Source: Daily_Mail
The List: Everton v Liverpool special - Sportsmail's Merseyside derby heroes
HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is your Merseyside derby hero? Sportsmail's Derek Lawrenson and Jerry Hayes have picked their top 25 stars from the Merseyside derby but we want to know what you think. Let us know who you consider King of the Kop or a Goodison glory boy. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Sportsmail's latest edition of The List celebrates derby day on Merseyside as Liverpool and Everton meet for the first time this season on Sunday. [LNB]The Reds finished 23 points and three places above their bitter city rivals in the last campaign but games between the pair were hard-fought, close encounters. [LNB]The points were shared at Anfield after a Fernando Torres double earned Rafa Benitez's side a 2-0 win at Goodison Park - but the Toffess gained their revenge with an FA Cup fourth-round replay victory as they marched all the way to Wembley. [LNB]The fans play a massive part in this fixture and with this in mind we've asked two of the most passionate to select their 25 favourite players from their team.[LNB]In the blue corner, Sportsmail's Jerry Hayes saysMy days as an Evertonian began in 1970, with Harry Catterick'sChampionship-winning side and the midfield 'Holy Trinity' of Ball,Kendall and Harvey. [LNB]'I am a Londoner, and inherited my team through my Cheshire roots,so most of my early experiences were as an away supporter at Highbury,White Hart Lane and Upton Park. It has been an interesting journey,through the largely uneventful Seventies and the glory years of themid-Eighties and back. [LNB]'My first game was a 4-0 defeat at Arsenal, which I watched from theClock End surrounded by Gunners fans. Sometimes I think it might havebeen easier if the experience had put me off' [LNB]and in the red corner, golf correspondent Derek Lawenson 'Myfamily have had Anfield season tickets for almost 60 years now, sothey've come to be regarded as heirlooms. It's a classic Liverpoolhousehold....it doesn't matter how extended it becomes, familygatherings invariably come back to talking about football at somepoint. [LNB]'Happily, every single member is, and always has been, of the redpursuasion. I currently own two of the tickets, and haven't missed agame at Anfield other than for golfing and holiday commitments for Ihate to think of how many years. [LNB]'As for the interminable debate aboutRafa, the reason you hear no protests from the fans inside Anfield isthat watching Liverpool at home this calendar year has been moreenjoyable than at any time since the glory days of the 1980s. [LNB]'My listtakes into account every player who has played for Liverpool sinceKevin Keegan left in 1977.'[LNB]Today we count down 15-11 from both sides and pick an overallwinner. We'll publish another 10 players every day this week and revealthe best of the best, according to Sportsmail's team of experts, onFriday.[LNB]Read Nos 20-1615Dave Watson The next in a long line of 'Mr Evertons' after Brian Labone and Kevin Ratcliffe before him. Always there to steady the ship, and took the tiller as caretaker manager after Joe Royle's resignation. The last man to lift a trophy in royal blue.[LNB]No relation, before you ask. Goodness knows how many times I've been called Mark by mistake at sporting functions, but it's never an insult. If people think I write with half as much class and style as he played, that's good enough for me.[LNB] Verdict - Lawro edges it14Mark Lawrenson Kevin Ratcliffe Total professional. Total Evertonian. Such a calming influence. Read the game superbly and had electric pace to back that up on the rare occasion he didn't. Should have gone on to lift the European Cup.[LNB]Replacing Rush and Dalglish seemed impossible but Kenny himself pulled off a masterstroke, buying Barnes, Aldridge and little Peter Beardsley who was certainly the great entertainer.[LNB] Verdict - Peter wins on points13 Peter Beardsley Andy King Hang on a minute, who's this? Glamorous, skilful, long blond hair. Surely not an Evertonian? Scored the never-to-be-forgotten winner when we ended a seven-year stretch without a win against the Reds in 1978 - then got moved off the pitch by the police while being interviewed afterwards[LNB]Shame that his time coincided a little with Ian Rush's. It wasn't Aldo's fault that he looked like him, scored like him, but wasn't quite as good as him. Still, nearly as good as Ian Rush. That's better than anything in the Premier League now outside Torres, Rooney and Drogba. [LNB] Verdict - Andy is the King12 John Aldridge Joe Royle His goals were the only thing that sustained me in the dark days after Alan Ball left. Big lanky centre forward banging them in with his head - and hit over goals for us as well. Just what English football is about. [LNB]Everytime he watches Carra play, he must feel like he's watching a mirror image of himself. Every Saturday on Sky you can see him, still living the dream. You can take the boy out of Liverpool, and all that....[LNB] Verdict - Phil yer boots, Thommo11 Phil Thompson Brian Labone My first Everton captain. He believed, quite rightly, that they were the finest club in the land. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, the club motto, was written for him. Once commented: 'One Evertonian is worth 20 Liverpudlians' and who am I to argue with that?[LNB]How much better would we feel about England's chances next summer if they had this man between the sticks? Maybe he wasn't as good as Shilton. But his uncanny reading of a game and brilliant handling made him perfect for Liverpool.[LNB] Ray Clemence Verdict - Legend Labone pips it Result - Everton 2 Liverpool 3 Sportsmail's top 50 Premier League teen sensationsSportsmail's top 50 players from Tottenham or ArsenalSportsmail's top 50 football kits of all time Sportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail's worst 50 strikers in the Premier LeagueSportsmail's top 50 stars who failed to play fairSportsmail's top 50 midfield maestrosSportsmail's top 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail's top 50 sporting venuesSportsmail's top 50 free-kick kingsSportsmail's top 50 England heroesSportsmail's top 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail's top 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail's top 50 goal poachersSportsmail's top 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail's top 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail's top 50 signings of the season Sportsmail's greatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail's top 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail's top 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail's top 50 Ashes heroesSportsmail's top 50 partnerships [LNB] [LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB] Explore more:People:Joe Royle, Rafa Benitez, Alan Ball, Kevin Keegan, IAN RUSH, Kevin RatcliffePlaces:Liverpool, United Kingdom, Goodison Park, Upton Park
