It’s the Merseyside derby on Sunday and, given the perilous situations that Liverpool and Everton find themselves in, the three points at stake are arguably more important than local bragging rights. Sport.co.uk looks back at ten memorable Merseyside derbies of the Premier League era, and wonders who will be the first person to say “I can’t believe you missed out the 4-4 FA Cup match!!”…
1. Liverpool 1-0 Everton, 1992/93 – A true clash of the Titans, as Steve Harkness lined up against Preki for the first Anfield derby of the Premier League era. Everton striker Stuart Barlow cemented his ‘Jigsaw’ nickname – he always fell to pieces in the box, you see – by missing a succession of one-on-ones, before ‘Rocket’ Ronnie Rosenthal scored a last-minute winner to relieve some of the pressure on Graeme Souness’ struggling (in relative terms, that is) Liverpool side.
2. Everton 2-0 Liverpool, 1994/95 – The Toffees were rock bottom of the league with just one win from 13 games when Liverpool nipped across the park for Joe Royle’s first game as Everton manager, having replaced the sacked Mike Walker. A second half Duncan Ferguson header – his first goal for the club – set the tone for Everton’s season, coming as it did from a wickedly in-swinging Andy Hinchcliffe corner. Towards the end of the game, another Hinchcliffe set piece was contested by Ferguson before rebounding to Paul Rideout, who slid impressively to guide the ball through David James’ legs for 2-0. Everton would go on to not only survive relegation but also win the FA Cup, beating Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley thanks to a Rideout header, while Liverpool lifted the League Cup, beating Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in the final with two goals from Steve McManaman.
3. Liverpool 1-2 Everton, 1995/96 – Having started the season slowly, Everton came into this fixture off the back of a much-needed 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers, in which classy wingers Andrei Kanchelskis and Anders Limpar had shown signs of linking up to good effect from opposite sides of the pitch. Indeed, two second half Kanchelskis goals – his first for the club – rendered Robbie Fowler’s late response a consolation, with the Russian winger’s second coming at the end of a superb jinking run and through ball from Swedish magician Limpar. In his two and a half years as Everton manager, Joe Royle’s sides were never beaten in a derby. The Toffees went on to finish 6th, while Roy Evans’ Liverpool reached 3rd.
4. Liverpool 3-2 Everton, 1998/99 – Liverpool had not won a derby since 1994 but they dispelled that particular hoodoo by coming from behind in a thrilling game. Card-collecting French midfielder Olivier Dacourt put the Toffees ahead inside the first 40 seconds with a with spectacular 25-yard half-volley, before a Robbie Fowler penalty – which he celebrated by sniffing the touchline, prompting a bizarre post-match defence from manager Gerard Houllier (“he was eating the grass”) – levelled the scores. Fowler again and Patrick Berger put the Reds 3-1 up before late Everton pressure very nearly stole a draw, as young striker Francis Jeffers crashed one in on the turn before substitute Danny Cadamarteri had a shot cleared off the line by a young Steven Gerrard.
5. Everton 0-0 Liverpool, 1999/00 – A fourth minute Kevin Campbell goal had settled the Anfield derby in Everton’s favour earlier in the season, so they came into this game looking for their first double over Liverpool since their 1984/85 title-winning season. And, after a fairly uneventful 90 minutes, they very almost had it when Sander Westerveld’s seemingly innocuous free-kick cannoned into the backside of the retreating Don Hutchison and trickled back into his goal. Unfortunately for the Blues, referee Graham Poll blew for full-time before the ball crossed the line, earning him an unpopular place in Goodison folklore.
6. Everton 2-3 Liverpool, 2000/01 – By now, Liverpool were asserting a dominance over their local rivals which saw them remain unbeaten in derbies until 2004. This particular Goodison derby is best remembered for Gary McAllister’s last-gasp winner with a speculative 40-yard free-kick that bent in beyond the despairing reach of Everton goalkeeper Paul Gerrard. Earlier goals from Emile Heskey (who was in the midst of a scoring spree which he has not been able to replicate since) and Marcus Babbel were cancelled out by, respectively, Duncan Ferguson and a David Unsworth penalty, while Liverpool’s Igor Biscan was sent off before McAllister’s expertly improvised contribution at the end.
7. Liverpool 2-1 Everton, 2004/05 – Both sides were competing for a Champions League place as the season drew to a close, but you wouldn’t have guessed it from both sides’ stuttering form. Liverpool flew out of the traps to establish a 2-0 half-time lead through goals by (you guessed it) Steven Gerrard and Luis Garcia. However, Stephen Warnock, Dietmar Hamman and Fernando Morientes were all forced off through injuries, meaning that Rafael Benitez went into half-time having made all three substitutions. As such, Milan Baros’ deserved red card for an awful challenge on Alan Stubbs was especially unhelpful, and Liverpool had to play out the rest of the game with ten men; arguably nine men, as Garcia was forced to play on after picking up an injury himself. A late Tim Cahill volley proved to be merely a consolation, although the Toffees managed to cling on to fourth place. Liverpool, of course, went on to win the Champions League. You might remember that.
8. Everton 3-0 Liverpool, 2006/07 – A day which will live long in the memory for Evertonians, as the Blues recorded their biggest win over Liverpool for 42 years. Tim Cahill opened the scoring in the first half and new signing Andy Johnson quickly made it 2-0 with a smart finish in front of the Gwladys Street End. Liverpool managed to establish a foothold as the game went on, going close on a few occasions, before Lee Carsley’s long-range effort in the last minute was fumbled by Pepe Reina, allowing Johnson to nod home from point blank range to earn himself the undying affection of the Goodison faithful. The result put Everton at the top of a fledgling league table, adding extra zest to Evertonians’ already joyous celebrations.
9. Everton 1-2 Liverpool, 2007/08 – Another Merseyside derby, another controversial refereeing performance. Everton led 1-0 at the break through a Sami Hyypia own goal but, early in the second half, Tony Hibbert was sent off for bringing down Steven Gerrard as the Liverpool midfielder charged towards goal. Replays showed that not only was it a harsh call, but that referee Mark Clattenburg only brandished a red after consultation with Gerrard. A penalty was awarded, allowing Dirk Kuyt to level the scores. Phil Neville was sent off in the last minute when he was left with no choice but to palm a goal-bound shot off his own goal line, and Kuyt duly dispatched his second penalty of the game. However, there was still time for Everton to chase an equaliser and Blue blood was brought to boiling point when Jamie Carragher hauled Joleon Lescott down in the area for what looked like a stonewall penalty. Somehow, it wasn’t given, so Clattenburg takes his place alongside Poll and Geoff Thomas as one of the most reviled figures in Everton history.
10. Liverpool 1-1 Everton, 2008/09 – Liverpool were jostling for top spot with Manchester United when they played host to injury-hit Everton in January. A win would have put them there, and they looked like getting it courtesy of Steven Gerrard’s powerful second-half finish. But Everton – who were forced to play midfielders Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini up front – equalised in the dying minutes when a left-wing Mikel Arteta free-kick was headed in by a stooping Tim Cahill. The game was the first of three Merseyside derbies in quick succession, with Everton knocking Liverpool out of the FA Cup after a replay in which Dan Gosling ensured that he’ll never have to pay for his own drink again.