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Everton v Liverpool: 5 of the best recent Merseyside Derbies
It’s Everton v Liverpool this evening and Rafa Benitez’s first Merseyside Derby in charge of Everton comes with the Toffees and his old side Liverpool in sharply contrasting form.
Saturday’s loss at Brentford means Everton, who started the season strongly, have taken just two points from seven Premier League games, while the Reds have only lost once since April. The form book tends to become irrelevant on derby day, though, but Everton can take heart from the fact they have not lost to their rivals in the last three meetings between the teams.
Here are some of the most memorable Merseyside derby clashes of the past few years.
Everton v Liverpool: 5 classic matches
Liverpool 0-2 Everton (February 2021)
Revenge will be on the menu for Liverpool on Wednesday night. The last time they played Everton, back in February, the Reds lost the derby at Anfield for the first time since 1999. Richarlison’s early goal put Everton in front and the Brazilian’s brilliant performance set the tone for an unforgettable day for all Toffees fans.
Gylfi Sigurdsson scored from the penalty spot after coming off the bench to wrap up a famous victory for the blue half of Merseyside. Everton moved level on points with Liverpool thanks to the historic result as the title defence of Jurgen Klopp’s champions continued to crumble amid a defensive injury crisis.
Everton 2-2 Liverpool (October 2020)
The first derby of last season saw incredible drama, with tempers boiling over and a serious injury sustained by Virgil van Dijk in a late challenge by the Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Mane put Liverpool ahead v Everton in just the third minute but the Reds were left furious not long afterwards as VAR failed to intervene following Pickford’s season-ending tackle on Van Dijk.
Michael Keane headed in a corner to draw Everton level but Salah put Liverpool back in front with a volleyed strike only for Dominic Calvert-Lewin to produce a second headed equaliser. Richarlison’s horror tackle on Thiago reduced Everton to 10 men for the closing stages and Liverpool thought they had won it at the death as Pickford could not deny Jordan Henderson.
After a long delay, VAR adjudged Mane to have been offside, resulting in a pulsating 2-2 draw.
Liverpool 5-2 Everton (December 2019)
Everton endured a miserable trip across Stanley Park a couple of years ago as Liverpool ran riot despite being without injured Brazilians Alisson and Fabinho, while Klopp was able to rest both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino and still see his side ease to a big derby win.
Sadio Mane recorded early assists for Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri to get Liverpool up and running and, although Michael Keane pulled one back, Origi and Mane struck to make it 4-1. Richarlison cut the deficit before half-time but the damage was done, with Liverpool able to take their foot off the accelerator in the second half as Marco Silva was pushed closer to the sack.
Victory left Liverpool eight points clear at the top of the Premier League and although a break for COVID-19 delayed their title celebrations, this was a key win on their road to glory that season and piled pressure on Marco Silva.
Everton 3-3 Liverpool (November 2013)
Liverpool needed a dramatic late goal from Daniel Sturridge to earn a draw in this stirring clash.
The Reds struck in the fifth minute through Philippe Coutinho but their lead was short-lived as Kevin Mirallas – later fortunate not to be sent off for a foul on Luis Suarez – hit back. Suarez struck to make it 2-1 before half-time but Romelu Lukaku intervened with two goals in 10 minutes to seemingly set up victory for Roberto Martinez’s men.
Sturridge had other ideas, though, with the substitute heading home a Steven Gerrard free-kick to snatch a point for Liverpool to spark scenes of delirium in Goodison Park’s away end. Everton v Liverpool games are rarely more thrilling than this one.
Everton 2-3 Liverpool (April 2001)
Derby day always seems to produce late drama on Merseyside and that was the case in 2001 as the Reds won it deep into added time. Liverpool wasted no time nudging ahead in this one with Emile Heskey on target in just the fifth minute, racing clear to steer home a low finish.
Duncan Ferguson rifled in to make it 1-1 after his flick-on caused chaos but the Reds restored their lead through Markus Babbel as Everton’s defence was exposed on the break yet again.
Liverpool had a golden chance to seal all three points only for Robbie Fowler’s penalty to hit the post, the Reds then seeing Igor Biscan dismissed for a second bookable offence. Everton made their man advantage count with David Unsworth smashing home a controversial penalty but the fightback was in vain as Gary McAllister found the bottom corner with a super 35-yard free-kick.
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