Matchday Guide: Merseyside Derby

Everton host Liverpool at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday 19 April in the 248th Merseyside derby.

Ahead of kick-off, Evertonians will once again have the opportunity to welcome the players as they arrive by coach, with a revised route in place for this fixture.

Supporters can also enjoy enhanced facilities on the Budweiser Plaza, including a big screen showing pre-and post-match content and Manchester City v Arsenal.

Pepsi MAX is also launching an exclusive drink for Evertonians, which will be available from dedicated kiosks on the Budweiser Plaza and Trinity Place Bar. The Founding Partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium and Club’s Official Soft Drink Supplier has crafted the new Pepsi MAX Toffee; a unique drink created using flavoured boba - sweet, chewy pearls made from tapioca starch - with a generous topping of cream, drizzled with toffee sauce and a scattering of toffee chunks! And the Battered Mars Bar, which proved popular at the recent Scotland international friendly, has returned by popular demand!

All the information you need to plan your matchday - including food and drink options, our dedicated Travel Hub, digital ticketing, accessibility guidance and what’s happening in and around the stadium - is available at evertonfc.com/matchday.

COACH WELCOME – REGENT ROAD & WESTERN TERRACE

The 1878s will once again be delivering a coach welcome outside the stadium. For this fixture, the meeting point will differ from the Chelsea match, with supporters asked to gather from midday on Regent Road between the junctions of Boundary Street and Blackstone Street.

The team coach will turn at The Bluehouse into the stadium footprint, and supporters are advised to keep the lay-by clear to allow the coach space to safely make the turn.

Supporters looking for a more family-friendly atmosphere can gather on the Western Terrace. Access will be available via the perimeter at the end of the North and South Stands, with the area open from 11am. Fans are encouraged to arrive no later than 11:30am, with the team coach expected shortly after midday.

BBC Sport’s Giulia Bould will be hosting on the Western Terrace, with music, interviews and giveaways taking place ahead of the team’s arrival. Please note that capacity in this area is limited and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Once capacity is reached, the area will be closed for safety reasons.

Supporters are also welcome to greet the players beneath the Western Terrace, adjacent to the players’ entrance.

In conjunction with the 1878s, fans are encouraged to bring flags and banners to help create a vibrant and colourful atmosphere. However, the Club respectfully reminds supporters that pyrotechnics of any kind - including smoke grenades, smoke bombs, canisters and flares - are strictly prohibited on the stadium footprint. Searches will be conducted on arrival at the Regent Road wall.

SOUTH STAND TIFO

The 1878s will be unveiling a tifo ahead of kick-off on Sunday.

At the conclusion of ‘Spirit Of The Blues’, supporters in the middle of South Stand (upper and lower) with sheets on their seats are encouraged to raise them above their heads to create a mosaic, while fans in the corners of the South Stand should wave their flags. This activity will complement the raising of the tifo display and pitchside pyro to welcome both teams as they emerge from the tunnel to Z-Cars.

The 1878s are encouraging all Evertonians to be in the ground 20 minutes before kick-off to help with the display and build the atmosphere. Supporters are encouraged to follow The 1878s across their social media channels for further updates.

register4ronnie

Supporters from both sides attending Sunday’s Merseyside derby will have the opportunity to support a young Evertonian, Ronnie, who has been diagnosed with a rare bone marrow disorder and is in need of a lifesaving stem cell transplant.

Volunteers from Anthony Nolan and the Blues Against Blood Cancer fan group will be based on the Budweiser Plaza, where fans aged 16–30 can sign up to the stem cell register by taking a quick swab test or find out more about registering online.

The initiative, ‘register4ronnie’, aims to encourage as many supporters as possible to join the donor list and help give Ronnie, and others in need, the best possible chance of finding a match. Find out more by clicking here.

NELSON DOCK (Parking)

Nelson Dock is not expected to be impacted by the planned road closures outlined at evertonfc.com/matchday. However, supporters are strongly encouraged to arrive before closures come into effect.

Road closures will begin at 12pm (two hours before kick-off), with large numbers of supporters expected to gather along Regent Road, from Bar Coast to The Bramley-Moore pub.

Supporters with accessible parking, particularly at Western Quay, are advised to arrive as early as possible ahead of 12pm to avoid any potential disruption.

NELSON DOCK (Access From Budweiser Plaza)

Supporters are respectfully asked to exit Hill Dickinson Stadium post-match using all designated exit gates (A–E) on the Regent Road wall.

The exit to Nelson Dock, accessed via the Budweiser Plaza, is strictly reserved for supporters with allocated parking in this area, including those with accessible parking.

Enhanced security measures will be in place at this exit after the match, with access permitted only to supporters returning to vehicles in this location.

Please note there will be no pedestrian access via Nelson Dock onto Regent Road post-match.

STADIUM ENTRY AND MATCHDAY ACTIVITY

Supporters will be able to access the stadium via the Regent Road wall from 11am, with turnstiles opening at midday.

The Ticket Office will be open from 10am on Sunday.

Supporters are encouraged to use all available gates (A–E) on the Regent Road wall to avoid unnecessary congestion in any one area. Please also ensure digital tickets are downloaded to your mobile device prior to arrival at the stadium.

A full guide to downloading digital tickets, along with a stadium map, can be found HERE.

NO ROOM FOR RACISM

This weekend’s Premier League game will be dedicated to No Room For Racism. All Premier League matches between 18-20 April provide the league and clubs with an opportunity to reinforce a collective commitment to improve diversity and fight against discrimination.

Please note that players will not be taking the knee during this match round. This is in line with the decision made by captains at the start of the season that taking the knee would occur during No Room For Racism match rounds in October, to coincide with Black History Month. However, No Room For Racism branding will be visible on LED surrounds and on the big screens.

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT

A Traffic Management Zone will again be in place following this game, which involves a temporary one-way system in place on Blackstone Street and Boundary Street, and road closures, both before and after the game.

Fans are advised not to travel to the stadium by car, as these measures are in place to ensure those leaving the ground can move away from the area quickly and safely. Our Travel Hub, which also features in the guide, above, includes all relevant information and alternative travel options.

SAFEGUARDING OF MINORS

We respectfully remind supporters that all fans under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This includes on The Budweiser Plaza, concourses and within the stadium bowl. Everton now offer safeguarding wristbands to adults bringing young children to all games at Hill Dickinson Stadium, as part of a matchday safety initiative. Read more here.