Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Liverpool - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - February 12, 2025 Everton's Beto scores their first goal past Liverpool's Alisson Becker REUTERS/Phil Noble
(Reuters) - Goodison Park, which will be vacated after this season, hosted its final Merseyside derby on Wednesday as Everton drew 2-2 with Liverpool in a Premier League clash.
Here are some key details about the stadium, Everton's future plans and a look at the history of the hosts' rivalry with Liverpool:
WHEN WAS GOODISON PARK BUILT?
Everton played at Anfield from 1884-1892, before relocating to Goodison Park, with the club's move directly leading to the founding of rivals Liverpool.
Goodison Park opened its doors in 1892, with the first match played between Everton and Bolton Wanderers. The first match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park took place in October 1894, which the Toffees won 3-0.
The stadium grew sizeably in the next few decades with new stands being built in 1907 and 1909, while major renovations took place in 1948, 1971 and 1994.
HOW HAVE EVERTON FARED IN MERSEYSIDE DERBIES AT GOODISON PARK?
Everton and Liverpool have faced off 120 times at Goodison Park in all competitions, with both sides enjoying 41 victories apiece while 38 matches have ended in draws - including 10 of the last 13 Premier League meetings.
Among the most memorable derbies at the stadium was a 4-4 FA Cup replay draw in 1991 that led to the resignation of Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool manager, Everton's 5-0 defeat in 1982 and a shock 2-0 win last season that helped Everton avoid relegation.
Of the 33 Merseyside derbies played at Goodison in the Premier League era, Everton have won eight and Liverpool have won 11, with 14 draws.
WHY ARE EVERTON LEAVING GOODISON PARK?
Goodison Park is the 13th largest soccer stadium in England and Wales by capacity, with its relatively small 40,000 seats meaning the team has struggled to compete with the match-day income of their rivals.
Everton's previous attempts to build a new stadium - at King's Dock in 2003 and Kirkby in 2009 - both ended in failure.
WHERE WILL EVERTON PLAY NEXT SEASON?
Everton formally agreed a 200-year land lease at a site at Bramley-Moore Dock in 2017 and announced plans to build a waterfront stadium that can help bridge the gap to the leading top-flight teams.
The club planned to relocate to the new stadium beginning from the 2024-25 season, but that was pushed to 2025-26 in 2023.
The new stadium is currently called Everton Stadium, but the club could explore the option to sell naming rights, as they have done in the past.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH GOODISON PARK?
In 2021, Everton said the Liverpool City Council had approved the outline application for a community-led legacy project at Goodison Park.
The stadium is set to be demolished after Everton play their final match there, with the land set to be redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme with housing and offices.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Toby Davis)
