The heroes who excelled v Everton
As Merseyside prepares for the latest passionate contest between its two clubs, author and devoted Liverpool supporter Brian Reece examined the history books to find 10 Reds who excelled against our old enemy.
Andy Carroll - FA Cup semi-final, Wembley 2012
Liverpool locked horns with Everton at Wembley in this pulsating FA Cup semi-final, with the Blues taking an early lead through Nikica Jelavic. But a short backpass by Sylvain Distin gifted Luis Suarez the opportunity to equalise for the Reds. The match was in the balance until the 87th minute, when Carroll's reverse header rocketed into the net and sent the Red half of Wembley into hysteria and Liverpool into the 2012 final.
David Speedie - February 9, 1991, Anfield
Speedie had what can only be described as a brief career at Anfield, but his record for the Reds was sensational. Speedie scored on his debut at Old Trafford, but it was his second game that placed the Scotsman firmly into the hearts of the Kop - with his two goals at Anfield in this 3-1 destruction of our neighbours.
Alan Waddle - December 8, 1973, Goodison Park
Waddle played 22 games for the Reds, managing just one goal. But it came in the most important match of all - the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on a cold December day back in 1973. Waddle scored the only goal of the game to sink the Blues.
Ronnie Rosenthal - March 20, 1993, Anfield
Rosenthal was a popular figure at Anfield, but his chances were somewhat limited in a squad that contained the likes of Ian Rush. Ronnie's greatest and most memorable goal for the club came in the Merseyside derby at Anfield in March 1993. With the game seemingly destined for a draw, Rosenthal netted a last-minute winner in front of the Kop to send the Reds faithful home happy and leave the Toffees deflated.
Peter Beardsley - September 22, 1990, Goodison Park
Beardsley was part of one of the greatest ever Liverpool squads, he was a Kop favourite and never failed to deliver for the Reds. He would score many times for Liverpool, including a hat-trick against Manchester United in the 4-0 humiliation at Anfield in September 1990, and he was also a major influence in the 5-0 total demolition of Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest - a performance still regarded by many Liverpool fans as their finest team display. Yet again the Merseyside derby would prove to be a great occasion, and Beardsley would score twice as the Reds won 3-2 to the total dejection of the Blues.
Nick Barmby - October 29, 2000, Anfield
Barmby, controversially, was the first player since 1959 to transfer from Everton to Liverpool, so there could be no better way to remind the blue segment of Merseyside what they were missing than to do the talking on the pitch. That moment came in Barmby's first derby in a Red shirt - in the 17th minute the midfielder scored a fantastic goal to give Liverpool the lead, one that made him an instant hero to the Kop. Liverpool went on to thump Everton 3-1.
Dirk Kuyt - October 20, 2007, Goodison Park
The Dutchman scored a succession of crucial goals for the Reds but it was perhaps his double penalty strike against our rivals that will always remain in the hearts and minds of the Reds fans. The match did not start according to plan as Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia scored an own goal in the 38th minute. Liverpool resumed the second half with a more direct and forceful momentum, and in the 54th minute the Reds were awarded a penalty. Kuyt converted. Both teams tried to force a winner with no success, until in the last minute Lucas Leiva had a snap shot inside the Blues box and Phil Neville, who could have been mistaken for deputising for Tim Howard, brilliantly saved the shot and a penalty was awarded. Neville was sent off for his illegal save and Kuyt once again had another opportunity from 12 yards, and this time it was to win the match. He calmly slotted home the penalty and Liverpool had once again caused heartbreak to their neighbours.
Steven Gerrard - March 13, 2012, Anfield
Liverpool's captain Gerrard has become accustomed to beating Everton over the years, but there was one performance in particular that would give the Liverpool legend probably his greatest derby satisfaction. That was his fantastic hat-trick against the Toffees in front of a packed Anfield in 2012. Liverpool never looked in trouble as Gerrard single-handedly destroyed Everton with a performance that will live long in the memory of all who were privileged to witness it.
Gary McAllister - April 16, 2001, Goodison Park
Never has a Merseyside derby been won in such enthralling circumstances as when McAllister hit a superb free-kick with virtually the last attempt of the match to devastate Everton and bring complete joy to Liverpool. With the score at 2-2 in injury time, it was some way out but McAllister saw an opportunity - he noticed that Everton 'keeper Paul Gerrard was way out of position and had left a gaping hole to his right side. McAllister gave the impression that he was about to float a ball high into the left hand side of the Everton box, but at the last second the midfielder turned his body and fired a great low drive towards the right hand side of Gerrard's goal and into the net.
Ian Rush - November 6, 1982, Goodison Park
Liverpool's complete annihilation of Everton at Goodison Park on November 6, 1982 will always be remembered for what is regarded as both Liverpool's finest team and individual performance in Merseyside derbies of recent times. Rush delivered humiliation to the Toffees on such a grand scale with an array of terrifying, clinical finishing; Mark Lawrenson bagged a goal but from then on it was the Rush show. Everton had no answer to combat the Welsh wizard, who tore the heart and soul out of the Blues with four goals in supreme style. Even today, many consider the four-goal destruction of Everton to be the best performance ever by a Liverpool striker.