Liverpool vs Everton: Previous FA Cup Games

The FA Cup tie between Liverpool and Everton on Friday is just the 24^th time the teams have played each other in this cup in the two clubs’ history. Whilst recent league history against our Merseyside rivals is impressive the run in the FA Cup is a bit more even; Liverpool have come out as winners on ten occasions, with Everton winning seven times and it ending as a draw on six occasions. With the last game ending as a draw Liverpool will be looking to reassert their dominance over their rival and progress into the next round of the FA Cup, fans alike will be hoping that Jurgen Klopp’s team can get another result against Everton and put in a good FA Cup run given the sides early exit in the Carabao Cup. With the next instalment of the Merseyside derby coming up, here are some of the previous FA Cup meetings between the two sides:14th April 2012Probably the most important Merseyside derby in recent years, both sets of fans travelled south as Liverpool took on Everton at Wembley in the FA Cup Semi Final. Liverpool had already won the League Cup that season and were hoping to see off their neighbours and get into another final.Everton took the lead through Nikica Jelavic as Liverpool took their time getting into the game, David Moyes’ side were fully deserving of their lead going into half time and it would take a big turn in performance if Liverpool were going to fight their way back into one of their biggest games of the season.In typical Everton fashion they were the creators of their own downfall, Sylvain Distin gifted Luis Suarez an equaliser 15 minutes into the second half after a misplaced pass back and with the game tied up the momentum favoured Liverpool with just under half an hour left of normal time.The sides would stay at a deadlock until the 87^th minute when Everton would give away a silly foul on the left of their own box, Craig Bellamy stepped up to swing the ball in and £35 million-man Andy Carroll was on hand to rise above everyone else and nod the ball into the net.The big man’s header had sent Liverpool through to their second final in a season and once again gave Liverpool fans the bragging rights for their journey back up north.25th January 2009With their strongest team in years, Liverpool had found themselves in a race against Manchester United for the Premier League but the FA Cup provided another great opportunity for Liverpool to win some silverware and it was rivals Everton that stood in the way. Third round victories over Preston for Liverpool and Macclesfield for Everton had paved the way for the early meeting between the two sides in the cup.With the game at Anfield, it was Joleon Lescott that gave the visitors the lead after just 27 minutes; Tim Cahill winning a header off a corner and then Lescott flicking it into the back of the net to give David Moyes’ team the lead. Liverpool dominated most of the game but were unable to find a goal until the 54^th minute, Steven Gerrard taking control and latching onto a Torres flick before smashing the ball past Tim Howard with his weaker foot to even the scores.Liverpool couldn’t find a second goal to win the game which meant a replay was scheduled a week later at Goodison, in similar fashion to the previous game goals were hard to come by for both sides until Everton youngster Dan Gosling popped up in 118^th minute to send Everton through with an absolute screamer.Liverpool would go on to fall short in their pursuit of the Premier League title, similarly Everton would get so close yet so far in their FA Cup run. Whilst being able to get past Liverpool in the 4^th round and Manchester United in the semi-final David Moyes and his side would only end the season as runners up after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.20th February 1991From a neutral point of view, the 5^th round cup replay at Goodison Park was one of the best games between the two sides ever. The game was literally end to end with both teams having plenty of chances to go ahead but it wasn’t until Peter Beardsley put Liverpool 1-0 up after Rush had an effort cleared off the line. Everton would then level the scores after Graeme Sharp pulled things level, the Scotsman rose above all the Liverpool defenders, headed the ball straight at Bruce Grobbelaar and the Liverpool keeper should have done better to keep the ball out.Liverpool kept taking the lead but were constantly frustrated by Everton, Beardsley made it 2-1 but Sharp once again cancelled it out. Ian Rush then sent Liverpool 3-2 up and with only ten minutes left the game was Liverpool’s to throw away. Everton pushed until the last whistle and were awarded with a late goal from Tony Cottee to send the game into extra-time at 3-3.Heading into half-time in extra-time, John Barnes gave Liverpool the lead for a fourth time with a spectacular finish. Picking the ball up on the left he cut inside before curling the ball into the far corner with his right foot. Liverpool’s defending had gifted Everton back into the game on two occasions and it didn’t improve in extra-time; a poor pass back put Tony Cottee through on goal again and the striker made no mistake in scoring Everton’s fourth goal of the game.With the game ending equal after extra-time, the two teams faced off in a 2^nd cup replay a week later. This time around the game was nowhere near as entertaining and Everton were the eventual victors as Dave Watson sent Liverpool crashing out of the FA Cup in the 5^th round.20th May 1989Played just five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster, there was not a lot of cause for celebration after the tragedy that affected both the red and blue sides of Liverpool. Before the game there was a minute’s silence for the 96, every player wore black armbands and Gerry Marsden, lead singer of Gerry & the Pacemakers, led the crowd in a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.With Liverpool and Everton being two of the best sides in the country, this was the second time they had met in an FA Cup final in just four years. It wouldn’t take long for Liverpool to take the lead, John Aldridge putting Liverpool 1-0 up after just four minutes.The game was a close affair and the next goal wouldn’t come until the 89^th minute, Stuart McCall dramatically giving Everton a late equaliser in the final to send the game into extra-time.The 30 minutes of extra time had more goals than the 90 minutes of normal time, Ian Rush put Liverpool back in front just five minutes after the restart but three minutes before half-time in extra-time Stuart McCall was back again to pull Everton level.Everton hardly had time to celebrate their equaliser when Ian Rush put Liverpool back in front again, giving Liverpool the 3-2 lead with the last goal of the game as Liverpool won their fourth FA Cup.10th May 1986The first of the two FA Cup final meetings between the sides, this time around it was an easier affair for Kenny Dalglish’s side. Gary Linker gave Everton the lead in the game and continued his fine form in the season that would get him his move to Spanish giants Barcelona, the team in blue would go into half-time with the 1-0 score line in their favour and 45 minutes away from their fifth FA Cup.Whatever Kenny Dalglish said at half-time worked and Liverpool came flying out of the blocks against their rivals in the second half. Ten minutes after the restart Liverpool were level through Ian Rush and had the momentum with over half an hour left to play in the tie, just six minutes later Everton were behind as Craig Johnston gave Liverpool the lead for the first time in the game.Ian Rush was at it again to secure Liverpool’s third FA Cup in their history and continue their dominance in English football. The FA Cup had secured the double along with the league title and with the club crashing out of the League Cup in the semi-final; it had meant they were so close to completing a complete domestic triple, something that Liverpool have never managed in the history of the club.Article by Louis ConnorTwitter: @Loui_ConnorFor more Redmen TV content including podcasts, subscriber exclusives and three new shows every week subscribe now and get your first month for FREE bit.ly/RMTVjoin