4 great Liverpool v Everton clashes from FA Cup history
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Merseyside pair meet again in the Third Round
The FA Cup Third Round draw produced more than a few intriguing ties. Joe Hart’s return to boyhood club Shrewsbury Town was one. 1987 winners Coventry City’s clash with Stoke City another.
However, it was Liverpool v Everton which stood out above the rest. The rivalry between the Merseyside pair is legendary. But the clubs also have a host of epic FA Cup clashes in the past.
The Coral News Team have opened the history books to revisit four of the most memorable FA Cup meetings between the pair…
Everton 0-3 Liverpool (Semi-Final Replay, 27 April 1977)
The 1976-77 Liverpool side were arguably the club’s greatest ever. The Reds lifted the First Division (now Premier League) title and European Cup under Bob Paisley.
But while they went on to lose the FA Cup Final, the Anfield club put their neighbours to the sword along the way. Phil Neal put the Reds 1-0 up with a thunderous penalty on the half-hour, but heading into the final moments the game still hung in the balance.
However, Jimmy Case sent the red half of Maine Road wild with a superb 88th-minute strike, before Ray Kennedy netted a minute later to make it 3-0 and Destination: Wembley.
Liverpool 3-2 Everton (FA Cup Final, 20 May 1989)
While these sides were rivals on the pitch, both sets of supporters came together in a show of unity for those Liverpool fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough the previous month.
It was an emotional day for the city, and the football was perhaps secondary – but the two sides produced quite a game. It was native Liverpudlian John Aldridge who struck the opener inside four minutes, with his 31st goal of the season.
That looked to be enough, before a Toffees attack saw Stuart McCall bundle the ball home in the 89th minute.
Cue a truly sensational opening period of extra-time…
Ian Rush made it 2-1 with a clinical turn-and-swivel. McCall quickly responded with a stunning strike to make it 2-2. And just two minutes later, that man Rush was back to nod home the eventual winner. A truly incredible match.
Everton 4-4 Liverpool (Fifth Round Replay, 20 February 1991)
From a neutral perspective, there’s a good chance that 1991’s cup clash was the greatest ever Merseyside drama. An exhausting, breathtaking, exhilarating football spectacle under the lights at Goodison Park.
Both sides came close before Peter Beardsley sent the travelling fans wild on 36 minutes. Kenny Dalglish’s side went into the interval 1-0 ahead, but the drama had only just begun.
Everton legend Graeme Sharp grabbed an equaliser with a header two minutes after the break, with Bruce Grobbelaar at fault.
A solo wonder-goal from Beardsley again gave Liverpool the advantage before a defensive disaster gifted Sharpe his second – and saw some of the Goodison faithful invade the pitch!
Tony Cottee netted in the final seconds of normal time to make it 3-3. And the £2.2m man once again saved Everton after John Barnes’ extra-time strike, with the scores finishing 4-4. As for the following replay, that ended 1-0 to Howard Kendall’s men.
Everton 1-0 Liverpool (Fourth Round Replay, 4 February 2009)
He may have played fewer than 40 games for the Toffees, but the name Dan Gosling will always raise a smile for those on the blue half of Merseyside.
After a 0-0 draw at Anfield in the original tie, Everton looked to be set for another stalemate in the replay. Despite Lucas Leiva’s sending off just after half-time, they’d failed to grab a winner in normal time – with Leon Osman’s effort hitting the post.
In the end, unlikely heroes sealed an extra-time victory for the home side in the 118th minute.
Andy van der Meyde may have been a flop for the Toffees, but his cross set up Gosling to grab a beautifully-taken winner for Everton.
David Moyes’ men went all the way to the FA Cup Final but lost to Chelsea.
So, will it be Everton ecstasy or Liverpool joy when the sides meet at Anfield on 6 January 2018?
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