Liverpool paid a heartfelt tribute to Everton's iconic Goodison Park before the Toffees said farewell to the historic stadium on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Southampton. The Blues will make the move to their new home at Bramley-Moore Dock next season. Everton's new stadium has been named the Hill Dickinson Stadium with the unveiling of a naming rights deal between Everton and law firm Hill Dickinson.
The Toffees' women's team will meanwhile take up permanent residence at Goodison Park after today's victory over the Saints. To mark this momentous occasion, Liverpool took to social media to share a poignant message, featuring a moving black-and-white photo taken after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.
The powerful image shows Liverpool fans holding up a banner in appreciation of their Everton counterparts, which read: "The Kop thanks you all. We never walked alone."
Alongside the photo, the Reds posted a message that captured the essence of the long-standing rivalry between the two Merseyside clubs: "An historic stadium, a place where we have fought against one another and stood with each other. Highs, lows and so many memories. The end of an era at Goodison Park and the beginning of a new one."
Liverpool's final visit to Goodison Park for a men's match ended in a 2-2 draw last February, following the original December game being postponed due to Storm Darragh lashing out at Merseyside.
As newly minted Premier League victors, the Reds are gearing up for their next challenge against Brighton and Hove Albion come Monday.
Goodison Park was buzzing with anticipation as countless Everton supporters flocked to the stadium, prompting the team bus to reroute due to the impressive crowd eager to witness the event.
Decked in blue, fans hoisted banners, waved flags, and lit flares, taking their positions well in advance of the usual schedule, poised to cheer the arrival of the team bus by roughly 10.45am.
An on-site PA announcement relayed that the throng of supporters necessitated a change in course for the coach. Everton went on to win 2-0 thanks to a first-half brace from Iliman Ndiaye at Goodison Park.