Merseyside derby
Longest running top-flight derby in England, rooted in a club split.
The Merseyside derby is a football match between Everton and Liverpool, two clubs from Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is the longest continuously played top-flight derby in England, with the first official game taking place on 13 October 1894. The derby has been held every season since 1962–63. The rivalry is partly fueled by the closeness of the two clubs’ home grounds—less than a mile apart, visible to each other across Stanley Park. Everton used to play at Goodison Park; they now play at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Vauxhall, while Liverpool still play at Anfield.
The Merseyside derby was once called the “friendly derby” because many families in the city support both teams, and it was one of the few derbies without full fan segregation. The 1984 Football League Cup final at Wembley was nicknamed the “friendly final” because almost all sections of the ground were mixed, and fans from both sides chanted “Merseyside” together. The 1986 FA Cup final saw similar unity. Since the mid-1980s, the rivalry has grown more intense on and off the pitch, and it has seen more red cards than any other Premier League fixture since the league began. In the 2010s, Liverpool dominated the derby, arguably making it the most one-sided in English top-flight history, though it has become more competitive in recent years.
**History**
**Early history** Everton was founded in 1878 and played at Anfield from 1884, a ground owned by club chairman John Houlding. Several Everton board members were Liberals linked to the National Temperance Federation, while Houlding was a Conservative and a brewer whose business conflicted with the temperance movement. Political and financial disputes arose over whether to keep an autocratic ownership or create a more democratic structure, reflecting the sociopolitical divide. In 1892, the Everton directors left Anfield and bought a new ground at Goodison Park, on the other side of Stanley Park. Houlding then founded Liverpool Football Club to use Anfield.
In the 1890s, professional football drew large crowds, both at matches and in politics. The 1867 Representation of the People Act had given many future football fans the vote. Everton and Liverpool matches attracted 10,000 to 15,000 spectators in a ward of 23,000 people. Local politicians saw involvement in the clubs as a way to gain media exposure.
- First official match
- 13 October 1894
- Continuous since
- 1962–63 season
- Home grounds distance
- Less than a mile apart across Stanley Park
- Everton current home
- Hill Dickinson Stadium in Vauxhall
- Liverpool current home
- Anfield
- Most red cards in premier league era
- Yes, since creation of Premier League
Lore & Background
The Merseyside derby began after a schism at Everton in 1892. Everton had played at Anfield, owned by chairman John Houlding, a Conservative brewer. Disputes over money and politics—Houlding versus Liberal temperance advocates on the board—led Everton to vacate Anfield and build Goodison Park. Houlding then founded Liverpool FC to play at Anfield. The first official derby was on 13 October 1894.
Traditionally called the 'friendly derby' due to many mixed-family households and minimal fan segregation, the 1984 League Cup final and 1986 FA Cup final saw supporters mingling and chanting 'Merseyside'. Since the mid-1980s, the rivalry intensified, with more red cards than any other Premier League fixture. In the 2010s, Liverpool dominated, but the derby became more competitive in recent years.
Notable moments include the 1984–85 season when Everton won the Charity Shield and league title, and the 1985–86 season when Liverpool completed the double by beating Everton in the FA Cup final. After the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, the first competitive match was a goalless derby draw, followed by another all-Merseyside FA Cup final won by Liverpool in extra time.
Reader's Guide
The Merseyside derby is significant as the longest continuously running top-flight derby in England, reflecting a deep historical and sociopolitical split. The rivalry's origins in the 1892 Everton-Liverpool schism were influenced by political and religious divisions—Houlding's Orange Order ties versus Everton chairman George Mahon's Liberal Home Rule advocacy—though only one Catholic sat on Everton's committee at the time. The derby was once known for its friendliness, with mixed crowds and shared chants, but from the mid-1980s it became the Premier League's most card-heavy fixture. The 1980s saw intense competition, with both clubs winning titles and meeting in two FA Cup finals. The derby's legacy includes its role in post-Hillsborough solidarity and its evolution from a family affair to a fiercely contested match. Its continuous top-flight presence since 1962–63 underscores its enduring place in English football.
Did You Know?
- The Merseyside derby is the longest running top-flight derby in England, first played officially on 13 October 1894.
- The derby has been played continuously since the 1962–63 season.
- The 1984 Football League Cup final was nicknamed the 'friendly final' because almost all sections were mixed and fans chanted 'Merseyside'.
- Since the creation of the Premier League, the Merseyside derby has seen more red cards than any other game.
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