The bitter 1892 rent dispute that saw Everton leave Anfield directly led to the creation of their greatest rivals, Liverpool FC. This foundational split ignited a Merseyside derby rivalry that has lasted for 130 years and continues to shape the modern Premier League landscape, where Everton currently sit 6th with 4 points from their opening two games.
Everton Football Club was formed in 1878 and moved into the Anfield ground in 1884. Their early success there was immediate, winning the Liverpool Cup that same year. The club's stature grew, and they hosted the first-ever Football League fixture against Accrington Stanley in 1888. Everton's first English championship was secured at Anfield in the 1890-91 season, with crowds reportedly reaching 20,000. The ground was purchased in 1885 by John Houlding, who initially charged the club an annual rent of £100.
The relationship between club and landlord fractured in 1892 when Houlding increased the annual rent to £250. Everton's members refused to pay the higher rate. This led to a formal split on March 15, 1892, with the majority of the club deciding to leave. They secured a new site across Stanley Park, building Goodison Park, which was officially opened on August 24, 1892, before a crowd of 12,000. Their eight-year tenure at Anfield was over.
Faced with an empty stadium, Houlding and a small group of allies decided to form a new club to fill it. The Liverpool Football Club was formally registered on June 3, 1892. They entered the Football League's Second Division a year later. This act of commercial necessity birthed a footballing giant. Liverpool would go on to win 20 English top-flight titles, including the 2024-25 Premier League under Arne Slot, and six European Cups. Everton, meanwhile, have won nine league championships and five FA Cups, along with the European Cup-Winners' Cup in 1984-85.
The rivalry born from that 1892 split remains one of football's most intense. Modern parallels to stadium issues have emerged, such as the 2010 proposal by the Mersey Stadia-Connex Group for a shared stadium, which suggested potential savings of £200 million. Today, Everton's focus is on the current campaign. They are positioned 6th in the Premier League, having scored 3 goals and conceded just one for a +2 goal difference. They sit only 2 points behind leaders Manchester City. The squad will be without the sidelined Christian Nørgaard. Fans can track the team's progress in the standings as this historic season unfolds.
