Merseyside derby with even more at stake than usual

It is one of the great local derbies in football. Liverpool and Everton are separated by just a short distance across Stanley Park and their rivalry goes back many, many years.

Trophies

Liverpool have won more trophies but Everton have also had their times when they have been the main men on Merseyside.

It used to be known as the ‘friendly derby’ because the fans didn’t hate each other. Families would turn up to the game with half of them decked out in red and the other half in blue. Although that still happens to a degree, the friendly nature of the games on the terraces is far less evident nowadays.

Bragging

Once again the teams meet this afternoon at Goodison Park in a battle for local bragging rights. Recent history has seen both clubs battling for a place in the top four and the winners of the game generally have a fair amount to brag about.

For the first time in a very long while, if ever before, the two teams take to the field today with them both sitting in the relegation zone. This would have been unthinkable in the recent past and a totally ridiculous suggestion just a few weeks ago before the season got underway.

Measly

They now go into this game with both teams having a measly six points from seven games with just one win each to their name. Everton are yet to win at home and Liverpool are yet to win away. You can’t even look at cup competitions for any relief if you are fan of one of them as they both lost on penalties to lower league opposition at the first time of asking in the Carling Cup.

In short, on the pitch, the season couldn’t have started much worse for either of them.

Off the pitch, we all know about the chaos surrounding Liverpool. The news may be good about the new owners but it would be foolish to think that everything is settled and everyone will be happy ever after. Meanwhile, across the park, Everton carry on, hoping for an influx of money that never seems to arrive.

Powerful

Since 1962, when Bill Shankley led Liverpool to the top flight to join their neighbours, who had already been there for nearly ten years, these two sides have been ever presents. They have been powerful forces in the English game with Liverpool winning thirteen top division titles, seven FA Cups and seven League cups, whilst Everton have picked up four titles and three FA Cups. Liverpool have also had a huge amount of success in Europe and Everton also picked up the European Cup winners cup.

They are two of the biggest names in the game and they have made Merseyside into one of the most famous and successful areas in world football. Like them or not, it is sad to see these two greats of the game struggling the way they are at the moment.

Hopeful

For today’s game, Liverpool are hopeful that Fernando Torres will be fit after missing Spain’s international matches over the last week with a torn abductor muscle. In the past, this would have been fantastic news for the reds but this season so far, I’m not so sure. The bad news for them is that the all-action Dirk Kuyt will miss the game after picking up an ankle injury playing for Holland.

Everton have problems up front with Louis Saha and Victor Anichebe missing and Jermaine Beckford still failing to look the part. With Marouane Fellaini picking up an injury on international duty and joining the two strikers, Steven Pienaar and Jack Rodwell in the treatment room, these certainly are tough times.

Tackles

These Merseyside derby games are always played at one hundred miles an hour and the tackles fly in. There is very little decent football played, even when one or both sides are generally playing well. In the current circumstances and with so much at stake, I don’t expect this one to be a classic footballing encounter, although I’m sure it will be very watchable.

The losers in this game, if there are any, will have a lot more problems to face than just the loss of local pride. Neither team will want to face that.