MERSEYSIDE DERBY 1894+

 One of the greatest DERBIES was played out for the first time, on this date in 1894. The two "most famous" Liverpool clubs met in what was known as the "THE FRIENDLY DERBY" (and still is!!) in a match that "polarises" families, friends, colleagues and lovers!! across Merseyside. Everton drew "first blood" beating the Reds 3-0 at Goodison Park, two years aftet the "Toffees" had moved out of Anfield, the ground they shared with their "neighbours", following a rent dispute.

It is the longest running top-flight derby in England, with its first official match being played on 13th October 1894. when Everton hosted Liverpool and won 3-0 in a Leaue Division One match.                On November 17th there was a 2-2 draw played at Liverpool.

The derby has been played continuously since the 1962-3. Part of the rivalry is due to the close proximity of the two clubs' home grounds, being less than a mile apart and within sight of each other across Stanley Park, when Everton played at Goodison Park; they now play their home matches at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Vauxhall, while Liverpool still play theirs at Anfield.

The Merseyside derby was traditionally referred to as the "friendly derby" because of the large number of families in the city with both Everton and Liverpool supporters, and it was one of the few that did not enforce total fan segregation. The 1984 Football League Cup Final at Wembley was nicknamed the "friendly final" due to almost all sections of the ground being mixed and supporters of both teams banding together to chant "Merseyside". 

The 1986 FA Cup Final witnessed similar scenes of solidarity. Since the mid-1980s, the rivalry has intensified on and off the field, and has seen more red cards given than any other game since the creation of the Premier League!! In the 2010s, the derby was dominated by Liverpool, arguably becoming the most one-sided in the English top-flight. Despite this, it has become more competitive in recent years.

Everton v Liverpool

Games won:	84
Games drawn:	87
Games lost:	128

Matches between Everton/Liverpool and Tranmere Rovers (nice badge below!), based in Birkenhead on the other side of the River Mersey, are also classed as Merseyside derbies, but as Tranmere have spent all of their history outside the top flight, competitive matches are a rarity. (more on Tranmere tomorrow!)

They have occasionally faced Everton and Liverpool in cup competitions. Their last meeting with both clubs came in the FA Cup in 2001. Tranmere caused an upset by beating Everton 3–0 in the fourth round, before losing 4–2 to Liverpool in the quarter-finals!!

As of 19 April 2026

Competition	Played	Everton wins	Draws	Liverpool wins	Everton goals	Liverpool goals
Football League First Division	146	48	44	54	181	203
Premier League	68	11	26	31	59	96
FA Cup	25	7	6	12	28	40
Football League/EFL Cup	4	1	1	2	1	2
FA Charity/Community Shield	3	1	1	1	2	2
Football League Super Cup	2	0	0	2	2	7
Total	248	68	78	102	273	350