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There’s an almighty roar around the ground as the theme from Z-Cars kicks in. Everton fans have banners hanging from every rafter, but Liverpool supporters have brought a few too – including one which reads: “at least an empty trophy cabinet is easier to move.” Ouch!
Everton fan Gary Naylor writes:
“The Gallery is very moving. I’m not (and I know this is hard to believe) a sentimental Scouser, but I do feel a very deep connection to Goodison, partly because it’s where I remember my father, who first took me there in 1970. I’m not there tonight (this Chekhov at Shakespeare’s Globe isn’t going to review itself) but I’m going to most of the home games in the Spring. Not sure how I’m going to feel on the 18th May, but, as Rob Smyth would sign off here a few years ago, I suspect I’ll be saying that it’s been emotional.”
“Nervous Liverpool fan here,” writes Patrick Crumlish. “By any rational analysis Liverpool should win, but Everton’s form, Moyes’ return, the hapless nature of the FA Cup defeat, and the emotion of the last Goodison derby ... Let’s just say I’m not looking forward to this one.”
Anyone who’s been to Goodison, or anyone who has fond memories of a historic football stadium long since converted into flats, might get a little dewy-eyed reading this:
It’s the sound of Goodison Park that gets you. The deep rumble of feet pounding on planks when a blue shirt walks to the corner flag, a thundering drumbeat that vibrates through the legs, up into the torso, direct to the heart. It’s the staccato clatter of wooden seats flipping skyward as a player runs down the wing. The chants started in the belly of lower stands which spill out into the air in swirling eddies, echoing disjointedly around the ground.
David Moyes is in the house and like Nina Simone, he’s “feeling good.”
“We know it is a great night for everybody connected to Everton, because it is the last Merseyside derby at this stadium,” Moyes adds. “I am looking at it like another game and trying to get another three points for the team.”
“Anybody who has come here will tell you the evening games are always special. The close proximity to the pitch, the small tunnel. The crowd won’t disappoint and we have to make sure we give them something to shout about.”
“Trying to make chances against Liverpool is never easy. When we do get the opportunities we need to be clean, take them when they come around, and put them under pressure ourselves too.”
Since the first derby at Goodison Park in 1894, this fixture has been incredibly well-balanced. Everton have won 41 (their biggest victory being 5-0), and Liverpool 41 (biggest win: 5-0), with 37 draws.
Predictions for tonight? In the spirit of parity, I’ll guess at 1-1.
Here are the pre-match thoughts of Arne Slot, who was still playing for PEC Zwolle the last time David Moyes managed a derby at Goodison Park.
“I look forward to every game we play but this is definitely a special one. We’re all aware of the fact that it is the last time this match is being played over here so it is a game to look forward to.
“In this league it is important to win every single gam … we need to win many, many games to stay in the position that we are now. We know our competitors are able to win many games in a row as well.
“We know how difficult this game is for us. We know what happened here last season [Liverpool lost 2-0]. We know what David has brought here to this club in his four matches in charge so far. It is going to be a difficult one.”
He adds that “Trent is not close at all to start, but can come in for a few minutes.” On the busy fixture list: “We have five games in 15 days. It goes on and on – sometimes players need a rest.”
David Moyes goes with the Everton line-up that thumped Leicester 4-0 in the Premier League on 1 February – although he only made one change to his XI for the Cup defeat to Bournemouth.
Luis Díaz is the only player who started at Home Park to retain his place as Arne Slot returns to what is pretty much his first-choice team. Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in the bench after injury, with Conor Bradley holding on to his place at right-back.
The teams are in
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Lindstrøm, Doucouré, Ndiaye; Beto.
Subs: Virginia, Begovic, Keane, Harrison, Young, Alcaraz, Iroegbunam, Sherif, Heath.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Díaz.
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Jones, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah.
Some incredible shots in this gallery, looking back at Goodison Park derbies.
Preamble
The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was supposed to take place in early December, before Storm Darragh caused a late postponement. Everton had just beaten Wolves 4-0 to end a five-game winless run, apparently easing the pressure on Sean Dyche; in reality, that was his last win as Everton manager, with David Moyes returning to the hotseat a little over a month later.
The “Moyesiah” has resurrected the team with three straight league wins, and enjoyed four wins over Liverpool at Goodison in his previous tenure. With Everton nine points clear of the drop and freed from the shackles of Dycheball, fans can enjoy the long goodbye to their famous old ground, and will hope to start the party tonight.
As for Liverpool, they sat seven points clear at the top of the Premier League back in December – and now have a six-point lead, with tonight’s game in hand. Arne Slot’s smooth first season in charge hit an unexpected bump at Plymouth in the FA Cup on Sunday, where the manager rested several first-teamers with this derby in mind.
With Everton also eliminated from the Cup by south-coast opposition in Bournemouth, this rearranged game now stands out as a marquee fixture for Moyes, a chance to turn Liverpool’s blip into something more serious. Also at stake is the all-time winning record in Goodison derbies – both teams have won 41 games each at this venue.
Kick-off: 7.30pm GMT.
