Top 5 Merseyside Derby moments of the past decade

Liverpool face off against crosstown rivals Everton on Sunday in one of the more highly anticipated Merseyside Derbies in recent memory.

Jurgen Klopp's side sit just three points above Everton in the Premier League, with Everton benefitting from a game in hand. Liverpool have struggled mightily the past few months, while Everton have recovered from mid-season difficulties.

Liverpool’s title hopes have been reduced to top-four ambitions, as Jurgen Klopp conceded the Premier League trophy after last week's 3-1 loss to Leicester City. A win against Everton would provide a huge momentum boost for the home stretch of the season.

Despite the animosity between the two teams, this fixture has proven heavily one-sided. In the past 22 meetings between the two sides, Liverpool have won 11 and drawn 11. It has been nearly eleven years since Everton came out on top in this match-up and more than twenty years since they won at Anfield.

With that being said, we look at Liverpool’s best moments in the Merseyside Derby from the past decade:

5) FA Cup January 2020 – 1:0 Liverpool –The Curtis Jones Breakthrough

About a year ago, Liverpool were absolutely blazing the competition. So much so, they were able to defeat their bitter rivals with their reserves.

While Everton sported their strongest lineup, Liverpool gave debuts to three of their players. Harvey Elliott impressed, while Nat Phillips performed well in a one-match cameo before being sent out on loan again.

However, the real star of the show was Curtis Jones. 19 years old at the time, the Scouse midfielder wreaked havoc for the Toffee backline throughout. Iconically, he iced the game with an absolute worldy of a goal.

The image of the despair on Jordan Pickford’s helpless face as Jones’ perfect curling effort won the game for Liverpool will live on for years to come.

4) FA Cup April 2012 – 2:1 Liverpool – Andy Carroll winner takes us to the FA Cup final

Rewinding to a more difficult time in Liverpool’s history to a vital 2:1 win over Everton in the FA Cup Semifinal.

At the time, this matchup wasn’t quite as one-sided. Liverpool sported little of the quality they have today, discluding Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.

After the Uruguayan opened the scoreline, Everton equalized on a defensive error. Andy Carroll then scored an 87th-minute winner in what turned out to probably be his best moment in a Reds jersey.

Ultimately, the drama of this game and the opportunity to play in an FA Cup final place it firmly on this list.

3) Premier League March 2012 – 3:0 Liverpool – Gerrard hat-trick heroics

The city of Liverpool is synonymous with two things—The Beatles and Steven Gerrard. Leave The Beatles for another time, but this was Steven Gerrard’s hallmark moment in the Merseyside Derby.

The Liverpool captain dominated the game in every capacity, becoming the first player to bag a hat-trick in the Merseyside Derby in over thirty years.

The three goals highlighted all of Gerrard’s qualities: a delicate left-footed curler, a thunderbolt right-footed strike, and a cheeky tap-in to seal the points.

Always our captain, Stevie G!

2) Premier League December 2016 – 1:0 Liverpool – Mane wins it in the dying moments

Oh, the drama. In a game that Liverpool largely struggled in, a late Sadio Mane winner gave the game to Liverpool.

At this point in time, Liverpool were starting to assemble a stronger side under Jurgen Klopp. Their superiority over Everton was growing, and this was evidenced by the opposition’s gameplan.

Parking the bus, Liverpool were made to fight for scoring chances. Not their best game, it seemed likely that the Reds would have to settle for a relatively anticlimactic draw.

However, the introduction of Daniel Sturridge in the closing stages provided a spark. Sturridge cut in on his left foot and fired a weak, but accurate long-range strike off the post. However, Mane was there to tap in the rebound, leaving the Goodison Park crowd shocked. There’s no better sight than an angry Evertonian.

1) Premier League December 2018 – 1:0 Liverpool – Origi sets Anfield into ecstasy

The only winner that could top Mane’s was Origi’s two seasons later.

Similar to the game two years prior, Liverpool weren’t at their best in this game. Everton created few chances, but Liverpool didn’t seem too likely to score either.

A final free-kick chance seemed to be squandered following a shanked effort by Virgil van Dijk. The chance was surely gone, with Van Dijk turning in frustration.

However, a Jordan Pickford calamity allowed Divock Origi to score and mayhem thus ensued. Jurgen Klopp ran onto the field to hug Alisson, Anfield set eardrums ablaze, and even Origi forgot how to celebrate.

A moment of Anfield magic that we will never forget.