Every Merseyside derby crimson card from Prem’s dirtiest sport when two tribes go to conflict

Goodison Park will play host to its final Merseyside derby on Saturday afternoon with Everton set to welcome Liverpool to their home ground one last time.

The Toffees are set to leave Goodison Park at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, moving across the city of Liverpool and into their new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock – which recently was dubbed ‘Floodison Park’ by some fans after footage of the ground being flooded made its way onto social media.

However, the reality of the Merseyside derby is that it does not matter where the it is played. No matter what, it will be a fiery clash between two sides eager to get one over on the other. As things stand, Arne Slot’s Reds sit top of the table, seven points clear of Chelsea and Arsenal in second and third place respectively. Meanwhile, the Toffees come into the game at Goodison on the back of an impressive 4-0 win over Wolves.

READ MORE: Mohamed Salah sent congratulations as Liverpool ‘renew contract on wages he wants’

READ MORE: Roy Keane slams Liverpool star for what he did against Newcastle as Reds drop two points

Over the years, the Merseyside derby has always promised drama and usually lived up to expectations in this regard. It is also the dirtiest derby in the Premier League era too – with 23 red cards having been dished out over the years. Those 23 red cards have included punches, kicks, stamps, horror tackles and more, with unforgettable moments of madness from the likes of Steven Gerrard and Phil Neville.

The most recent of the reds came last term when Everton’s Ashley Young was sent off after picking up two yellow cards 37 minutes into the clash at Anfield. But what about the others? Ahead of their clash on Saturday, Daily Star Sport takes a look at some of the most famous red cards that have taken place in the fixture…

Everton 1-1 Liverpool 1996/97 – Fowler, Unsworth

Amazingly, it wasn’t until 1996 that the Merseyside derby saw its first red in the Premier League era – with two coming at once thanks to Robbie Fowler and David Unsworth.

The legendary reds forward and blues favourite defender traded punches – well, they grabbed at each other’s faces – following a rather stern challenge, with both getting three-match bans for their troubles.

Liverpool 0-1 Everton 1999/00 – Westerveld, Gerrard, Jeffers

Francis Jeffers, remember him, was given his marching orders when he clashed with Reds keeper Sander Westerveld in a penalty box punch him.

A young Steven Gerrard – not for the last time – joined the pair when he went in high on Kevin Campbell – leaving stud marks on his thigh.

Liverpool 3-1 Everton 2000/01 – Gravesen

Thomas Gravesen was sent off at Anfield back in 2000 for bringing down Vladimir Smicer in the penalty area when he was through on goal, in a poor result for Walter Smith’s outfit, who would go on to finish 16th in the table.

Nicknamed ‘mad dog’, Toffees cult hero Gravesen was a fiery character, but he only ever received three red cards in his professional career.

Everton 2-3 Liverpool 2000/01 – Biscan

Everton also lost the return fixture that season, despite Croat international Igor Biscan’s late tackle on Unsworth earning him a second yellow and leaving Liverpool with 10 men.

Everton 1-2 Liverpool 2002/2003 – Weir, Naysmith

Both David Weir and Gary Naysmith were sent off in this clash at Goodison, with the former crunching into Gerrard for a second yellow and the latter deliberately tripping El Hadji Diouf when already on a booking.

Liverpool’s stars didn’t get on too well with Diouf, and Jamie Carragher has since sparked a feud with the striker.

Liverpool 2-1 Everton 2004/05 – Baros

Euro 2004 top scorer Milan Baros was sent off at Anfield in their 2004/05 clash against Everton when he clattered into Alan Stubbs with a high challenge for the ball – but it didn’t stop the hosts from picking up another three points.

Better times were on the horizon for Baros, who played a part in the Miracle of Istanbul later that season.

Everton 1-3 Liverpool 2005/06 – Arteta, Neville

Former Manchester United man Phil Neville was sent off following two yellow cards in this derby, the second for kicking Djibril Cisse, which unsurprisingly was lapped up by the away support. Now Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta then took out his compatriot Luis Garcia with far from the worst tackle on this list to join him.

Liverpool 3-1 Everton 2005/2006 – Gerrard, Van der Meyde

Liverpool icon Gerrard is the first player on this list to feature twice, when he kicked the ball away in frustration before lunging into a terrible challenge on Kevin Kilbane.

After 10-men Liverpool gave Everton the run around, Andy van der Meyde was also dismissed for a daft elbow to the face of Xabi Alonso in a challenge for the ball.

Everton 1-2 Liverpool 2007/2008 – Hibbert, Neville

Neville was sent off again, this time for handling the ball on the line when Lucas was set to score.

Meanwhile Tony Hibbert was initially booked after he brought down Gerrard when he was in on goal, but after the Reds captain reminded Mark Clattenburg of his duties, the ref sent sent Hibbert off instead.

Everton 0-2 Liverpool 2008/09 – Cahill

Everton’s Australian talisman Tim Cahill was dismissed for diving in on Xabi Alonso in a high challenge, consigning the blues to a home defeat.

Liverpool 1-0 Everton 2009/10 – Kyrgiakos, Pienaar

Liverpool took a narrow lead with both teams going down to 10.

First Greek giant Sotirios Kyrgiakos saw red after he wildly lunged in on Marouane Fellaini as the Belgian midfielder also gave no quarter, before Steven Pienaar also lost his temper when he got his marching orders for a fairly innocuous aerial challenge on Gerrard.

Everton 0-2 Liverpool 2011/12 – Rodwell

A controversial red card for a young Jack Rodwell who caught Luis Suarez – with the Uruguayan selling it to the ref and it later being rescinded.

Rodwell would move to Manchester City that summer, the less said about that spell the better.

Liverpool 4-0 Everton 2015/16 – Funes Mori

Ramiro Funes Mori’s horror challenge led to a red in 2015/16, with Divock Origi on the receiving end and put out of action. Mori kissed his badge as he got his marching orders, but Origi famously got his revenge by scoring no less than six derby goals against the blues.

Everton 2-2 Liverpool 2020/21 – Richarlison

Richarlison’s awful tackle on Thiago Alcantara led to his dismissal back in 2020 – and he later apologised to the man he put out of action for two-and-a-half months.

However, this game at Goodison is more famous for the red card Jordan Pickford didn’t receive for ending Virgil van Dijk’s season with a horror challenge that somehow went unpunished.

Liverpool 2-0 Everton 2023/24 – Young

And finally, the most recent red card in the Merseyside derby came last season when Ashley Young was sent off for a second bookable offence just 37 minutes into the clash at Anfield, which Liverpool went on to win 2-0 thanks to a Mohamed Salah brace.

However, it was Everton who were laughing during the second Merseyside derby last term, with the Toffees beating the Reds 2-0 in the reverse fixture, which effectively ended Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge as they fell behind Arsenal and Manchester City.