REUTERS/Peter Powell
The Merseyside derby needs no introduction, and it's lived up to its reputation once again.
It's one of the biggest derbies in the Premier League British football as a whole, and few needed reminding of that more than fans who witnessed the chaotic scenes at Goodison Park in February 2025, when Liverpool and Everton's first-team players clashed in a mass brawl after the final whistle, resulting in four red cards and a series of FA charges for both clubs.
Now, that same bitter rivalry appears to have filtered down to the academy level, after Liverpool and Everton's under-21 sides produced a fixture just as fiery as their senior counterparts, with tempers boiling over once again at the same location as the last Merseyside derby fracas.
Everton and Liverpool U21s Share a Chaotic 1-1 Draw
A wide shot of Goodison Park.
The two sides met at Goodison Park to open their Premier League 2 campaigns, with Liverpool going ahead inside 13 minutes through Will Wright, only for Everton to level four minutes later courtesy of Jack Patterson. The scoreline stayed level from there, but the closing stages descended into chaos reminiscent of the senior sides' infamous clash.
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Ranking the greatest Liverpool players in history featuring Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard and Mohamed Salah
Liverpool goalkeeper Harvey Davies was the first to see red, dismissed for hauling down Everton substitute Justin Clarke as he raced out of his area. With Liverpool having already used their substitutes, defender Mor Talla Ndiaye was forced to fill in between the posts for the remainder of the match.
EPL_Biggest Derbies
EPL_Biggest Derbies
Everton Player Sent Off as Tempers Boil Over Late on
A close-up image of a referee brandishing a red card
In the 89th minute, Everton's Braiden Graham reacted furiously after a dangerous challenge from Liverpool midfielder Joe Upton, sparking a mass brawl that involved players from both sides.
See the full incident below:
The challenge sent Graham flying over the back of Upton as he attempted to win a header. Graham was shown a red card for his immediate reaction that left Upton on the ground, leaving the match to finish with 10 players on both sides. Everton had also seen a goal controversially ruled out shortly before the flashpoint, after the referee failed to play advantage, only adding to the frustration that had been building throughout an already ill-tempered contest.
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The scenes prove that the fierce rivalry between these two clubs isn't confined to first-team football, with tempers clearly running just as high among the next generation of Merseyside talent.
The first Merseyside derby of the Premier League season will be hosted by Everton on the 26th of November.