The 15 Craziest Merseyside Derby Moments as Told Through GIFs

Image via Complex Original

Date: 9/9/2006
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)

Oh, silly Pepe Reina. He had been in fine form in 2006 after arriving from Villarreal, making this sloppy error uncharacteristic (although Liverpool fans today are quick to remember his steady decline in form over the past three seasons). The Reina howler was more personally embarrassing than costly, as the goal came in the 90th minute with Everton already up 2-0.

Date: 10/29/2000
Ground: Anfield (Liverpool, England)

The previous summer, Nick Barmby was sold from Everton to Liverpool for £6 million after a break-out 10 goal season, marking the first time since 1959 that Everton had sold a player to Liverpool, even as six players headed from Liverpool to Everton via transfers. In his first match against Everton as a Red, Barmby headed home a deflected cross. Liverpool won the match 3-1, but Barmby struggled through an inconsistent campaign, only netting twice in 26 Premier League appearances.

Date: 1/21/1987
Ground: Anfield (Liverpool, England)

What a legendary miss! John Barnes rode his luck too hard with a backpass, and Andrew Sharp capitalized by pouncing on it. This result is pathetic. Thankfully for Everton, they'd leave Anfield as 1-0 victors anyway.

Date: 3/13/2012
Ground: Anfield (Liverpool, England)

In his 400th Premier League match, Steven Gerrard scored a hat trick in the Derby at Anfield—a feat that hadn't been replicated since 1935. Everton had come into the match unbeaten in 10 in all competitions, but Gerrard's dynamism and charging runs from midfield produced a match winning display, taking advantage of sloppy and haphazard Everton defending.

Date: 11/6/1982
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)

Ian Rush at his most devastating. A true No. 9 who loved to play at the centreback's hip and receive perfectly timed through balls, Rush's movement and finishing were in sync. He single-handledly demolished Everton, hitting four goals, each with more coolness than the previous one. His performance was immortalized last verse of "Poor Scouser Tommy," a Kop favorite. Rush is also the Derby's all-time leading goal scorer with 25. 

Date: 5/10/1986
Ground: Wembley Stadium (London)

The day Liverpool invaded London. In the first all-Merseyside Cup Final in Derby history, 98,000 fans packed into the old Wembley Stadium to see titlewinners Liverpool take on Everton, who had lost the league by merely two points. Seeking a sweet consolation prize after outscoring Liverpool 4-3 in the season's previous two fixtures, Everton left bitterly disappointed. Ian Rush scored a brace even after Gary Lineker opened the scoring in Everton's favor, and Liverpool fans traveled back to Lime Street brimming with pride.

Date: 4/21/2000
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)

This 162nd Derby was a cagey event, with an abnormal 8 PM start serving to provide Liverpudlians with a day's worth of drinking. While the beer limbered up supporters, the game play was tight, with Everton player Mark Hughes squandering the only clear cut chance of the match. With the last kick of the match, Liverpool keeper Sander Westerveld misdirected his punt-instead of sending it 70 yards downfield to safety, he knocked into the back of Everton's Don Hutchinson. The ball ricocheted 25 yards into Liverpool's goal, seemingly sending Everton off with a shocking 1-0 victory.

Goodison Park errupted into a frenzy, only to be brought down by the referee's whistle and shake of the head. Referee Graham Poll claimed to have blown the final whistle before the ball struck Hutchinson, thereby ending the match. Everton's protests went unheard, but years later they would be vindicated after Poll admitted publicly to making a mistake—an admission met with little gratitude from the Toffees.

Date: 10/28/2012
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)

Poetic justice for Don Hutchinson! Liverpool and Everton had played to a tight 2-2 scoreline, and with time running out, Luis Suarez tapped in a winner. The goal was called offside though, saving Everton fans a heart attack. Replays showed that Suarez was actually onside, and Liverpool fans left Goodison feeling robbed.

Date: 9/15/2001
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)

This goal formally introduced Steven Gerrard to Everton. Although he was in his third season as a starter in 2001, his explosiveness from midfield had yet to truly terrorize the Toffees. Kevin Campbell opened the scoring for Everton, but five minutes later, Gerrard brought Liverpool level with a terrific flick and sinister finish. Gerrard's currently the 6th highest goal scorer in Derby history with 8.

Date: 2/20/1991
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)

This match is regarded as the ending of Liverpool's domestic dominance. From 1890 to 1990 Liverpool won 18 league titles. Liverpool great Kenny Dalglish managed the club in 1991, but after Everton's Tony Cottee scored this goal to secure a 4-4 draw, Dalglish decided to resign as manager—Liverpool haven't won a league title since.

Date: 9/27/1999
Ground: Anfield (Liverpool, Engalnd)

As far as footy fights are concerned, unless Joey Barton is involved, Sander Westerveld (in red) v. Fancis Jeffers (in blue) is as ferocious as it gets. A lot of pushing and face feeling, but the intensity was there. As for the match itself, it was a miserable early-season derby fixture for the Reds, as Steven Gerrard also got sent off after a rugby tackle of a challenge to cap off a testy 1-0 victory for Everton.

Date: 4/3/1999
Ground: Anfield (Liverpool, England)

Take that, British tabloids! Admist rumours that Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler had been dabbling in the devil's dandruff, he decided dip his nose into the white painted by line after scoring a goal. He secured a brace minutes later as Liverpool cruised to a 3-2 victory. After the match, Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier claimed that Fowler had merely been "a cow eating grass," quickly causing every fan to imagine a world where grass was actually cocaine. 

Date: 10/28/2012
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool, Englan)

In the build-up to this Derby fixture, David Moyes threw shade at Luis Suarez during a pre-match press conference, voicing his concern over the striker's reputation for diving and how it would effect the match: "I would (be concerned about Suarez) because I think he has got history. But I am not the referee, I am not the one that (makes decisions). But I tell you what—it will turn the supporters away from football if they think players are conning their way to results." After Suarez's goal brought Liverpool 2-0 up, he decided to take a dive of his own in front of Moyes. Ironically, Everton captain Phil Neville would be booked for diving in the 45th minute, but Everton battled back to earn 2-2 draw.

Date: 2/4/2009
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)

Another Merseyside Derby, another gripping match. In a 4th round F.A. Cup replay, both sides were preparing to head to penalties after playing 118 minutes to a goal-less draw. Right before the final whistle, the ITV feed was lost, causing millions to lose their signal of the match. Youngster Dan Gosling provided a top-flight finish as soon as TVs blacked out, handing a dramatic 1-0 win to Everton.

Date: 4/16/2001
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool, England)

The 2000/2001 Liverpool team is well-remembered for their treble cup winning season, but a late season clash against Everton proved to be pivotal in securing a Champions League place. Liverpool only finished three points ahead of 5th placed Ipswich Town, and dropped points against an Everton side that ended up finishing 16th could've been catastrophic.

With the score at 2-2 and the clock deep into added time, Liverpool's Gary McAllister stood over a last-ditch free-kick. 100% of the time, a lobbed cross into the box would be the play here, but McAllister wasn't having any of that. With the keeper shading toward the right post to defend the expected cross, McAllister combined some serious power and pinpoint accuracy to sneak his strike into the bottom left corner. A stunning, yet tragic moment of footballing brilliance.