Please, Everton... Just Do It!!!

This time around, there was of course something particularly special about it: The first Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The final derby at Goodison Park produced an iconic moment in the long, storied history of the fixture — James Tarkowski ensuring Everton snatched a 2-2 draw deep in stoppage time, and avoided defeat in their last clash with their fierce rivals at the Grand Old Lady. At that stage last season, Everton were not exactly in a relegation scrap, though they were still looking over their shoulders.

The game was all about pride, all about Liverpool not clinching all the points on their final visit to Goodison Park. In the penultimate derby at Goodison, Everton prevailed 2-0 — goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all but securing safety for the Toffees towards the end of a tumultuous campaign. In the process, Everton all but ended Liverpool’s title hopes in Jurgen Klopp’s final season, too.

So, while the Anfield derbies of recent seasons have come with the usual frustrations and failings, Everton’s home games against the Reds have yielded positive memories. The pressure is now on to transfer that to Hill Dickinson Stadium. Everton’s glittering new home got its lift-off moment last month: Chelsea were no match for the rampant Toffees, who were buoyed on by a fervent crowd.

Blue flares and a bus welcome will again take pride and place on the docks this weekend, and it’s safe to say that, for differing reasons, this home derby is just as big as the last two for Everton. It is not Premier League safety or pride on the line. Instead, it is a derby thrust into the heat of a hugely congested tussle for European qualification.