By Greg Seltzer

Unlike most heated local derbies, where lines are drawn never to be crossed, the once-friendly Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool regularly divides friends and families on game day.

Located at either end of Stanley Park from each other, less than a mile apart, the two Mersey clubs are practically kin themselves.

In fact, Everton were the first Anfield Road tenants when it opened in 1884. Eight years later, the club departed for Goodison Park over business disagreements, compelling the Anfield owner to form his own soccer team: Liverpool FC.

Even after the rivalry began on the field, a 3-0 Everton home win in 1894, the clubs remained rather cozy. They shared the same game day programs for three decades and until the '80's even sat mixed in the stands for derby matches.

Things turned sour between the two after the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985. Liverpool fans battled those of Juventus shortly before the European Cup final, causing a melee that would leave 39 dead and hundreds injured after a wall collapse.

At the time, Everton were the rising power in England, having just captured the First Division crown. In the aftermath of the Heysel incident, UEFA banned English clubs from their cup competitions for five years, costing Everton their fair chance at European glory.

To make matters worse, the son of longtime Everton chairman Sir John Moores cost the Blues even more at Liverpool's expense. With his ailing father resigned from the club board, he pulled the large family investment out of Goodison and took it across the park to Anfield.

Everton and its fans were left fuming at Liverpool over these incidents, which had the Blues struggling financially while the Reds continued winning trophies. The derby now had everything, including unchecked animosity.

The supporters' rivalry is not so much violent, but any hearing person would certainly blush from the vicious verbal abuse tossed back and forth at derbies.

Nevertheless, there are still countless ties between the two and they do find occasion for solidarity. For instance, the Hillsborough disaster - which saw 96 Liverpool fans perish in Sheffield - saw an intertwined Red/Blue chain of supporter scarves hung between Anfield and Goodison.

Field loyalties have also shifted plenty. Despite decades-long voluntary transfer freezes between the two, Nearly 50 players have donned both jerseys in a derby.

What's more, Liverpool icons Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman Michael Owen and Ian Rush (who tops the all-time derby goal chart with 25) all grew up as Evertonians. Not to be outdone, current Toffees Leighton Baines and Leon Osman came up as Reds.

In all, through the friendly times and the nasty arch enemy times, it has been a glorious match-up. The teams have met over 25 times in domestic cup action, including two FA Cup finals and one League Cup final - all won by Liverpool.

Everton and Liverpool will also play their 200th league derby at the turn of the next decade and there's little doubt it will be a most divisive bicentennial on Merseyside.

Merseyside Derby Records:

• The longest unbeaten derby game run in all matches is 14, held by Everton, this was between the 1941/42 and 1951/52 seasons.
• The longest unbeaten derby game run in home matches is held by Liverpool when Everton failed to beat them in the League for 14 games between the 1970/71 and 1984/85 seasons.
• The longest unbeaten derby game run in away matches is held by Everton with a 16 match run at Anfield between 1899 and 1920 which included 10 victories.
• The longest unbroken winning run at home belongs to Liverpool with 5 between 1932/33 and 1936/37.
• The longest unbroken winning run away from home belongs to Everton who scored 7 consecutive victories at Anfield between 1908/09 and 1914/15.
• Recent games have been marred by sendings off, and the fixture has seen 19 red cards in the Premier League, the highest tally for any other fixture.
• The record home victory in a league match is 6-0 recorded by Liverpool at Anfield in the 1935/36 season.
• The record away victory in a league match is 5-0 recorded by both Everton at Anfield in the 1914/15 season and by Liverpool at Goodison Park in the 1982/83 season.
• The highest scoring match was in 1932/33 when Liverpool won 7-4 at Anfield
• Neville Southall of Everton holds the record for most derby appearances.
• Ian Rush of Liverpool holds the mark for the most derby goals with 25, overtaking Dixie Dean of Everton's long-standing record when he scored two goals in Liverpool's 3-2 win over Everton in the second all-Merseyside F.A. Cup Final in 1989.
• William C. Cuff of Everton holds the record for the most wins as a manager with 16 wins over Liverpool from 1901-1918.
• Tom Watson of Liverpool holds the record for the most losses as a manager with 21 defeats to Everton from 1896-1915.
• Record Attendance: 78,599 at Goodison Park, 18 September 1948 (Old Division One)
• Lowest Attendance: 18,000 at Anfield, 19 January 1901 (Old Division One)