Why Liverpool will always have a better head-to-head record over Everton at Goodison Park despite final draw

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Liverpool and Everton played out one of the great Merseyside Derbies on Wednesday as both teams settled for a 2-2 draw.

Having seen James Tarkowski smash in a last-second equaliser, it had almost felt like a loss for the Reds on the night.

However, with reflection, it should surely still count as one point gained rather than two lost in the Premier League title race.

Some Liverpool fans still won’t see things that way, but those supporters would do well to take the Reds’ overall record away at Goodison Park into account.

Wednesday’s game was the 120th – and final – time that the Toffees had hosted their city neighbours. The head-to-head ends with 41 wins each and 38 draws. Perfectly poised.

However, although Tarkowski’s bullet ended Liverpool’s hopes of winning that 131-year battle outright, it didn’t stop the Reds from still coming out on top.

Liverpool lead at Goodison Park on goal difference

Given how much better Liverpool have been than Everton in recent years, it is still a surprise that this head-to-head record is as tight as it is.

Of course, plenty of Everton’s Merseyside Derby wins came in the very distant past. But they have still held their own valiantly in modern times, losing only one of the last eight matches at Goodison.

One win across 13 games is not exactly good reading for Everton fans, mind you, with most games ending in a draw.

With the record so close, the logical way to separate the teams is via goal difference.

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Unfortunately for Everton, they come up short here. However, it is still remarkably close between the two rivals.

As per BBC Sport, Liverpool had scored 147 goals in 119 games before Wednesday. Everton had 141. With two goals apiece scored, the final tally puts the Reds on 149, six more than the Blues.

What about at Anfield?

While Everton may still feel somewhat proud of their record against Liverpool on home turf, away at Anfield it is another story.

The Toffees have only won one single time at the Liverpool ground since 1999. Even then, that victory came without fans present in the stadium in 2021.

Overall, Everton have won 32 times on Liverpool territory, with plenty of those wins coming long ago.

Liverpool have 71 wins to their name, with 40 draws contested. If the Reds can make it 72 on April the 2nd, that would be super.

Either way, the Reds have conquered Goodison over more than 130 years and there’s now nothing the Blues can do about it.