The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park back in February was not merely a football match—it was a seismic event, a clash of identities, histories, and emotions that culminated in a moment of pure drama. James Tarkowski’s last-gasp volley, timed at 97:07, did more than salvage a 2–2 draw for Everton against title-chasing Liverpool; it etched itself into the annals of Premier League folklore. The goal, the second-latest Liverpool have ever conceded in the competition since Opta began tracking such data in 2006–07, was a fitting punctuation mark to a fixture that has long defied logic and form. Robin van Persie’s 97:10 strike for Arsenal in 2011 remains the only later goal against the Reds, but Tarkowski’s effort carried a weight that transcended statistics—it was the final roar of Goodison in derby combat, a defiant echo before the old stadium closes its doors in May.
Everton’s performance that day was emblematic of a side reborn under David Moyes, who returned to the club with a sense of unfinished business and a tactical blueprint rooted in resilience and pragmatism. The Toffees were arguably the better team for much of the encounter, registering more shots (10–6) and limiting Liverpool to a paltry 0.62 expected goals—their lowest xG in any league match all season. It was a masterclass in containment, pressing, and opportunism, undone only by a flash of brilliance from Mohamed Salah, whose goal seemed destined to decide the contest until Tarkowski’s intervention. The scenes that followed—VAR checks, red cards, managerial expulsions—were a microcosm of the derby’s combustible nature. Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucouré saw red after a heated exchange, while Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were dismissed for confronting referee Michael Oliver, their fury boiling over in a cauldron of noise and tension.
The Merseyside derby has always been a fixture of extremes, and its disciplinary record reflects that. With 25 red cards when counting players only, it is the most volatile rivalry in Premier League history. Everton’s 17 dismissals against Liverpool are the most one team has received against another in the competition, a statistic that speaks to the emotional stakes and the fine margins that define these encounters. Slot, in the aftermath, admitted he had lost his cool, conceding that his reaction was unbecoming of a manager at this level. Yet his frustration was not without merit—Liverpool had felt aggrieved by several decisions, and the Dutchman will now look to channel that energy into a response on the pitch as the Reds prepare to host their neighbors at Anfield.
The challenge, however, is formidable. Anfield has been a fortress in this fixture, with Liverpool losing just once to Everton at home in the Premier League since the turn of the century. That solitary defeat came in February 2021, a 2–0 reverse in an empty stadium during the pandemic era—a result that felt anomalous rather than indicative of a shift in power. Since then, Liverpool have reasserted their dominance, winning each of the last three home league derbies by a 2–0 scoreline. They last won more consecutive home Merseyside derbies between 1990 and 1994, a run of five, though they have never done so without conceding. The current streak, therefore, carries historical significance and a sense of inevitability, especially given the disparity in resources and squad depth.
Yet Everton arrive with momentum and belief. Moyes’ side are unbeaten in nine league games, their longest such run since Ronald Koeman’s tenure in 2016–17. The last time they went longer without defeat was in December 2013, a ten-match streak that coincided with one of the club’s most competitive seasons in recent memory. Remarkably, this is also their longest unbeaten run heading into a league meeting with Liverpool since February 2010, when they lost 1–0 at Anfield under Moyes’ stewardship. The symmetry is striking, and it adds a layer of narrative intrigue to a fixture already brimming with subplots.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are seeking redemption. Their recent form has been patchy, with a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League and a meek surrender to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup final casting shadows over an otherwise stellar domestic campaign. Despite these setbacks, the Reds entered Matchday 30 as runaway leaders in the Premier League, holding a 12-point cushion over Arsenal. With only one league game played since the end of February, they will be fresh, focused, and fueled by the Anfield crowd, which has often served as a twelfth man in these high-stakes encounters.
Moyes’ personal record at Anfield is a tale of frustration. He has never won a Premier League away game against Liverpool, drawing six and losing five of his 11 visits during his first spell at Everton. His overall record against the Reds is similarly bleak—just four wins in 38 Premier League meetings, a win rate of 10.5%, his lowest against any opponent in the competition. Yet records are made to be broken, and Moyes will be acutely aware that his current squad possesses the grit and tactical discipline to defy history.
Injury concerns linger on both sides. Everton have welcomed back several players in recent weeks, though doubts remain over Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil, both of whom are racing against time to be fit. Dominic Calvert-Lewin remains sidelined, depriving the Toffees of their most potent aerial threat. Nevertheless, they have shown remarkable resilience, with Jake O’Brien emerging as a late-game talisman, scoring crucial equalisers against Brentford and West Ham. Their ability to strike late has become a hallmark of this unbeaten run, and it speaks to the mental fortitude instilled by Moyes.
Set-pieces could prove decisive. Everton have scored 41% of their Premier League goals this season from non-penalty set plays (13/32), the highest ratio in the division. Beto’s opener in the reverse fixture at Goodison came from a quickly taken free-kick, catching Liverpool off guard. By contrast, the Reds have scored just 6% of their goals from non-penalty set pieces (4/69), the lowest share in the league. This disparity highlights Everton’s proficiency in dead-ball situations and Liverpool’s reliance on open-play brilliance, particularly through their front line.
Chief among Liverpool’s attacking threats is Mohamed Salah, whose record in Merseyside derbies is exemplary. The Egyptian has been directly involved in eight goals in his last seven Premier League meetings with Everton (six goals, two assists), including contributions at Goodison Park. Only Chris Sutton (1993–94) and Alan Shearer (1994–95) have both scored and assisted in both league fixtures against Everton in a single season. Salah is now within touching distance of Steven Gerrard’s record of nine Premier League goals in the derby, and with uncertainty surrounding his contract, this could be his final appearance in the fixture. The stakes, therefore, are personal as well as collective.
Liverpool’s squad depth will be tested. Alisson and Ryan Gravenberch returned early from international duty with minor injuries but are expected to feature. Conor Bradley is back in training, though the game may come too soon for him, meaning Jarell Quansah could continue at right-back in the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold. The defensive reshuffle adds an element of vulnerability, particularly against Everton’s set-piece threat and late surges.
Historically, the fixture has been balanced at Goodison Park. From 120 derbies played there, the 2–2 draw in February ensured that both sides finished level in wins (41 each, with 38 draws) before the stadium’s closure. At Anfield, however, the record is lopsided. Liverpool have lost just one of their last 24 Premier League home games against Everton (W14 D9), winning five of the last six. They are on 99 wins in the fixture overall, and a victory here would make them only the fifth English league side to beat another 100 times since the Football League’s inception in 1888. The others—Arsenal vs Everton (111), Manchester United vs Aston Villa (106), Liverpool vs Aston Villa (103), and Arsenal vs Manchester City (100)—are all storied rivalries, but few carry the emotional weight of the Merseyside derby.
As the teams prepare to renew hostilities at Anfield, the stakes are clear. For Liverpool, it is a chance to reaffirm their dominance, to move one step closer to a historic title, and to give Salah a fitting send-off if this is indeed his final derby. For Everton, it is an opportunity to extend their unbeaten run, to defy expectations, and to strike a blow against their most storied rivals. The tactical battle between Slot and Moyes will be fascinating—one a disciple of Dutch positional play, the other a master of British pragmatism. The emotional undercurrents, the historical baggage, and the individual narratives all converge to make this more than just a football match. It is a chapter in a saga that has defined generations, and whatever the outcome, it will leave an imprint on the soul of Merseyside.
