The Merseyside derby – Why are Everton and Liverpool such fierce rivals?
Everton and Liverpool’s Merseyside derby is among the United Kingdom’s fiercest and most deeply rooted.
The clash has produced many controversial and iconic moments over the years, from James Tarkowski’s stunning volley, to Divock Origi’s last-gasp winner at Anfield.
Everton won the first-ever Merseyside derby 3-0, with the fixture being played 245 times since, with Liverpool holding an advantage of 100 wins to the Toffees’ 68.
Here, Goodison News looks at the history of the iconic derby, and how it splits families across the city of Liverpool.
Anfield at root of Merseyside derby
Liverpool’s iconic home stadium, Anfield, was originally the home of Everton, with the Toffees playing their football there from 1884 to 1891.
In 1892, an argument about the stadium’s rent began with John Houlding, the owner of Anfield, which ultimately resulted in Everton leaving the stadium.
They would relocate to just a mile away on the other side of Stanley Park, to a stadium called Goodison Park.
Merseyside derby:
- The Merseyside derby has been drawn 78 times throughout its history.
- Everton’s Neville Southall holds the record for the most amount of appearances in the derby, with 41.
- Liverpool’s Ian Rush has scored the most amount of derby goals, with 25.
The iconic stadium would be the home of the Toffees for the next 133 years, before 2025’s move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The first-ever Merseyside derby would be played at Goodison Park, where a rivalry that would develop throughout history was born.
- Read more: Why Everton are nicknamed the Toffees
Iconic Everton moments vs Liverpool
Everton have had their fair share of iconic moments in the Merseyside derby.
Phil Jagielka’s wonder-goal at Anfield in 2014, for one, when the unlikeliest of scorers stepped up to power a beautiful half-volley into the top corner to rescue a point for the Toffees in stoppage time.
Or Everton’s win to dent Liverpool’s title hopes in 2024, when Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored to give Goodison Park victory in the derby for the first time since 2010.
Whilst played behind closed doors, Carlo Ancelotti-led Everton’s win in 2021 will be remembered fondly, with Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson scoring to give the Blues a first win at Anfield since 1999.
Liverpool split by colour but united by football
Football is deeply ingrained in the culture of Liverpool as a city. It runs throughout, making its way into family dynamics, the office banter, and the atmosphere of the place itself.
Naturally, not every family shares the same allegiances. There is often a split of blue and red straight down the middle, with each side always desperate for the latest edition of bragging rights to take home.
But at the heart of it all, Liverpudlians are connected by the city that they call home.
Liverpool has suffered through many tragedies – from the Hillsborough disaster of 1989, to more recently, the untimely death of Reds forward Diogo Jota.
Each and every time, fans of both Everton and Liverpool have laid down their colours and mourned together as a city that is, whilst divided by blue and red, ultimately united by its community.
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