For fans of English football, there are few rivalries more intense or storied than that of Liverpool against Everton, with the Merseyside derby a key fixture in the footballing calendar.
Though each team has a rich history littered with special moments, the tale of both clubs cannot be told without mentioning the opposite sides of the City.
Indeed, the very foundation of Liverpool Football Club was centred around disputes between Everton board members in the late 19h century.
The rivalry between the two has been fuelled by the close proximity of the two teams' stadiums, Anfield and Goodison Park, though the Toffees moved into Hill Dickinson Stadium from the 2025-26 season.
Families are often split down the middle in the city of Liverpool, with loyalties divided between the red and blue halves of Merseyside, though there is an undeniable togetherness in the respective fandoms when it comes to standing against adversity.
Though the city itself has often come together in times of strife, the football on the pitch itself has not always been so friendly considering this fixture has seen more red cards dished out than any other in the history of the Premier League.
In this article, we look at the origin of the rivalry, its history and why it remains such a pivotal fixture in the English football calendar.
History and origin of the Merseyside derby
The very beginnings of the Merseyside derby are intricate and complex, though it ultimately stems from a disagreement about how Everton was run in the late 19th century.
Everton were established as a team in 1878, and they would play home games at Anfield from 1884, though that proved to be problematic.
The stadium itself was owned by club chairman John Houlding, whose political affiliations differed from a number of the board members of the team, and disputes about how to run the club led to increasing tension between those in positions of power.
Tensions grew to such a point that the Everton directors would abandon Anfield in 1892, opting to move across Stanley Park and into Goodison Park, with the grounds located less than a mile apart.
Houlding would go on to form Liverpool Football Club in 1892, making Anfield the team's base of operations, and those early disputes started the intense rivalry between the Reds and the Toffees.
Why are the clubs rivals on the pitch?
The first match involving both teams occurred on October 13, 1894, with Everton emerging as 3-0 winners at home.
Everton would win 21 of the first 39 clashes against the Reds while only losing seven times, though the rivalry on the pitch ramped up in the 1970s and 1980s, when the two were regularly competing for and winning honours.
The Toffees won the 1969-70, 1984-85 and 1986-87 top-flight titles, while Liverpool won the First Division 11 times between 1972-73 and 1989-90.
While Liverpool's haul in the league dwarfs that of their city rivals, it should be noted that the Blues finished in the top four a further five times in that stetch of seasons.
Perhaps the most notable title race between the two came in the 1985-86 campaign given Everton finished second with 86 points, just two fewer than first-placed Liverpool.
The sides would also compete in the FA Cup final that season, with Liverpool claiming the trophy to become just the fifth side to win the double.
In recent decades, the Reds have enjoyed an era of dominance over their rivals, winning 54 times against the Toffees since 1980 while only suffering 20 losses.
Everton have struggled in the 21st century to stand up to their Merseyside opponents, and they have had to watch as the Reds won numerous honours under the likes of Rafa Benitez and Jurgen Klopp, while they are waiting for their first trophy since 1995.
Head-to-head record between Liverpool and Everton
Liverpool managed to beat Everton 2-1 at Anfield on September 21, 2025, and that was their 101st win against their city rivals.
In fact, the Reds have only been beaten 68 times in 247 meetings with the Blues, while settling for draws on a further 78 occasions.
Key matches and iconic in the Meseryside derby
Everton 3–0 Liverpool (13 October 1894)
It is impossible to talk about the history of this fixture without referring to the first ever meeting between the two in 1894.
While the Toffees' record against the Reds has been poor in the 21st century, they will always be able to say they won the first ever Merseyside derby, beating Liverpool 3-0 at Goodison Park.
Liverpool 1–0 Everton (March 29, 1984)
Liverpool faced Everton in the final of the League Cup in the 1983-84 season, though after the sides drew 0-0 on March 25, 1984, a replay was required.
Three days later, the Reds emerged as 1-0 victors at Maine Road thanks to an early goal from Graeme Souness.
Liverpool 3–1 Everton (May 10, 1986)
Having won the 1985-86 First Division title seven days prior, finishing ahead of second-placed Everton, the FA Cup was an opportunity for the Toffees to earn revenge.
Gary Linekar had given the Blues a first-half lead, but two second-half strikes from Ian Rush and one from Craig Johnston saw the Reds complete a double.
Liverpool 1-0 Everton (December 2, 2018)
Everton came to Anfield in December 2018 with the intention of defending deep in order to hold on for a point in the Premier League, and Marco Silva's side were good value for a draw.
The Toffees may have left with a respectable draw but Virgil van Dijk's skewed volley bounced onto the bar, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford failing to pluck the ball out of the sky before Divock Origi took advantage to nod home in the 96th minute.
Everton 2-2 Liverpool (12 February 2025)
In Everton's final ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, it looked as if they would suffer a defeat given Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has scored a second for his side in the 73rd minute.
However, an equaliser from James Tarkowski in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time rescued a point, though the point was secondary as it was far more important for the Blues to avoid losing at their iconic ground.
Notable records in the Merseyside derby
Highest-scoring fixture
The highest scoring game in this fixture came on February 11, 1933 in a First Division clash at Anfield, with the hosts emerging as 7-4 victors.
Biggest winning margin
Liverpool's biggest winning margin against the Toffees came on September 7, 1935, when they beat their rivals 6-0 at home in the First Division.
Everton's 5-0 triumph in the First Division on April 9, 1909 still ranks as the team's biggest win against the Reds.
Highest goalscorers
Ian Rush ranks as the Merseyside derby's top scorer having netted on 25 occasions for Liverpool, while Dixie Dean ranks second with 19 goals for Everton.
The highest active scorer in this fixture is Mohamed Salah, who has scored eight times for the Reds.
Most appearances
Goalkeeper Neville Southall played in 41 Merseyside derby's for Everton, with the shot-stopper having played for Everton from 1981 until 1998.
Hat-tricks
Since the first Merseyside derby, Alex Sandy Young, Bobby Parker and William ‘Dixie' Dean have netted hat-tricks for Everton, though no Toffees player has scored at least three times since 1931.
Harry Chambers, Dick Forshaw, Harold Barton, Fred Howe, Ian Rush and Steven Gerrard have scored hat-tricks for Liverpool, with the latter netting three times for the Reds in March 2012, the last time any player has scored three goals in the Merseyside derby for either team.