The Merseyside Derby is a clash between two of the best rivals in UK football. The event is a recurring clash between the Liverpool and Everton football clubs, and the two sides will face off for the second time this season at Goodison Park in the late game on Saturday.
The weekend clash will be the 33rd derby for Steven Gerrard in his time with the Reds, the majority of which he played as team captain at Liverpool. But 33 will be the final number of derby games for Gerrard as he ends his time at Anfield following the end of the current football season.
The two sides clashed at Anfield in September that ended with a 1-1 draw. Gerrard was Liverpool’s only goalscorer in the previous clash, which increased his total derby goal count to 10 over the course of his career. Experts are betting that the Liverpool skipper will end his derby career with at least one more goal when he steps onto the pitch at Goodison on Saturday.
Liverpool heads into the derby on an incredible run, remaining undefeated dating back to the middle of December. The team completed a comeback win in the FA Cup earlier this week to eliminate the Bolton Wanderers and secure a place in the fifth round of the competition. The bet will be on whether Liverpool can keep the good times rolling in the second half of the Premier League season, and finish Gerrard’s Merseyside derby run on a positive note.
After Gerrard announced he will leave for the North American MLS in the summer, the rest of the squad said they wanted to win the FA Cup for their departing captain. Gerrard and the Reds won two previous FA Cups – once in 2001, and again in 2006 after the midfielder became team captain.
The Reds hope to leave Goodison with a win under their belts before they head down the road to play at Anfield on Tuesday against Tottenham. Liverpool then heads to Crystal Palace for the fifth round of the FA Cup. Can Gerrard lead his teammates to three consecutive wins?