‘Mad’ Mersey derby saw off sad Kenny

WHEN it comes to the FA Cup, the rivalry between Liverpool and

Everton is just as intense as the league encounters — and often more dramatic.

The 1991 fifth-round clash might have been a slow burner, a goalless draw at Anfield, but what followed at Goodison Park in the replay is often described as the most exhilarating Merseyside derby ever.

A see-saw 4-4 draw left the fans breathless and triggered the shock departure of manager Kenny Dalglish less than 48 hours later.

Ian Rush scored one of the goals on an enthralling night in which Dalglish’s side had taken the lead four times — only to be pegged back, necessitating a second replay.

Rush recalled: “In some respects, we were disappointed, but the game had been so dramatic that you couldn’t help feel an air of excitement to have taken part in such a thrilling match.

“Kenny didn’t say much in the dressing room, you just thought he was disappointed that we had squandered the lead four times.”

Two days later he was gone, having announced his resignation, the Scot shattered by trying to hold the club together in the aftermath of the traumatic events of Hillsborough in April 1989 — ironically, another FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.

“Kenny later admitted that, before the Everton replay, he had been lying on his hotel bed believing he had to get out. The alternative he believed was to go mad,” added Rush. But

Dalglish had been unaware of what was to follow, the local paper labelling the 4-4 draw as the “greatest Merseyside derby in history”.

And, considering two previous FA Cup meetings had been in finals at Wembley — both in the 1980s and both won by

Liverpool, one after extra time — it was high praise.

Everton edged the 1991 second replay 1-0 at

Goodison Park, although it is Liverpool who hold the upper hand in all-time FA

Cup clashes, winning nine to Everton’s seven.

It’s only two years since the last FA Cup joust — and one that, again, was a dream for headline writers.

Liverpool boss

Jurgen Klopp unveiled his club record £75million signing from

Southampton, Virgil van Dijk, in the third-round tie against their rivals from across Stanley Park.

And the Dutch defender gleefully struck a late winner in the 2-1 victory over Sam Allardyce’s side.

FA Cup hostilities between the pair can be traced back to 1902, with a 2-2 draw at Anfield, which was then in the FA Cup first round.

Liverpool triumphed 2-0 in the replay.

It’s definitely never been just another game away from the all-important league fare.