Ranked! The best Merseyside Derbies of the Premier League era | OneFootball

The Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool is often called the friendly derby. While the mixed households in the crowd offer some truth to that title, there’s not often much peace on the pitch with more red cards (23) in this game than any other Premier League fixture.

Rivalries resume as the red and blue halves of the city meet at Goodison Park this evening, with points precious for both clubs at either end of the table.

Ahead of their latest meeting, we’ve ranked the five best Merseyside Derbies of the Premier League era.

5. Liverpool 1-0 Everton (2018)

A barely believable conclusion to an otherwise forgettable clash between the rivals at Anfield. Liverpool looked set to be frustrated in their pursuit of Premier League points as Jurgen Klopp’s side struggled to break down their visiting neighbours.

Goalless in the final moments of stoppage time, the final chance of the game appeared to have passed as Virgil van Dijk skewed a horrible volley high up into the air. The Dutchman’s disgust was clear as he turned away in irritation, only for a simple stop for Jordan Pickford to prove problematic.

The Everton goalkeeper inadvertently juggled the ball onto his crossbar, with the ball bouncing along the woodwork before dropping for the lurking Divock Origi to head home into the vacant goal. Anfield erupted at an astonishing 96th-minute winner, with Klopp racing onto the pitch to join in the celebrations.

4. Liverpool 5-2 Everton (2019)

A first-half blitz from Liverpool pushed Marco Silva towards the exit door at Everton, with the under-pressure Blues boss failing to survive a derby day destruction at Anfield.

The two teams exchanged six goals inside the opening 45 minutes, with Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri firing Liverpool two ahead inside 17 minutes, before Michael Keane’s response for Everton.

Origi scored a superb second to restore Liverpool’s two-goal cushion and Sadio Mane – who had set up the opening two goals – got in on the act for the Reds.

Richarlison’s response in first-half stoppage time offered Everton slim hope, but Liverpool added a fifth in the final minute of normal time through Georginio Wijnaldum to seal an emphatic win.

3. Everton 3-0 Liverpool (2006)

Everton enjoyed an afternoon to remember after thrashing an error-prone Liverpool to record their biggest win over their city rivals in over 40 years.

Jamie Carragher and Pepe Reina endured nightmare performances for the visitors, who opened the scoring through Tim Cahill’s close-range finish. Andy Johnson then doubled the Toffees’ lead after capitalising on Carraher’s mistake and added a second late on.

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Reina fumbled Lee Carsley’s drive and Johnson reacted quickest to the Spaniard’s shocker, heading in a gift-wrapped third in injury time to seal success for Everton.

2. Everton 3-3 Liverpool (2013)

Everton dented the title hopes of their cross-town rivals during a thrilling draw between the teams in 2013/14.

An end-to-end contest saw both teams score inside the opening eight minutes through Philippe Coutinho and Kevin Mirallas respectively, before Luis Suarez restored the Reds’ advantage with a second for Liverpool.

Romelu Lukaku then turned the game on its head with two goals in 10 second-half minutes, slamming in an equaliser before rising to meet a corner kick to put Everton ahead for the first time with eight minutes to go.

Liverpool required a late equaliser from Daniel Sturridge to earn a point, as the striker’s 89th-minute header levelled the game at 3-3 at Goodison Park. It was a game that perhaps symbolised Liverpool under Brendan Rodgers in an ultimately failed title challenge. Expansive at one end, open at the other.

1. Everton 2-3 Liverpool (2001)

Gary McAllister’s magic saw Liverpool dramatically win a five-goal thriller at Goodison Park in 2001.

A compelling clash saw the momentum swing between the teams, with two Everton equalisers cancelling out Liverpool leads. Emile Heskey fired Gerard Houllier’s side ahead early on in the derby before Duncan Ferguson levelled with an emphatic finish past Sander Westerveld just before half-time.

Markus Babbel crashed in a second for Liverpool as a loose ball fell invitingly for the full-back before the Reds missed the chance to make it 3-1 as Robbie Fowler saw his penalty hit the post only a minute later.

Igor Biscan’s red card then handed Everton the initiative and the Toffees were handed a controversial penalty when Sami Hyypia brought down Ferguson. David Unsworth smashed home his spot-kick and Everton were on the up in the closing minutes.

Then came McAllister’s rescue act. Standing over a free-kick some 44 yards from goal, the Scot shaped to cross before whipping the ball over the wall and into Paul Gerrard’s near post. Liverpool celebrated their 94th-minute winner wildly, as the ten men claimed a dramatic three points.

Read – 10 unforgettable Merseyside derby moments

See more – Next Liverpool manager latest: Who is in the frame?

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