The last ever Goodison Park derby will be played this Saturday with Liverpool aiming to win their 100th game against the Toffees.
Historically, the Merseyside Derby holds a special place in English Football, being the the longest-running top-flight derby since the 1962/63 season.
It roots, however, date back to 1894, when the first meeting between the two clubs took place.
The origins of this historic fixture start from a division. Liverpool was founded in 1892, when businessman and politician John Houlding broke away from Everton to establish a new club.
Also known as the “friendly derby” due to its cross-family loyalties, its spirit was especially evident in moments of collective solidarity within the communities in Merseyside.
One example is the Hillsborough disaster in 1988, where Everton and Liverpool fans stood shoulder to shoulder in grief and support.
This aspect remains a defining characteristic, but the intensity of the fixture and the performances on the pitch left fans with remarkable memories throughout the years.
This fixture holds the record for the most red cards (23) and the most goalless draws (12) in Premier League history, with the Reds delivering last minute drama, scoring more 90th minute winners than their rivals.
Everton’s superiority on Merseyside lasted until the 1980s. Then Liverpool dominated England, winning seven league titles, and now they have upper hand in this rivalry.
In the last decade, Liverpool has maintained control, but the Toffees have managed occasional wins.
The most recent came in April 2024, with a 2-0 triumph at Goodison Park, with goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. This win also ensured they avoided relegation.
From stunning strikes to last-minute winners, a healthy share of the iconic goals in English football history have been marked in this fixture.
The record for most goals scored in the derby still belongs to Ian Rush, Liverpool’s legendary No. 9.
He scored 25 against Everton across all competitions. His clinical finishes characterised Liverpool during their dominant era in the ’80s.
For Everton, Dixie Dean remains the most prolific scorer, with 19 goals against the Reds during his career in the 1920s and ’30s. His contributions were instrumental in establishing Everton’s early superiority in Merseyside football.
In the Premier League era, Steven Gerrard leads the scoring charts with nine goals for his club, with his hat-trick in 2012 remaining a standout moment in modern history.
However, Mohamed Salah, who has already scored seven times against the Blues, has now the opportunity to top Liverpool’s former captain considering his recent form.
The Egyptian has now scored in each of his last seven Premier League games, and faces the possibility of reaching Daniel Sturridge’s record of scoring in eight games in a row.
Since the 2018/2019 season, the Merseyside derby has been synonymous of drama, marked by controversies, unexpected results and unforgettable moments.
One of the most dramatic conclusions came in December 2018, when a goalless draw seemed inevitable until a mistake by Jordan Pickford allowed Divock Origi to score a late winner for Liverpool.
In October 2020 at Goodison Park, an exciting 2-2 draw was overshadowed by controversy about VAR and Virgil Van Dijk’s ACL injury.
At the end of that game, VAR ruled out Jordan Henderson’s goal for a marginal offside position of Sadio Mané, leaving the match tied.
Anfield also witnessed another dramatic chapter in February 2021.
Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as new Everton manager and they finally broke their long winless streak at Anfield, winning behind closed doors due to the pandemic.
As Everton prepare to play this derby at Goodison Park one last time, Saturday will be remembered as a historic farewell for the Blues.
