Merseyside still has the friendliest derby

I remember when I was a child and people said to me that the Merseyside derby was the friendly derby.

The perception of the Merseyside derby seems to have changed for the worse in recent years though.

However I still believe the Merseyside derby is still the friendly derby(well friendlier than most!).

Sure the relationship between Everton and Liverpool fans has changed over the years but that’s only because the world has changed. People’s attitudes have also changed.

Friendly

I can bear testament to the Merseyside derby being friendly by the fact that I will be sitting down with two of my best friends to watch the game, one a red and one a blue. I couldn’t of used a better example to prove my point to be honest.

Humour

Most of the rivalry between Everton and Liverpool fans is fanned by humour. Liverpool as a city is famous for it’s sense of humour. There is great banter amongst reds and blues. If you go into most pubs or bars in Liverpool there is always somebody talking about football with their friends.

In Liverpool though if you’re a blue your best mate could be a red and vice versa. So at some point there is usually a little bit of banter and joking around. It does on rare occasions but usually dies down pretty quickly.

Bitter

In recent years there seems to be a growing bitterness between reds and blues fans. Liverpool fans call Everton fans bitter and Everton fans call Liverpool fans deluded. It’s gone to far now and it needs to stop.

Minority

There is a small minority that ruin it for the rest of us decent football fans. The small minority that insist on taking things to far by singing vile songs and saying disgusting comments. These are the people we should be getting rid of from our stadiums.

As a blue I feel ashamed when fans claiming to be Evertonians sing vile songs and abuse opposition fans. The away support at Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime are likely to be friends,
acquaintances and even family of ours so the abuse needs to stop.

Proud

I am proud to be a Scouser and I’m proud to support Everton. Most people from Liverpool are hard working and proud to be from this city. I remember reading a survey in a magazine from America and they rated Liverpool as the most friendly city to visit in the UK.

That’s because lots of people take pride in the city and the two major football clubs are a big part of that pride in the city. No matter what people say about Liverpool we can always say that we have two of the most successful football clubs in England.

Everton may currently have financial problems but trophies wise we are still the fourth most successful club in the history of English football. And Liverpool’s history speaks for itself 18 league titles and five European Cups is no mean feat.

Unique

I believe the Merseyside derby is still unique. I couldn’t see Manchester City and Manchester United fans sitting together at a derby match. I couldn’t Celtic and Rangers fans ever sitting together at a derby. That is why the Merseyside derby is unique and the small minority of ignorant fans won’t spoil the day for everybody else.

Rivalry

There will always be a healthy rivalry between Everton and Liverpool and that’s good for the game in the city. It keeps things interesting and it allows fans the opportunity to have healthy competition. Rivalry is good and its what the game has been built on.

Lets hope Saturday’s game is a good one and the fans show everybody that the rivalry between Everton and Liverpool is still a healthy one.

Is the Merseyside derby still the friendly derby?