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Liverpool v Everton is always a massive occasion, and here we rank some of the best ever matches from England’s longest-running top-flight derby.
There are usually fireworks when local rivals Liverpool and Everton go head to head in the Merseyside derby and, ahead of the upcoming clash between the teams at Anfield next month, we look back on five memorable scouse skirmishes.
The local showdown, which is the longest-running top-flight derby in England, is usually one of the most-anticipated fixtures in English football and dates back to their first-ever meeting in October 1893, when Everton won 3-0.
There have been plenty of unforgettable clashes between the Reds and the Blues throughout history, including in cup semi-finals and finals.
Liverpool hold the upper hand in the head-to-head stats, winning 125 of the 296 meetings in all competitions, while Everton have won on 84 occasions and there have been 87 draws.
When is Liverpool v Everton?
The next Merseyside derby will take place on Wednesday 2 April and will take place at Anfield – Liverpool’s home ground. This will be the second Premier League meeting between the sides in the 2024/25 season. The first meeting took place at Goodison Park on 12 February and finished 2-2 thanks to a last-minute equaliser from Everton’s James Tarkowski.
Liverpool are the runaway leaders at the top of the Premier League and will be the clear favourites in the Premier League betting to beat their rivals on this occasion. However, these classic Merseyside derbies of the past prove that anything can happen when these fierce local rivals meet.
Best Merseyside derby matches
5. Liverpool 0-2 Everton – Premier League – February 2021
Everton were able to celebrate a long-awaited victory over Liverpool in February 2021 when they went to Anfield and recorded a 2-0 success.
The game will be long remembered by the Blue half of the city as it was their first victory at Anfield since 1999 and amazingly the club’s first derby win of any description since 2010.
On the day, goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson did the damage as Liverpool, under Jurgen Klopp, were left to reflect at the time on losing four consecutive home matches for the first time since 1923.
4. Everton 4-4 Liverpool – FA Cup fifth round replay – February 1991
This cup thriller is an all-time Merseyside classic as the two sides, who had already drawn their original FA Cup fifth round tie 0-0 at Anfield, reconvened for a huge midweek replay at Goodison.
The hosts were on target through Tony Cottee and Graeme Sharp, who both scored twice, while Peter Beardsley – who would go on to join the Toffees later that year – hit two for the Reds, while John Barnes and Ian Rush were also on the scoresheet in an end-to-end contest.
Everton went on to win the second replay 1-0 thanks to Dave Watson’s goal in a much tamer tie, but this 4-4 draw is also remembered as being Kenny Dalglish’s last in charge during his trophy-laden first spell in the Liverpool dugout.
The Scot resigned just two days later saying he was struggling with the pressure of the job.
3. Everton 2-3 Liverpool – Premier League – April 2001
When Gary McAllister scored from 44 yards from a direct free-kick in the spring of 2001, the away end at Goodison erupted.
The dramatic late win ensured Liverpool stayed on course for what was then their aim in the top-flight – to finish in the top four and earn a coveted place in the Champions League.
In an eventful end-of-season derby, Liverpool went in front through Emile Heskey, before the Blues equalised when fearsome forward Duncan Ferguson struck.
Markus Babbel gave the visitors a second-half lead before a David Unsworth penalty looked to have earned Walter Smith’s men a point.
McAllister had other ideas, though, from a considerable distance, in stoppage time when his inch-perfect free-kick somehow evaded Toffees keeper Paul Gerrard.
2. Liverpool 3-1 Everton – FA Cup final – May 1986
Liverpool eventually triumphed in the first-ever all-Merseyside FA Cup Final in 1986 when Dalglish’s side completed the League and FA Cup Double for the first time in their history at Wembley.
Everton were deservedly leading at half-time on the big day when striker-turned TV star Gary Lineker beat Bruce Grobelaar after 27 minutes, but the Reds recovered in the second half.
First, Rush equalised 11 minutes after the break, then Craig Johnston slid in a second to turn the final around.Â
It was then Rush, who else, who sealed the victory with his second of the game with a trademark precision finish on 83 minutes.Â
1. Liverpool 3-2 Everton – FA Cup Final – May 1989
Liverpool also came out on top when the sides returned to Wembley just three years later on an emotional occasion in the capital.
Just a month after the Hillsborough Disaster, the Merseyside rivals met again with the FA Cup at stake, and once again the Reds had Rush to thank for victory, this time after extra-time.
John Aldridge’s early goal put Dalglish’s team ahead but Stuart McCall prodded in an equaliser late on to force another 30 minutes.
Rush, on as a substitute, soon made it 2-1 to the Reds, but the Blue half were back in it when another effort from McCall, this time a dipping volley, made it 2-2.
Rush had the final say, however, when he headed home the winner in the 104th-minute from a sublime left-wing Barnes delivery.