David Moyes is no stranger to Merseyside derbies, but none are likely to be as emotionally raw as Wednesday night, when Goodison Park stages Everton versus Liverpool for the very last time before the hosts move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in the summer.
"We've not got many games left," said Moyes in his pre-match press conference, as he previewed the first of Everton's last seven matches at their 133-year-old ground.
"Everybody in the stadium is doing their best to make it really memorable - partly for everybody who watches football, and the media as well.
"We want to put on a great spectacle at Goodison and hopefully a good game."
This being the final derby before Everton leave their historic ground adds to the sense of jeopardy for Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have this difficult fixture as a game in hand over Arsenal in the title race.
The hosts recorded a 2-0 success in the same fixture last season, when the Blues and the title-chasing Reds were under their respective former managers Sean Dyche and Jurgen Klopp.
Five of the previous seven meetings between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park have resulted in a draw. The Reds' only victory there since 2016/17 came in 2021/22, when they recorded a 4-1 win.
Moyes on Merseyside derbies
The Everton manager oversaw 12 derbies in his first spell in charge and having returned to the club in January, he stands on the eve of his 13th such fixture determined to get the edge over arch-rivals Liverpool.
"I've been involved in some of these Merseyside derbies and it's been incredible," said Moyes.
"When it was Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard [playing for Liverpool], it was a case of who was going to kick who first really. That's how it went. [I have] big memories from that.
"I don't think the games are now played in such a fashion where you can be like that, I think the referees are different, but it's a great derby. It has been a brilliant game over the years and there are many, many people that have enjoyed these games.
"I've been here many years but it's a long time since I had my last Merseyside derby. They've always been difficult games over my years, I have to say. Liverpool have always been a tough opponent, but at Goodison it always felt a lot easier because we had the support behind us and we had a fantastic crowd.
"I think this game will be no different. It's strange that it was a rearranged fixture [from December], as obviously now I've had a chance to come in and manage.
"All we need is the support behind us, which they have been since I've come back. They've been absolutely brilliant, even at the weekend when we weren't at our best. But they've got to enjoy it as well, they want to see the team play well, they want to see the team win, more than anything.
"The most important thing is to get points to keep ourselves in the Premier League; it's a big game, I'm looking forward to it now and hopefully the players are ready."
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 |
Everton
EVE
|
23 | -5 | 26 |
| 17 |
Wolves
WOL
|
24 | -18 | 19 |
| 18 |
Leicester
LEI
|
24 | -28 | 17 |
| 19 |
Ipswich
IPS
|
24 | -27 | 16 |
| 20 |
Southampton
SOU
|
24 | -36 | 9 |
Saturday's home loss to AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup brought an end to a run of three consecutive victories since Moyes returned to Everton, but his managerial derby record against Liverpool gives cause for optimism.
In his last five Merseyside derbies at home, Moyes has overseen two wins and one draw.
Moyes' Merseyside derby record at Goodison Park
| Season | Result | Season | Result |
| 2002/03 | 1-2 (L) | 2008/09 | 0-2 (L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003/04 | 0-3 (L) | 2008/09 (FAC) | 1-0 (W) |
| 2004/05 | 1-0 (W) | 2009/10 | 0-2 (L) |
| 2005/06 | 1-3 (L) | 2010/11 | 2-0 (W) |
| 2006/07 | 3-0 (W) | 2011/12 | 0-2 (L) |
| 2007/08 | 1-2 (L) | 2012/13 | 2-2 (D) |
Branthwaite braced for a big atmosphere
The stats certainly indicate that the Premier League leaders will not face an easy task, and Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite says that his team-mates are in confident mood.
"I think everyone's looking forward to it," said Branthwaite, who scored the opening goal in the Goodison derby last season.
"It'll be a big atmosphere and a big game and, for me, it's just a game everyone wants to play in. But it's just another game and we've got to be focused for it.
"We've got to be ready, we've got to be on it, and then, on Wednesday, take it on. We know we can beat them, we know what happened last season.
"We take confidence from that and take confidence from the previous results that we've had in the last three or four games and go into it with momentum."
Everton team news
Vitalii Mykolenko could be available after the left-back was sidelined by a calf injury at the weekend.
Nathan Patterson (hamstring), Seamus Coleman (calf) and Dwight McNeil (knee) remain sidelined, along with strikers Dominic Calvert-Lewin (hamstring), Armando Broja (ankle) and Youssef Chermiti (thigh).
Did you know?
- Wednesday's derby is Everton's 245th meeting in all competitions with Liverpool. It remains the most played fixture in English football history (211th in the league).
- After 119 derbies at Goodison Park, the head-to-head record is perfectly balanced ahead of the final meeting there; the two rivals have registered 41 wins apiece, with the remaining 37 matches ending in draws.
- A win for Everton would make it the first time they have beaten Liverpool in consecutive derbies at Goodison Park since a run of three victories between 1992 and 1994.
- Liverpool are undefeated in their past 19 Premier League matches (W14 D5). On the two previous occasions when they went into a league fixture at Everton on an unbeaten run of 19 matches or more, they lost – 1-0 in October 1978 while on a 23-game streak, and 1-0 in March 1988 when on a 31-match run. The Reds went on to be champions in both seasons.