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This venue has a rich history of hosting memorable matches, and today’s encounter is particularly significant.
For those who are aware of the legacy, it is notable that after 130 years, Goodison Park will hold its final Merseyside derby today.
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Looking ahead to next season, if Everton successfully navigates their usual relegation battle, they will greet Liverpool at their new, impressive 53,000-seater stadium situated at Bramley-Moore Dock.
As we gear up for this lunchtime contest, it’s remarkable to note that the pair has each claimed 41 wins at Goodison across various competitions.
How much would Sean Dyche’s team cherish the opportunity to finish their time at this famed venue with a victory over the reigning Premier League leaders?
Although once referred to as the ‘friendly derby,’ characterized by fans of both sides mingling, the Mersey derby has undergone a transformation.
This fixture now holds the record for the most red cards issued in the Premier League, totaling 23 since the league’s modern formation in 1992.
With Everton often playing the role of determined underdogs, derbies here are notably fierce, especially at Goodison, the historic home of the Toffees.
Goodison Park is a cherished traditional ground — perhaps lacking in legroom but brimming with atmosphere, nestled among terraced homes, and featuring one of the last classic stands designed by the esteemed football architect, Archibald Leitch.
When Everton is in dire need of a positive outcome — particularly when facing their ‘red’ rivals from across Stanley Park — the atmosphere intensifies, creating a vibrant and thunderous setting.
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An example of this was seen in Wednesday’s 4-0 victory against relegation rivals Wolves, providing Dyche’s team with crucial breathing space near the lower end of the table.
This historic ground likely aids its home side in securing crucial points each season, helping to maintain Everton’s Premier League status over the years.
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This was particularly clear during the penultimate derby at Goodison in April when the former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp experienced his first derby defeat at this ground against Everton.
The Reds faced a severe ‘Dycheing’ as the Toffees triumphed over their illustrious rivals with goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jarrad Branthwaite, sealing a 2-0 victory.
This result all but guaranteed Everton’s survival in the Premier League.
Moreover, as every Everton fan is eager to point out, it ensured that Klopp ends his tenure with fewer league titles than either Howard Kendall or Harry Catterick.
It also marked the end of the Reds’ longest unbeaten streak at the Toffees’ home — a run that had extended 12 matches back to 2010 during Roy Hodgson’s challenging time at Liverpool.
Everton played at Anfield until 1892 when they secured their first of nine league titles there the previous year, in a time when it was still home to a club that had yet to come into existence.
The split with the club’s majority owner John Houlding led the Toffees to establish Goodison Park.
Houlding found himself with a stadium but no team, prompting him to create Liverpool FC in the summer of 1892.
Since Everton triumphed in the inaugural match with a 3-0 victory in 1894, many thrilling derbies have ensued.
Among the most memorable moments in the last 119 encounters is undoubtedly the wild FA Cup fifth-round replay in February 1991, which ended in a stunning 4-4 draw.
Liverpool took the lead four times, yet Everton equalized each time — twice with goals from Graham Sharp and twice from Tony Cottee.
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Two days later, Reds manager Kenny Dalglish resigned, signaling the end of his club’s 15-year reign in English football.
Cottee came on as a substitute to score the equalizer late in regular time and again in extra time — skillfully nutmegging Bruce Grobbelaar, who faced criticism for his goalkeeping decisions throughout the match.
Ian Rush, one of Liverpool’s scorers that day, recalls the exhilarating November 1982 derby.
The Welsh striker scored four times in a 5-0 victory, aided by Everton’s poor offside trap.
This match occurred early in Kendall’s management era.
His tenure represented a golden era for Merseyside football in the mid-to-late 1980s, with clashes between the two clubs often determining the title winner.
An unforgettable moment for Liverpool fans was Gary McAllister’s incredible 44-yard free-kick in April 2001, which clinched a 3-2 victory deep into injury time.
Everton supporters fondly remember a 3-0 thrashing of their rivals in September 2006, featuring two goals from Andy Johnson and a lackluster performance from lifelong Blue Jamie Carragher.
A more recent highlight came in an electrifying 3-3 draw in November 2013, under the management of Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers, where both teams showcased an attacking and entertaining style.
This derby holds the distinction of being the longest-running major British derby, with both clubs maintaining their top-flight status since the release of The Beatles’ first single in 1962.
Next season, the stage for the derby will change.
Tomorrow, Goodison, with its distinctive charm, will offer a final resounding welcome to Liverpool.
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