On the 21st of October, 2023 Liverpool hosted Everton in the latest instalment of the Merseyside derby. Sean Dyche is the eighth Toffees manager, Jürgen Klopp has faced but whilst the opponent in the dugout has often been different, the result has often been the same. Liverpool beat Everton 2-0 last time out thanks to a Mo Salah brace but another thing that was very typical about the game was that it saw a sending off. Being more specific, it saw a red card for the Bluenoses yet again.
Liverpool vs Everton Red Cards
The Merseyside derby has seen more red cards than any fixture in Premier League history. But those dismissals have not been evenly shared between the two rivals, far from it in fact. The latest red card, for Ashley Young, was the derby’s 23rd but Liverpool have collected just seven of those.
There have been 23 red cards shown in just 63 PL contests, meaning one dismissal every 2.7 games. Here we take a look at all 23 sendings off that have occurred in this historic fixture in the Premier League.
| Team | Red Cards | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 7 | 30.43% |
| Everton | 16 | 69.57% |
Ashley Young, Everton – 21 October 2023
Ashley Young was dismissed in the 37th minute of this game after two rash tackles saw him collect two yellows and the inevitable red. Evertonians may feel slightly hard done to but in truth both fouls, Luis Diaz the victim on both occasions, were worthy of a yellow. Already booked, the second was particularly foolish. Should Ibrahima Konate also have received a second yellow after 65 minutes for a clear foul on Beto after picking up a caution for a similar offence in the 50th minute? That’s not for us to say!
Richarlison, Everton – 23 October 2020
Richarlison, a favourite of all Reds (!), was rightly dismissed for a truly shocking tackle on Thiago that left the Reds midfielder sidelined for almost three months. His straight red was far from the worst tackle in the game though, although Jordan Pickford somehow went unpunished for almost snapping Virgil van Dijk’s leg, the ref incorrectly allowing an offside decision to influence his call.
Ramiro Funes Mori, Everton – 20 April 2016
Argentine defender, Ramiro Funes Mori, spent three average seasons on Merseyside and will be fondly remembered by neither Blues nor Reds. Liverpool won this fixture with ease, 4-0, but Divock Origi was left injured by a real shocker from the former River Plate man.
Jack Rodwell, Everton – 1 October 2011
Jack Rodwell can certainly feel hard done by being included on this list as his red card was rescinded by the FA. Whilst the youngster slid in, contact was minimal to say the least, with some Blues suggesting Luis Suarez may have been a tad theatrical. Doesn’t sound like our Luis to us though. Martin Atkinson produced a straight red and Toffees will feel scant consolation that it was rescinded given they lost the match 2-0.
Steven Pienaar, Everton and Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Liverpool – 6 February 2010
The last time more than one player was sent off in a derby clash was over 13 years ago and Atkinson was again the man in the middle. Greek defender Kyrgiakos was rightly sent off for a poor challenge on Marouane Fellaini, whilst Pienaar got his orders for a far less serious infringement on Steven Gerrard.
Tim Cahill, Everton – 27 September 2008
Cahill had an annoying habit of scoring in the derby but his main involvement in this clash was collecting a red card from Mike Riley. The Reds won 2-0, Cahill dismissed for a poor lunge on Xabi Alonso.
Phil Neville & Tony Hibbert, Everton – 20 October 2007
It was double red for the Blues here as two men prone to collecting bookings both got their orders in this 2-1 Liverpool win at Goodison. The Toffees took the lead but then Hibbert was sent off as the Reds got a penalty. The rugged defender fouled Gerrard as the Reds skipper entered the penalty area and controversially Mark Clattenburg was set to book the Everton man before Gerrard stepped in. More controversy followed, Everton furious with various decisions, but things got worse as Neville was shown a red for handling on the line and Liverpool scored a second penalty to win the game.
Andy Van der Meyde, Everton and Steven Gerrard, Liverpool – 25 March 2006
Dutch wideman, Van der Meyde, was shown a straight red in this 3-1 Liverpool win, whilst Gerrard picked up two yellows. One of those bookings was for kicking the ball away, the other for a shocker of a tackle, whilst Van der Meyde foolishly elbowed Xabi Alonso in the face to earn his red.
Mikel Arteta & Phil Neville, Everton – 28 December 2005
More double trouble for the Toffees as Neville picked up his first of two red cards in derby clashes. He thoroughly deserved his two yellows but Arteta may feel his second yellow for a foul on Luis Garcia was on the harsh side.
Milan Baros, Liverpool – 20 March 2005
Yet another Liverpool win against the local rivals was not prevented by Baros’ red for a very high, very poor, attempt at a tackle on Alan Stubbs.
Gary Naysmith & David Weir, Everton – 19 April 2003
Once again, four yellows meant two reds for the Toffees in this one and there can be no real complaints given Naysmith got his second booking for a deliberate trip and Weir got his for a bad foul on Gerrard.
Igor Biscan, Liverpool – 16 April 2001
Liverpool edged a thrilling derby 3-2, no thanks to Croatian Biscan, who was already on a booking when he caught David Unsworth late.
Thomas Gravesen, Everton – 29 October 2000
Gravesen would go on to play for Real Madrid and was a fine player. But a little unhinged at times! A 3-1 defeat at Anfield will not be one of his happier memories, especially as he was given a straight red for what was deemed a professional foul on Vladimir Smicer.
Francis Jeffers, Everton, Steven Gerrard & Sander Westerveld, Liverpool – 27 September 1999
The only time – thus far at least – that three players have seen red was the only time that Liverpool have been down to nine in a derby game. This was an almost unheard of Everton win at Anfield, the Toffees nicking it 1-0. Kevin Campbell got the key goal but his strike partner Francis Jeffers was dismissed following a comical bout of handbags with the Reds keeper Westerveld. Both players earned straight reds from Mike Riley, Steve Staunton going in goals! It got even worse as a youthful Gerrard got a rather harsh red in stoppage time too.
David Unsworth, Everton, & Robbie Fowler, Liverpool – 16 April 1997
Perhaps surprisingly the first red cards of the PL era in this fixture did not come until 1997. Similarly to the Jeffers/Westerveld incident, the ref showed two straight reds after the players had little more than a scuffle, though with hands in faces the result was predictable really.