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If the past is anything to go by, todays Merseyside derby should be a fascinating encounter. To mark the occasion, we have chosen 5 of the very best encounters from over the years between the Premier League neighbours.
#1 Everton 3-0 Liverpool - 2006/2007
Following a great start to the Premier League campaign, manager David Moyes looked to make it 3 wins out of 4 against archrivals Liverpool in the 204th Merseyside derby.
They did win, with the blues recording their biggest victory over Liverpool in over 42 years and ending Liverpool’s 17 match unbeaten run since march.
The Toffees went about their game with great determination, ruthless finishing and brilliant defensive organization to oust the ex champions league winners. Tim Cahill put the blues in front in the 23rd minute. Arteta clipped in a great ball from the right hand side to Lee Carsley, who flicked it into the path of a totally unmarked Cahill to slide it into the net.
Andrew Johson added Everton’s second goal 12 minutes later, coolly taking advantage of Jamie Carragher’s mistake as Liverpool’s defense struggled.
Liverpool grew in confidence after that, but Johnson once again was on hand to take advantage of Pepe Reina’s horrendous error, heading home from 6 inches out to complete a resounding 3-0 win.
#2 Everton 3-3 Liverpool - 2013/14
A truly pulsating encounter ended 3-3 breaking the notion that some of these derbies were tense and cagey affairs. It was a true classic, displaying the great velocity at which the Premier League operates at, with breathtaking end-to-end football.
It took just 5 minutes for Liverpool to draw first blood. Steven Gerrard supplied the corner to which Coutinho controlled smartly to finish hard and low after Suarez flicked it on.
3 minutes later, Goodison Park exploded as Kevin Mirallas equalized. A beautifully flighted free kick from Baines was nudged on by Ross Barkley, for Mirallas to poke into the roof of the net.
However in the 18th minute Gareth Barry gave away an unnecessary free kick. From 25 yards out, Luis Suarez curled in a peach to beat Tim Howard at his near post.
The game then settled down, but in the 72nd minute, Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku pounced on a cross from Mirallas to strike home the equalizer. Game on.
Ten minutes later, he was at it again, powering a header from close range after a brilliant corner from Mirallas. Victory seemed to be in sight for the blues.
However, the mercurial forward Daniel Sturridge had the last laugh in the 88th minute as he glanced a Steven Gerrard freekick into the net.
So an exciting game filled with drama came to an end. Both sets of support came from that game relatively content with a point, but it’s the neutrals that got all three.
#3 Everton 2-3 Liverpool (2000/2001)
Dramatic, eventful and entertaining, this match had the lot. Just to put it into perspective, the match featured five goals, a missed penalty, two Liverpool rejected penalty appeals, 12 bookings and a sending off to Liverpool midfielder Igor Biscan.
Emile Heskey opened the scoring with his 21st of the campaign, after being put through 1 on 1 with the goalkeeper.
Duncan Ferguson used his height to his advantage to win the ball high up the pitch in the 42nd minute, and after a melee in the box, the towering Scot pounced on the loose ball to equalize.
A swift counterattack saw Hamman release Robbie Fowler who squared the ball to Markus Babbel who thumped home the finish.
David Unsworth soon equalized from the spot in the 83rd minute after Sami Hyypia was seen to have held down Ferguson, which set up the game for a grandstand finish.
In the dying embers of the game, Liverpool were awarded a free kick from some 44 yards out, and by a stroke of pure genius, Gary Mcallistor scored directly, after spotting Paul Gerrard off his line.
An invaluable win for the visitors.
#4 Liverpool 3-0 Everton (2011/2012)
This match was not remembered for its drama or entertainment like so many other fixtures, but by an outstanding display from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
It was also the first hat-trick in the Merseyside derby since the legendary Ian Rush did it way back in 1982, and the first one at Anfield since Fred Howe did it in 1932.
Steven Gerrard opened the scoring with a beautifully lifted shot over a cluster of defenders and finally Tim Howard to give Liverpool the lead.
5 minutes after the break Luis Suarez outfoxed the Everton defenders to lay it off for the captain to characteristically thump it home for the second.
In the dying minutes of the game, a slip by substitute Drenthe saw Gerrard cap his 400th appearance with a third. Stealing the ball in the middle of the park, Gerrard rolled the ball into Suarez’s path, who in turn set up his captain who’s left footed high finish was too much for Howard to handle.
Captain Fantastic indeed.
#5 Everton 4-4 Liverpool (1990/1991)
Regarded by some as one of the most exhilarating nights in FA cup history, this FA cup replay was a complete opposite to the first game. Liverpool and Everton had drawn 0-0 at Anfield three days earlier to take their fight for a quarterfinal place to a replay.
In the 32nd minute of the game, Ian Rush had his shot cleared off the line after great work on the left hand side, only for the rebound to be half volleyed home by Peter Beardsley.
A minute after half time, Everton equalized, when Graeme Sharp met Andy Hinchliffe’s cross at the far post, to power the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
The next goal saw Beardsley, glide past Martin Keown to unleash a cracker of a shot from outside the box to restore Liverpool’s lead.
Chaos and confusion at the back saw Sharp score his and Everton’s second. Goodison Park started to rock as some of the fans even spilled onto the pitch (This happened quite often “back in the day”).
In the 77th minute, Ian Rush, the bane of Everton, scored the next one for Liverpool after getting in front of his marker in the box.
With time running out for the blues, substitute Tony Cottee equalized for a third time to level the scores at 3-3 to take the cup tie to extra time.
And then quite unbelievably, John Barnes scored in extra time for the scousers with a great strike, only for Tony Cottee to equilize for the fourth and final time in the 114th minute!.
Even though Everton came out triumphant in the third replay, this game stands out as a true classic.
