General history of the Merseyside derby: Everton vs. Liverpool by official tournaments

This Wednesday at Goodison Park, a new edition of the traditional classic between the teams from the port will be played, Everton vs. Liverpool , for the 15th date of the Premier League that could not be played in December due to heavy snowfall. 365Scores reviews the most complete history between these two greats of England.

Everton vs. Liverpool: all the history of the derby

Despite the long history between the two teams, it is striking that they have only played matches in the various local competitions in England and not at European level. Official regional championship matches are also taken into account.

The overall balance of almost 300 games played is highly favourable to the red side of the city, highlighting that they have played without a break in the English league since the 1962/63 season.

The first derby in history was in the Liverpool Senior Cup in 1893, but the first to be officially played was a year later for the League championship.

Merseyside derby origins

This derby is the longest-running one in the English top flight as it has been played every single season since 1962, something that cannot be said for the North London derby or the Manchester derby.

Everton are one of the founding members of the English football league and they have spent more seasons in the top flight than anyone else. Since 1888, they have played 117 seasons in the top flight and have not been in a lower tier since 1954.

They started life by playing their games at Anfield, the current home of Liverpool FC. Due to a rent dispute, though, they moved across Stanley Park and now play their games at Goodison Park ever since 1892. When two teams are situated just a patch of grass away from each other, it is obvious that a rivalry is going to form.

Sheer proximity is what made the rivalry exist, and it was later exacerbated when Everton were denied access to European football twice following the behaviour of Liverpool fans on the continent during the 1980s. Sectarian and political differences did exist between the sides as well during the early years, as Everton were viewed as the Catholic club and Liverpool as the Protestant club, although this is definitely not a factor in the modern day.

Why is it known as the 'friendly derby'?

This is primarily because violence between the two sets of supporters never seemed to be commonplace. Of course, there have been incidents over the years, but not to the same scale as other major football matches in England or the rest of the world.

This could be because having hailed from the same area of the city, it is common for Liverpool and Everton fans to be very close friends with each other or even be from the same families. Brothers and sisters may not speak to each other for a few days leading up to the fixture, but they won't be found fighting in the streets.

The Hillsborough tragedy is also a factor. Liverpool as a city felt repressed and neglected by the authorities. While it was Liverpool's fans who lost their lives, it was seen as another example of the city and its people being treated poorly. Many Everton fans had friends and family that lost their lives or were injured that day in 1989.

The Merseyside derby in the modern day

As time has worn on, particularly in the last decade or so, Liverpool have been the favourites for almost every meeting between the two sides. Everton have been stuck in a self-destructive loop where they have routinely been battling against relegation without ever actually going down.

Liverpool meanwhile have found success in the last handful of seasons under Jurgen Klopp and have been a very good team at varying points over the past decade. Everton are certainly the underdogs in this phase of the derbies' history.

The derby has been played 243 times since 1894. Liverpool have won it 99 times and Everton have won 67 of the meetings. There have been 77 draws.

Merseyside derby records

The biggest home victory saw Liverpool win 6-0 at Anfield in the 1935-36 season

The biggest away victory was Everton 0-5 Liverpool in 1982/83. Everton won 5-0 at Anfield in 1914/15

Highest scoring match: 7-4 Liverpool win at Anfield in the 1932-33 season

Most appearances: Neville Southall of Everton with 41

Most goals: Ian Rush with 25 goals for Liverpool

Record attendance: 78,599 at Goodison Park on 18 September 1948.