer pitch invasions or major fan clashes since the 1980s, attributed to mutual respect rooted in common experiences of economic hardship, including the 1980s dock closures and that affected over 20,000 jobs in alone. This "friendly derby" dynamic—where fans mingle pre- and post-match without the of, say, Manchester's—bolsters 's identity as a resilient, insular , where football serves as a unifying cultural outlet rather than a source of entrenched enmity. The 's outcomes profoundly influence regional morale, with wins elevating civic pride and losses testing communal solidarity, as evidenced by Liverpool's dominance correlating with city-wide boosts in and participation in local leagues amid Thatcher-era recessions. Both clubs embody attributes—wit, defiance, and loyalty—projected globally; Everton's and successes and Liverpool's European triumphs have positioned them as symbols of Merseyside's export-oriented spirit, distinct from broader English identity. This shared representational role, despite competitive tensions, underscores how the derby perpetuates a distinct regional , where coexists with underlying unity in the face of external challenges like economic decline and urban regeneration efforts since the .

Global Perception and Legacy

The Merseyside derby holds a distinguished place in football history as the longest continuously contested top-flight in , with matches played annually since the 1962–63 season and origins tracing back to the inaugural encounter on 13 October 1894 at . This endurance stems from the clubs' shared roots in 's founding professional league era, following Everton's 1892 departure from amid a dispute that birthed , fostering a defined by geographic proximity—mere streets apart—rather than sectarian divides seen in other derbies. By October 2025, the fixture had amassed over 245 competitive meetings, with holding a 99–68 edge in victories alongside 78 draws, underscoring a competitive legacy tempered by periods of dominance, such as 's eight straight wins from 1970 to 1978. Globally, the derby garners respect for its intensity and historical depth but is often perceived as more insular and community-driven compared to transnational rivalries like , with its appeal amplified by the Premier League's 1992 inception, which globalized broadcasts and transformed both clubs into international brands. Millions tune in annually via worldwide television deals, yet perceptions highlight its "friendly" undertones—rooted in Merseyside's working-class solidarity—contrasting with overt hostility elsewhere, as evidenced by rare large-scale fan violence and mutual support during tragedies like the 1985 Heysel and 1989 Hillsborough disasters. International analysts rank it among England's fiercest but note diminishing stakes in recent decades due to Liverpool's sustained success versus Everton's mid-table consistency, potentially eroding its edge against more balanced contests. Its legacy endures through emblematic moments, such as Steven Gerrard's 2001 stoppage-time goal securing Liverpool's treble chase or Phil Neville's 2004 own-goal epitomizing Everton's derby heartbreaks, which have permeated football lore and media retrospectives. Beyond results, the fixture symbolizes resilient local identity amid , influencing academies and player pathways—many stars like and honed skills in this crucible—while serving as a benchmark for intra-city in an era of multinational squads. Despite critiques of waning competitiveness, its unbroken lineage and cultural embedding ensure ongoing fascination, with Everton's 2024–25 transition to a new stadium poised to refresh the narrative without diluting the core antagonism.

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