FeatureFive memorable Anfield Merseyside derbies

Liverpool 3-2 Everton - April 3, 1999

A teenage Steven Gerrard made a decisive late contribution on his Merseyside derby debut as the Reds edged this barnstorming clash. Everton midfielder Olivier Dacourt stunned Anfield when he opened the scoring after just 41 seconds, but Liverpool soon turned the game on its head. Robbie Fowler equalised from the penalty spot after a quarter of an hour and he headed in his second six minutes later.

Patrik Berger’s volley eight minutes from time appeared to have settled a pulsating contest but Everton quickly responded through Francis Jeffers. And a late leveller looked to be on the cards when Danny Cadamarteri fired at goal – Liverpool goalkeeper David James was well beaten, but the 18-year-old Gerrard made a sensational goalline clearance to ensure victory for Gerard Houllier’s side.

Liverpool 4-0 Everton - January 28, 2014

A brilliant two-minute Daniel Sturridge brace helped Liverpool record a stunning derby success. The Reds hit the front through Gerrard’s header before Sturridge took the game away from Everton with a pair of typically accomplished strikes.

First, he blasted past Tim Howard after Philippe Coutinho’s perfectly-weighted pass sent him scarpering through on goal. Sturridge’s second goal was even better, with the striker displaying exceptional ingenuity and technique to chip the Everton goalkeeper from just outside the area. Luis Suarez made it 4-0 with a magnificent run and finish, before Sturridge missed the chance to complete a derby hat-trick when he sent a penalty kick over the crossbar.

Liverpool 4-0 Everton - April 20, 2016

Jürgen Klopp’s maiden Merseyside derby saw the Reds turn on the style on a balmy April evening at Anfield. Liverpool were dominant from the outset – they finished the game with 37 shots to the away side’s three – but it took until the 43rd minute for the first goal to arrive.

Divock Origi, who would go on to cement cult hero status for his heroics in this fixture, opened his Merseyside derby account with a bullet header. Mamadou Sakho added a second before the half-time break and Liverpool refused to ease up in the second period, with excellent finishes from Sturridge and Coutinho capping a wonderful team performance.

Liverpool 1-0 Everton - December 2, 2018

Five minutes of stoppage time had elapsed and a hard-fought contest looked certain to be heading for a goalless draw. Everton had repelled mounting Liverpool pressure in the game’s latter stages, with Origi coming closest to a breakthrough when he struck the woodwork from six yards out. There was to be jaw-dropping late drama to come, however.

The danger appeared minimal for Everton when Virgil van Dijk’s speculative volley looped high into the Anfield sky, but the unusual trajectory of the shot bamboozled Jordan Pickford and the ball dropped on to the crossbar. Origi was on the rebound in a flash to head in and spark jubilant celebrations among Liverpool fans, players and staff.

Liverpool 5-2 Everton - December 4, 2019

Liverpool came into this derby in blistering form – with 13 wins and one draw from their opening 14 Premier League games – and went on to overwhelm their city rivals with an exhilarating attacking display. Strikes from Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri saw the Reds roar into an early 2-0 lead before Michael Keane pulled one back for the visitors.

That man Origi would then send Anfield into raptures with the goal of the night, expertly controlling a long pass from Dejan Lovren and then beating Pickford with a fabulous lob. Sadio Mane and Georginio Wijnaldum were also on target for Klopp’s relentless Reds, with Richarlison’s 45th-minute effort proving merely a consolation.