When Everton and Liverpool contested ferociously-competitive goalless draw at Goodison Park last month, it represented the 241st meeting between the city rivals – the fixture is the most-played in English football history.
This week marks the 128-year anniversary of the inaugural official Merseyside derby, with Everton having faced Liverpool for the first time on 13 October 1894.
The maiden derby clash came two years after the ‘Everton Split’ in 1892, which saw the Blues leave their Anfield home to move across Stanley Park and into their current Goodison Park ground.
You can learn more about the split, which led to the formation of Liverpool FC, by watching the video below this article or clicking here.
The first derby match on that autumnal Saturday in 1894 was played at Goodison and saw the Toffees run out 3-0 winners in front of crowd estimated to be around 44,000.
Tom McInnes headed Everton in front on 11 minutes, etching his name in folklore as the first scorer in Merseyside derby history.
Alex Latta doubled Everton's advantage close to the hour-mark, before late Jack Bell effort wrapped up victory for the Blues.
The Liverpool Mercury reported: “An exhibition of football was given…but the visitors [Liverpool] were no match for the local lads, who won easily by three goals to nil.”
That first Goodison clash would prove to be the opening instalment of a rivalry which developed into one of the most famous in world football.
The maiden Anfield derby took place just over one month later, on 17 November 1894, and saw the teams battle out a 2-2 draw, with Bob Kelso and Latta on target for Everton.
Everton would finish the 1894/95 season as runners-up to champions Sunderland, with Liverpool relegated to the second tier after ending the campaign bottom of the table.
The first-ever Merseyside derby fixture details
Saturday 13 October 1894
Everton v Liverpool
Goodison Park
Football League Division One
Kick-off: 3.30pm
Everton team: T Cain, J Adams ©, C Parry, D Boyle, J Holt, B Stewart, A Latta, T McInnes, J Southworth, A Hartley, J Bell.
Liverpool team: W McCann, A Hannah, D McLean, J McCartney, J McQue, J McBride, N Kerr, J Ross, M McVean, T Bradshaw, H McQueen.
Goalscorers: McInnes 11’, Latta 59’, Bell 88’
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