Six classic Merseyside derbies as Liverpool travel to Everton in crunch game

Everton host Liverpool in the 233rd Merseyside derby later on today.Marco Silva’s appointment did not change Everton’s recent dismal history in the fixture, with a last-gasp 1-0 defeat at Anfield in December making it 19 matches without a win dating back to October 2010.Here, we take a look at some classic Merseyside derbies.

Liverpool 3-2 Everton - 1999

A match memorable as much for the on-field antics of Robbie Fowler as the game itself.

Olivier Dacourt stunned Anfield with a goal after just 41 seconds, but Fowler restored parity with a 15th-minute penalty. However, his controversial celebration – pretending to sniff the byline in front of the away end in response to taunts – provoked a hostile response from visiting fans and ultimately landed the striker with a four-match ban.

Fowler added a second shortly afterwards and Patrik Berger’s 20-yard volley made it 3-1 with eight minutes to go, but Francis Jeffers’ strike set up a frantic finish.

Everton 4-4 Liverpool - 1991

One of the most dramatic derbies of all time was an FA Cup fifth-round replay at Goodison Park.

The first match had been goalless, but the second could not have been more different.

Three times Liverpool took the lead in normal time, twice through Peter Beardsley and once through Ian Rush, but two from Graeme Sharp and one from Tony Cottee saw the hosts equalise each time.

John Barnes put Liverpool ahead again in extra-time, but once more Cottee levelled.

It was to prove Kenny Dalglish’s final match in his first spell as manager, the Scot telling the club of his intention to leave the following day. Everton won the second replay 1-0.

Liverpool 3-2 Everton - 1989

The all-Merseyside FA Cup final was played out against the backdrop of the Hillsborough disaster just weeks before.

John Aldridge’s early opener was cancelled out by Stuart McCall in stoppage time, with the Toffees midfielder levelling again when Rush came off the bench to score in extra-time.

However, the Reds striker was not to be denied and hit the winner.

Everton 3-3 Liverpool - 2013

The best recent match between the sides was a humdinger at Goodison Park in November 2013.

There was early drama when Philippe Coutinho’s opener was cancelled out inside 10 minutes by Kevin Mirallas.

Luis Suarez restored Liverpool’s lead and that was the way it stayed until Romelu Lukaku equalised 18 minutes from time.

The home fans were delirious when the Belgian put Everton ahead 10 minutes later, but substitute Daniel Sturridge earned Liverpool a point with an 89th-minute header.

Liverpool 3-2 Everton - 1970

A match memorable for its second-half fireworks with all five goals scored in the final 34 minutes.

The visitors went ahead through Alan Whittle barely 10 minutes after the interval and, when Joe Royle doubled their lead just past the hour, it seemed the points were heading back across Stanley Park.

However, Steve Heighway crucially pulled one back just six minutes after Everton’s second. The winger then crossed for John Toshack, signed from Cardiff 10 days previously, to head home his first goal for the club with Chris Lawler completing the turnaround six minutes from the end.