The Merseyside derby is weird. Honestly, if you just look at the Everton and Liverpool score from any given year, you are missing about 90% of the actual drama. You see a 0-0 or a 1-1 on the screen and think, "Oh, a boring draw." It wasn't. It was probably a ninety-minute car crash involving lunging tackles, three disallowed goals, and a referee who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else on earth.
Everton fans walk into these games with a specific kind of dread. Liverpool fans walk in with a specific kind of arrogance. Both usually leave feeling slightly sick.
Historically, the gap between these two has grown. We know this. Liverpool has spent the last decade hunting Champions League trophies while Everton has spent it hunting for a way to stay in the Premier League. But the derby is a vacuum. Logic dies at the gates of Goodison Park or Anfield. When you search for the latest Everton and Liverpool score, you're looking for a result, but what you’re really finding is the latest chapter in a civic feud that has lasted since 1894.
The Brutal Reality of the Numbers
Let's get the raw data out of the way because numbers don't lie, even if they are painful for the Blue half of the city. Since the Premier League began in 1992, this fixture has seen more red cards than any other game in the division. It is literally the "friendly derby" that isn't friendly at all.
Usually, the Everton and Liverpool score leans heavily toward the Reds. In over 240 meetings across all competitions, Liverpool has a significant lead in wins. But focus on the draws. There are so many draws. Why? Because when Everton is bad—and they have been quite bad recently—they treat the derby like a cup final. They don't play football; they play a high-speed game of "stop the other guy from breathing."
Take the 2023/24 season. People expected a blowout. Instead, we saw Everton fight like their lives depended on it. It’s that desperate energy that makes the scoreline so unpredictable. You can’t just look at the league table and guess the outcome. If you did, Liverpool would win 4-0 every time. They don't.
👉 See also: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
Why 0-0 is the Most Common "Exciting" Result
It sounds like a contradiction. How can a scoreless game be a classic? Ask any Evertonian about the tactical masterclasses where they’ve held a peak Jurgen Klopp or Arne Slot side to a stalemate. It feels like a win.
- The "Dogs of War" Mentality: Everton often relies on physical intimidation.
- The Goalkeeper Factor: Jordan Pickford usually saves his most chaotic and brilliant performances for Liverpool.
- The Anfield Curse: For decades, Everton couldn't win at Anfield. When they finally did during the pandemic-era empty stadium games, the score was 0-2. It felt like a glitch in the matrix.
The Tactical Shift: From Klopp to Slot
The Everton and Liverpool score used to be dictated by "heavy metal football." Under Klopp, it was all about the press. If Everton turned the ball over in their own half, it was over. Boom. Goal.
Now, things are different. Liverpool has moved toward a more controlled, possession-heavy style. They want to suffocate you. Everton, currently under the guidance of managers who prioritize "low blocks" and set-piece efficiency, has responded by becoming a brick wall. This tactical clash is why the scores have stayed relatively low in recent years. We aren't seeing 5-4 thrillers. We’re seeing 1-0 grinders decided by a corner in the 82nd minute.
The Impact of Goodison Park's Final Days
We have to talk about the stadium. Goodison Park is a bear pit. It’s tight, it’s old, and the fans are practically on top of the pitch. As Everton prepares to move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, every remaining derby at Goodison carries this heavy, emotional weight.
You can feel it in the players. The noise at Goodison can genuinely rattle a world-class Liverpool midfield. It’s one of the few places left in English football where pure, unadulterated "atmosphere" can actually influence the Everton and Liverpool score. Referees feel it. Players feel it. Even the grass seems to want Everton to win.
✨ Don't miss: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
The Players Who Define the Scoreline
Individual brilliance usually settles these games. Think about Divock Origi. The man wasn't a world-beater every week, but against Everton, he became a god. His 96th-minute winner after Jordan Pickford’s error in 2018 is the perfect example of how a scoreline can change in a literal second of madness.
On the other side, you had legends like Duncan Ferguson. He didn't care about "Expected Goals" or "Heat Maps." He cared about putting the ball and the defender into the back of the net.
- Mohamed Salah: The man is a statistical anomaly. He finds space where there isn't any.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin: Everything for Everton goes through him. If he’s fit, the scoreline stays competitive. If he’s not, Everton struggles to get out of their own half.
Misconceptions About the Merseyside Derby
Most people think this is a "friendly" rivalry because families are often split between Red and Blue. That’s a myth. Well, the family part is true, but the "friendly" part is nonsense.
The stakes are too high. For Everton, beating Liverpool is the season. It’s the only thing that matters when the league position is mid-table or worse. For Liverpool, losing to Everton is an embarrassment they can't live down for months. This pressure leads to mistakes. And mistakes lead to goals.
VAR and the Modern Scoreline
We can't discuss the Everton and Liverpool score without mentioning VAR. It has ruined—or saved—at least five derbies in the last few years. Remember Jordan Henderson’s "winner" that was ruled out for an offside so marginal it required a microscope? Or the Pickford-Van Dijk incident that changed the course of an entire season?
🔗 Read more: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
Technology has added a layer of anxiety to every goal. You don't celebrate anymore. You wait for a guy in a room in Stockley Park to draw some lines on a screen. This delay has changed the rhythm of the game. It makes the final score feel less like a sporting achievement and more like a legal verdict.
What to Look for in the Next Matchup
If you’re betting or just analyzing the next game, don't look at the previous week’s form. Look at the injury list.
Everton’s depth is thin. If they lose a key center-back, the scoreline will get ugly fast. Liverpool, conversely, has so much talent that they can rotate and still dominate. The real battle is in the first 20 minutes. If Everton doesn't concede early, they grow in confidence. If Liverpool scores in the first ten minutes, the floodgates usually open.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
To truly understand what the Everton and Liverpool score means, follow these steps:
- Check the Lineups for "Derby Specialists": Some players just "get" it. Look for local academy products like Curtis Jones or Anthony Gordon (before he left). They play with a different level of aggression.
- Ignore the League Table: In 2021, Liverpool was flying and Everton was struggling, yet Everton won 2-0 at Anfield. Throw the form book out the window.
- Watch the Set Pieces: Everton scores a massive percentage of their goals from corners and free kicks. Liverpool’s vulnerability in the air is often the only way the Toffees get on the scoresheet.
- Monitor the Cards: Expect yellow cards early. This disrupts Liverpool’s flow and helps Everton's "disruption" game plan.
The final score is just a number. The 90 minutes of chaos that precedes it is the real story. Whether it’s a boring draw or a high-scoring blowout, the Merseyside derby remains the most intense, localized, and emotionally draining fixture in the English calendar. Keep an eye on the injury reports and the referee assignment—often, those two factors decide the game before a ball is even kicked.
Next Steps for Deepening Your Knowledge
To stay ahead of the curve on the next Merseyside derby, you should start tracking the "Post-International Break" stats. Both teams often struggle with rhythm immediately following the break, which historically leads to more erratic scores and unexpected individual errors. Additionally, monitoring the "Distance Covered" metrics for Everton’s midfield will give you a 15-minute warning on whether they can sustain a press long enough to keep Liverpool at bay. Be sure to check the official Premier League injury updates 48 hours before kickoff, as late fitness tests for key defenders are the primary drivers of late odds shifts and score predictions.