The Merseyside derby dissected: A (polite) chat between our Everton and Liverpool experts

New York Times

11-02-2025

After a false start in December, Goodison Park is preparing for one last slice of Merseyside derby history tomorrow.
The old stadium, Everton's home since 1892, welcomes Liverpool for the final time in a fixture rearranged from two months ago, when bad weather forced a postponement.
It will be an emotional occasion, but the sporting stakes are high for both teams, with Liverpool eying a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League and Everton anxious to maintain recent momentum under returning manager David Moyes.
In the spirit of the 'Friendly Derby', we asked our Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland and Liverpool writer Andy Jones to analyse the big issues.
Boyland: The rivalry is clearly still there. How can it not be when they share a city and the two grounds are separated only by Stanley Park?
It is a cliche, but families are split in their allegiances and the game will dominate discussion this week. But Everton have had so many problems in recent seasons — some existential — that there has been little time to worry about events at Anfield.
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When your own house is in danger of falling down, you simply don't have the headspace to concern yourself with what's happening across the road.
Jones: With the exception of the actual matches, Everton have been none of Liverpool's business in recent years with both sides battling at different ends of the table.
Due to their neighbours' struggles, the most pressing question Liverpool supporters have had is whether they wanted their rivals to be relegated. Did they want the derby, or did they want a good laugh?
While Liverpool have got so much right in recent years, Everton have got plenty wrong — but with their owner situation finally sorted, the red half of Merseyside will be watching to see if their fortunes improve.
That said, derby day remains a unique and special occasion. Families are divided and bragging rights mean everything. Liverpool will want revenge for last year's Goodison defeat and the chance to win the last contest at the home of the enemy is a huge incentive.
Boyland: At the time of the initial postponement, I'd have been tempted to say Liverpool.
I certainly got a sense that some at Everton felt the extreme weather conditions back in December could have worked in their favour, and Liverpool also had more than their fair share of injury problems.
I'm slightly less sure on that front now, though. Liverpool may be in a better place (particularly on the injury front) but Everton are, too, under David Moyes.
The hope that had ebbed away in the latter part of his predecessor Sean Dyche's tenure has started to return, Everton are playing better, and the bonds between the team and the fanbase are starting to heal.
The whole atmosphere around the club has shifted, and that feels important — particularly on nights like these.
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Jones: Liverpool were set to be without several key players for the postponed fixture. Alexis Mac Allister was suspended while Alisson, Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konate, Kostas Tsimikas, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota were all set to be absent through injury.
Slot's side were also coming off the back of a demanding 3-3 draw with Newcastle United. The 12.30pm kick-off following an intense Wednesday fixture that ended in disappointment after a last-minute equaliser was conceded, presented a potential banana skin.
This time, Liverpool will arrive well rested after Slot fielded a weakened side in the FA Cup defeat against Plymouth Argle. The injury list is much smaller, too, with only Joe Gomez out and Trent Alexander-Arnold a doubt.
Had Dyche still been in charge — even if he did make Liverpool's life difficult with Burnley and Everton — the answer would be clear. However, his departure, the return of Moyes and the uplift that has provided make Everton feel like a very different proposition.
Boyland: It has to be Mohamed Salah, doesn't it? At 32, he looks better than ever — a regular goalscorer and creator.
Everton will also have an eye on Cody Gakpo on the other side. The Dutchman, a former Everton transfer target during his days at PSV, is another to have taken it up a notch this season.
Jones: The obvious answer would be Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who seems to save some of his best performances in an Everton shirt for this fixture. His excellent display last season — where he dominated Konate — set the tone for victory. The fact he will be unavailable feels significant.
Of those who will be involved, derby newcomer Iliman Ndiaye is my pick. He is the type of player who can ignite the Goodison crowd with a driving run or piece of skill and will provide a stern test for whoever lines up at right-back for Liverpool. The 24-year-old feels like Moyes' potential game-changer.
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Boyland: The obvious answer is in both boxes, but I'm intrigued about what happens down Everton's left. It's Salah vs Vitalii Mykolenko, provided the Ukrainian shakes off a calf problem to feature on Wednesday, and Ndiaye against Alexander-Arnold or Bradley.
Ndiaye is Everton's most gifted attacker and capable of game-changing moments but also puts in a huge shift defensively. Mykolenko has, on the whole, performed well against Salah but will need to do so again if Everton are to stand a chance.
Jones: I'm inclined to agree with Paddy's suggestion of both boxes, but from a Liverpool perspective this comes down to winning the physical battle, particularly in midfield. Last season, former manager Jurgen Klopp's side were bullied, with Calvert-Lewin setting the tone.
Slot repeatedly referenced controlled aggression and work rate as being crucial before the postponed fixture in December. Liverpool's midfield has become so pivotal under Dutchman and they will be tasked with winning second balls, being on the front foot and outworking their opposition number. If they do that, they should earn control and allow their team to dominate.
Boyland: I'll miss the atmosphere and needle. Nothing unites Everton fans like a common foe, and the derby atmosphere always somehow seems more raw at Goodison than it is at Anfield.
The noise during last season's 2-0 win was incredible. Don't just take my word for it — check out Gary Neville's post-match paean to the old stadium. What Everton supporters would give for another like that on Goodison's derby send-off.
Jones: Winning there. There are few better feelings as a Liverpool supporter than walking into your neighbours' backyard and leaving with a victory. The problem is Liverpool have not done that often enough in recent times, despite often being heavy favourites.
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There is that old-fashioned feel and crazed atmosphere you get from a Goodison derby. It has become rarer to find in the modern game and will be missed, even if it has hindered Liverpool in the past. Traditional stadiums are harder to come by at the top level, and with the crowd on top of the players, they can provide that vital edge — which is what makes it so sweet when it can be silenced.
Boyland: During the design process, Everton and their American architect Dan Meis looked for ways to replicate the Goodison atmosphere at their new dockside stadium. That is a difficult task, of course, but the steep stands and extra capacity (around 13,000 more seats) should help.
In a broader sense, the move also gives Everton an opportunity to kick on again. They need the extra revenue after years of concerns over profit and sustainability rules.
The club's austerity era could finally be drawing to an end, and that gives them a fighting chance under new owners.
Jones: A key question when a team moves home is about how their atmosphere will transfer to a new modern stadium. As Paddy mentioned, it has been designed with the hope of replicating Goodison, but that remains unknown. There will always be an atmosphere on derby day regardless of the venue, but will it feel as intimidating for Liverpool? Only time will tell.
In a broader sense, the financial benefits coupled with the recent takeover will give Everton a stronger footing to begin to compete higher up the table again. The gap between these two teams is huge, but this should allow them to start closing it by moving away from being an annual relegation-threatened side.
Boyland: The table dictates that Liverpool are favourites here, even at Goodison, but I'll go for a 1-1 draw.
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Jones: As regular readers of my contributions to these discussions will know, pessimism often dictates my prediction. If Liverpool play the opponent and not the occasion then they should win — but there's a part of me that can't shake the feeling Everton won't lose the final derby at Goodison… I'll go 2-1 to Liverpool.