Feature10 of the best recent Merseyside derby moments at Anfield

Ahead of the 8pm BST kick-off in the Premier League, here we take a look back at some of the most memorable recent moments for the Reds in the home edition of the fixture…

Barmby’s derby-day delight (October 2000)

In the summer of 2000, Nick Barmby became the first player to directly transfer from Everton to Liverpool since Dave Hickson’s move in 1959.

Ahead of the first meeting between the two teams since the deal transpired, in the following October, focus was understandably on the midfielder.

And it would see him become an instant part of folklore at Anfield.

Barmby’s 12th-minute header from a Christian Ziege deflected strike at the Anfield Road end opened the scoring for the home side.

His key role in their second goal of the afternoon proved just as crucial.

After Kevin Campbell had levelled for the Blues, Barmby helped set up Emile Heskey with a cushioned header, before Patrik Berger sealed a 3-1 win from the penalty spot following Thomas Gravesen’s sending-off.

Reds overcome early Gerrard dismissal (March 2006)

Two quickfire yellow cards for Steven Gerrard put Liverpool instantly on the back foot after just 18 minutes of this contest.

Despite being a player down, though, an inspired performance from Rafael Benitez’s men was to follow... with a little helping hand from the visitors.

Phil Neville’s own goal on the stroke of half-time gave the Reds an unlikely lead, and Luis Garcia’s clever lob just two minutes after the interval put them in command.

Everton looked to produce a fightback and halved the deficit through Tim Cahill on the hour mark.

But their chances hit a stumbling block when substitute Andy van der Meyde received a red card of his own, leaving Harry Kewell to produce a stunning drive in minute 84 that confirmed an improbable 3-1 result for Liverpool.

Kuyt lifts 10-man Reds over Blues (February 2010)

Red cards have, of course, been a common theme in this fixture throughout the years.

The clash in February of the 2009-10 campaign was no different, with Sotirios Kyrgiakos’ first-half dismissal swaying the numerical advantage the way of the Blues.

However, Dirk Kuyt – as he so often did – popped up with a decisive close-range goal for Liverpool in the 55th minute, from an inswinging Gerrard corner kick.

“It was massive for us,” Benitez proclaimed at full-time. “To win in a derby is really important – to win in a derby with 10 players at Anfield is more important.”

Gerrard’s derby hat-trick (March 2012)

One of the greatest Liverpool players in history delivered in talismanic fashion on his 400th league appearance for the club.

The midfielder produced a first league treble in the Merseyside derby for 30 years – and a first at Anfield since 1935 – to give Sir Kenny Dalglish’s side a 3-0 victory over their neighbours.

His first came after 34 minutes as he lifted the ball over a crowd of bodies into the net from the edge of the area, and his second after the interval was a sweeping finish from inside the box.

Gerrard’s final and history-making goal of the night in the closing stages came via Luis Suarez’s unselfishness, as the striker sprinted into the box to square for the No.8 to pass home into an empty net.

“To beat Everton is always special, so to get three goals is that little bit extra,” said Gerrard. “But I have to give my teammates a special mention, especially Luis Suarez – he put two on a plate for me.”

Reds put Everton to the sword (January 2014)

A clinical performance under Brendan Rodgers meant this derby was all but over inside 35 minutes at Anfield.

Liverpool opened up a three-goal advantage courtesy of a Gerrard bullet header and two goals in quick succession from Daniel Sturridge.

The striker’s first was a calm and collected finish past Tim Howard, and his second was a stunning lob from outside the box that relied on instinct alone as he twisted into position to latch onto a ball forward.

Suarez added a fourth in the second half with a fine individual effort, which was enough – despite Sturridge’s late missed penalty – to put an exclamation point on an emphatic 4-0 victory that saw the Reds register their biggest derby triumph since 1982.

Klopp’s opening derby joy (April 2016)

A first Merseyside derby for Jürgen Klopp saw Liverpool stretch their unbeaten streak against Everton at Anfield to 17 years.

The Reds won the night in style, too with a 4-0 victory.

Divock Origi netted the first of his six goals against the Blues for the club, Mamadou Sakho scored a second and Sturridge a third.

Philippe Coutinho’s curling effort capped off an impressive display, with Ramiro Funes Mori also receiving a red for Roberto Martinez’s visitors.

Mohamed Salah’s Puskas winner (December 2017)

A special moment from a very special player.

Mohamed Salah’s stroke of brilliance lit up his first Merseyside derby appearance in what would eventually be a 1-1 draw between the two teams.

The Egyptian moved one way then another, first slipping past Cuco Martina to hold off Idrissa Gana Gueye, before curling a stunning strike into the top corner of the net in a flash.

The goal was later voted the winner of the 2018 FIFA Puskas Award – and many of a Liverpool persuasion would strongly agree.

Van Dijk’s dream debut winner (January 2018)

Virgil van Dijk made a fairy-tale start to his Liverpool career following his arrival on Merseyside.

The defender’s immediate impact on his Reds debut came just days after his transfer to the club was made official on January 1.

Liverpool and Everton had been pitted together in the third round of the FA Cup and with the two teams locked at 1-1, it appeared likely a replay at Goodison Park awaited.

Van Dijk, however, had other plans when he met a corner kick at the Kop end six minutes from time and powered a header into the back of the net to send his new team through.

The late, late, late show with Origi (December 2018)

As Van Dijk’s sliced, soaring volley came looping down, few inside Anfield would have predicted what was to follow.

But in minute 96 of a hard-fought stalemate, the ball was kept in play by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as it threatened his crossbar and fell to the lurking Origi, who pounced quickly to head an effort home.

The goal sparked wild scenes of celebrations in the stands, in the dugout and on the pitch as Klopp sprinted onto the field of play to celebrate an unexpected 1-0 win with goalkeeper Alisson Becker.

Curtis Jones stuns Blues (January 2020)

Liverpool made nine changes for their FA Cup hosting of Everton five years ago, including a start for Academy graduate Curtis Jones.

Then 18, Jones announced himself on the biggest of stages at Anfield, curling a magnificent 20-yard shot into the top corner of the net to earn a 1-0 victory.

“It was my first goal. It could’ve been against anyone! But funnily enough it was against them,” the match-winner later told Liverpoolfc.com.

“It was a dream come true as a kid. Every time I’d score, I’d always say it was against them. So, I spoke it into existence, and it happened!”