Liverpool will fear nightmare Everton defeat after referee update
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(Credit: Imago, Hasan Karim - Breaking Media)
Oliver Walton
Thu 18 September 2025 15:18, UK
Liverpool will be dreading a bad result against cross-city rivals Everton this weekend due to some surprising statistics around the match referee.
Liverpool have been flawless in the Premier League so far this season, with four wins from as many games to begin their title defence with aplomb.
They continued their strong form with a win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday (17 September), but a tough test awaits on Saturday (20 September) as Everton travel to Anfield for the Merseyside derby.
David Moyes’ side have also impressed in the early stages of the campaign, with two wins, one draw and one loss from their first four league outings to begin their new era at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Everton have won just one game at Anfield in the last 26 years, but they should be encouraged ahead of this new edition of their fierce rivalry by some surprising numbers that point to them potentially coming away with three points.
Credit: Imago
Liverpool have been involved in a number of controversial decisions already this season, starting on the opening weekend as Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi was lucky not to be sent off for handball when Hugo Ekitike was through on goal.
Former FIFA official Keith Hackett recently also told Football Insider that Dominik Szoboszlai’s handball against Arsenal should have gone to VAR, and there will once again be a real focus on their referee for this weekend’s clash against Everton, Darren England.
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England has been refereeing in the Premier League since 2020, and in those five years Everton have lost just one of the 11 matches that he has taken charge of, while Liverpool have only won one of the five games of theirs that he has overseen.
Everton have historically done a lot better with the 39-year-old as the man in the middle, and while every game is obviously different, they should take confidence from statistics like those that they can come out of Anfield with a result.
England was infamously on VAR duties for the Reds’ controversial clash against Tottenham in 2023 when Luis Diaz had a goal ruled out for offside by the linesman and the decision was not questioned by him or any of his colleagues, despite it clearly proving to be onside as Liverpool then lost 2-1.
He was dropped from officiating any of their fixtures for the rest of the 2023-24 campaign [The Telegraph], but England took charge of two last term as he sent Ryan Gravenberch off against Crystal Palace on the final day of the season.
There is, of course, no suggestion of actual bias for or against either side of the Merseyside derby but Liverpool may well be fearing the worst with England in the middle, despite their brilliant start to the new season, but they will know that Everton always find it tough to go to Anfield regardless based off their recent results.
The Toffees’ only win as the away team in the derby since the turn of the century came in 2021 as Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson both scored for a 2-0 victory, but they have not even drew or scored a goal in the four Anfield meetings since.
DateResultApril 2025Liverpool 1-0 EvertonFebruary 2025Everton 2-2 LiverpoolApril 2024Everton 2-0 LiverpoolOctober 2023Liverpool 2-0 EvertonFebruary 2023Liverpool 2-0 EvertonLiverpool vs Everton last five meetings
In competitive games overall, Liverpool have won 100 games to Everton’s 68, and even aside from Anfield games, the Toffees have beaten their closest rivals just six times in the last 25 years.
It promises to be an interesting clash this Saturday with both teams in great form, and even though Liverpool will be fearful of the history surrounding referee England, the recent meetings between the pair do point to another three points going to the red side of the city.