The History of the Merseyside Derby

The Spark of the Derby

Created out of financial disagreements and internal club politics, the Merseyside derby has become one of Europe’s most intense and historic football rivalries.

The root of this fierce derby dates back to 1892, when a disagreement between Everton football club and Anfield stadium owner, John Houlding, over rent and ownership created an irreparable divide.

With no other choice Everton parted ways with Anfield, leaving behind their former home and relocating to Goodison Park, where they still reside today.

Left with an empty stadium and no team to fill it, Houlding saw an opportunity. He chose to form a team of his own, without the need to chase up monthly bills, and so Liverpool football club was born.

The Histroy Continued...

It didn’t take long for the two clubs to cross paths on the pitch. On October 13^th 1894, the first official Merseyside derby was played in the Football League, with Everton securing a 3-0 victory at their new home.

By the early 20th century, the rivalry had grown to more than just a football contest, the rift between the two clubs spread beyond the pitch, embedding itself into the fabric of the city's identity. The simple game of football in this case had the power to split family's, neighbourhoods, and friendships.

Unlike other derbies, fielded by religious or political differences the battle was a derby for local pride.

Families that once stood together as Evertonians now found themselves divided, with many embracing the new club that emerged from the Anfield dispute.

It a day you'd mark in your calendar; for many choosing between red or blue was a declaration of loyalty, turning derby days into more than just a football match, it was everything to the city, both the joyous and heartbreaking moments.

Fast forward to today, April 2025, there have been 246 meetings between the sides. Across these encounters the Reds have enjoyed the better record, with 100 wins to the Toffee's 68, with 78 draws; proving that the matches are just as close as the two stadiums.

ANFIELD

Liverpool Football Club's Ground

STADIUM CAPACITY 61,276

GOODISON PARK

Everton Football Club's Ground

STADIUM CAPACITY 39,572

Stanley park remains the only barrier stopping the two grounds from rubbing shoulders, with a distance of 0.61 miles apart. This makes the gap between the two clubs on Merseyside the third closest rivalry by distance in Britain.

Merseyside Derby Gallery

ICONIC MERSEYSIDE MEMORIES

The Dawn of a Footballing Feud

October 13th, 1894 was the start of the snowball, with Everton cruising to a 3-0 victory. Tom McInnes, Alex Latta and Tom Bell all netted for the Blues as they earned the first bragging rights of this century long feud.

Bob Paisley's Derby Day Demolition

6th November 1982 saw Liverpool record their biggest away win in this fixture, lead by manager Bob Paisley, dismantled Everton at Goodison Park in a stunning 5-0 victory, with club legend Ian Rush netting four goals.

Gary McAllistar's Wonderstrike

In stoppage time of a chaotic, end-to-end derby, Gary McAllister stunned Goodison Park with a 44-yard free-kick. His legendary strike sealed a 3-2 win.

Andy Johnson Running Riot

Everton's recorded their biggest Premier League derby win on the 22nd September 2006, with Andy Johnson scoring two clinical goals in a dominant 3-0 victory.

Origi's Last Minute Heroics

A tense, even battle at Anfield ended in ecstasy for the Reds, a 96th minute winner by Divock Origi earned Liverpool a 1-0 victory. The then Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, couldn't hold back his emotions as he sprinted onto the pitch to embrace goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Everton End the Anfield Curse

20th February 2021 saw the Toffee's earn a historic 2-0 win, goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigardsson secured Everton their first win at their neighbours home in 22 years across all competitions.

Hillsborough: A Tragedy that United a City

Despite the Merseyside derby being a heated affair, the derby also served as a powerful symbol of unity in times of tragedy.

No moment exemplifies this more than the Hillsborough disaster of April 15th, 1989, when 97 Liverpool fans lost their lives at an FA Cup Semi-final between Liverpool and Hillsborough.

Policing failures to crowd control, poor stadium infrastructure and lack of emergency planning were all responsible for the catastrophic incident which unfolded at Hillsborough. What was meant to be a joyous occasion turned into one of the darkest days in football history, sending shockwaves through Liverpool and the community.

The rivalry between Liverpool and Everton ceased to matter.

To this day Everton's supporters, players, and the club unify with their city rivals; banners of solidarity and community fundraising for the victim's families, shows the immense spirit that drives the heartbeat of the city.

The support reflects a deep rooted bond between two sets of supporters who, despite their differences, coexist in the same community, share the same streets, families, and love for football.

The Hillsborough disaster proved that the city will always stand together as one, regardless of the divide on matchdays.

MERSEYSIDE DERBY LEGENDS: THE LEADING SCORERS AND APPEARANCES MAKERS

Ian Rush leads the way as the all time top scorer in the derby, with 25 goals. Rush spent 15 years at Liverpool across three stints at the club, he also holds the record as Liverpool's leading all time top scorer with an astonishing 345 goals for the Reds. Rush won 14 major trophies at Liverpool, notably 5 First Division titles.

Rush also notch 36 appearances making him Liverpool's highest featured player in this fixture.

Dixie Dean is an icon for the Toffees, holding the clubs record for most goals scored, 388, in 433 appearances. Dean played for Everton from 1925-1937 where he won the First Division Title in the 1928/29 season, and the FA Cup in 1933.

For Everton, Neville Southall takes the crown for most Merseyside Derby appearances. He featured 41 times between 1982-1997, making him outright the highest appearances holder in this historic rivalry.

In total over 800 different players have featured in the tie, with 607 goals being scored, 340 for Liverpool and 267 for Everton.

Throughout its history, the Merseyside Derby has been defined as fierce competition, with legends like Ian Rush, Dixie Dean and Neville Southall all leaving an indelible mark on the rivalry; ensuring their names will forever be etched into the history books of this iconic contest.

Double Agents of Merseyside

Despite the fierce rivalry between Liverpool and Everton, several players have worn both red and blue - 45 to be precise. Crossing Stanley park to represent both clubs often comes with intense scrutiny from both sets of fans, below are some of the most well known to serve for each team.

Steve McMahon

Although Steve McMahon came through Everton's academy in the 1970s, Toffee's fans may prefer to forget his later success across Stanley Park. In 1985 he was signed by Sir Kenny Daglish, where he went onto play over 200 hundred games for the Reds, picking up three league titles and two FA cups across his six-year spell at Anfield.

Peter Beardsley

Peter Beardsley made the rare move to from Liverpool to Everton after a successful four year spell at the Reds. In 1991 Beardsley joined Everton where he became part of a unique group who impress impressed for both clubs.

Rafa Benitez

Rafa Benitez, a Champions League winning manager with Liverpool, shocked many fans across the city when he took charge of Everton in 2021. A move that was short-lived and still seen today as controversial by both sets of fans.

Sander Westerveld

Dutch goalkeeper Sander Westerveld made his name at Liverpool with a treble-winning season in 2000/01, and later had a brief stint at Everton in 2006, becoming one of just four keepers to feature in both red and blue.

The Start of a New Chapter

Bramley Moore-Dock, set to open for the 2025/26 season will be the new home of the Toffee's, with the main aim of boosting the clubs revenues and global profile, whilst also trying to close the gap on rivals Liverpool.

Everton's new ground will hold a maximum capacity of 52,888, ranking them as the club with the seventh-largest stadium in the Premier League. A major change for the club as they look to open a new chapter of domestic success, more specifically derby day delight.

More Than A Game

The Merseyside derby is more than just a football match - its a story of pride, history, heartbreak and hope. It' a rivalry that has defined generations, sparked unorgettable moments and united a city. Whether you're red or blue, this fixture runs deeper than the pitch, with its histroy forever being written when the two sides cross paths.