Wednesday marks the 234th Merseyside derby, as Liverpool welcome Everton to Anfield.
It is one of the most famous fixtures in the country, dividing a city synonymous with its passion for football.
The thrilling encounters over the years, the sportsmanship both have showed each other and the two stadiums being a stone’s throw away from one another – it is a derby like no other.
Liverpool’s dominance over their rivals makes it one of the most fascinating ties in any Premier League season, but why have the Reds got such a huge advantage over their neighbours?
Since Everton’s last derby win in 2010, Liverpool have been taken over by FSG and had Roy Hodgson, Sir Kenny Dalglish, Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp at the helm.
In the last decade, the Reds have faced patches of rehabilitation, yet the Blues have come away with nothing. Now with Klopp in charge, Liverpool have their most complete side in decades.
It almost feels as though Everton’s failure to beat much weaker Reds teams in years gone by has left them now facing an impossible task, against a world-class outfit.
Since Everton’s last derby win, the most controversial moments in games have all gone in Liverpool’s favour, whether it be Andy Carroll’s header at Wembley, Daniel Sturridge’s last-gasp equaliser at Goodison Park, Virgil van Dijk’s debut goal or Divock Origi’s famous winner last year.
They have all resulted in Liverpool either getting a share of the points or a win. For Everton, knowing the Reds have it in them to have the last laugh time and time again plays a huge part in their mentality before derbies.
No matter what team it may be, Premier League or a Sunday League, if you haven’t won at a certain ground for 20 years, there is more than certainly going to be a state of panic, disorder and lack of concentration when the fixture arrives.
For Everton, that is Liverpool away.
Only a Phil Jagielka once-in-a-lifetime strike stands out recently – they have otherwise suffered the exact same crushing, deflated, ‘why do I bring myself here’ feeling I get every time I leave the away end at Old Trafford.
But as the years go on, and the draws and defeats keep building up, Anfield becomes more and more of a fortress for the Blues.
With Wednesday’s derby on the horizon, there has never been a bigger, more recognisable gap between the two clubs.
Liverpool are the runaway Premier League leaders, challenging on all fronts for domestic and European silverware, while Everton find themselves hovering around the relegation zone.
It is a derby, where form can go out of window, but if the league table is anything to go by, the worries and woes of Blues everywhere are fully justified.
