Which Club Is Older Liverpool Or Everton? (Solved)

Everton are the older club. They were founded in 1878 with Liverpool being established 14 years later in 1892. Liverpool were actually founded as a result of Everton getting into a dispute with their, at the time, Club President and landlord John Houlding which saw them leave Anfield where they had played for eight years. Liverpool were established by Houlding to fill the void left at the empty ground.

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Everton and Liverpool FC: The Beginnings

To most on Merseyside, the story of Everton and Liverpool is well known.

The short story…

Everton were formed in 1878, in 1892 they fell out with their landlord John Houlding and moved out of their home at the time, Anfield. The same year John Houlding forms a new club to occupy the stadium, that club is Liverpool FC.

The longer story…

Everton FC were founded back in 1878 as St. Domingo’s FC, named after a methodist chapel in Everton.

The chapel already had a cricket team, and the football team was founded as a way of giving young men in the area the opportunity to play another sport over the winter.

In November 1879 the team name was changed to Everton FC after the surrounding area.

In their first five years Everton played in a variety of locations but by 1884, as crowds increased, Everton needed to find a new and bigger home.

John Houlding, a wealthy self-made businessman who made his fortune as a brewer, was approached to help.

He bought Anfield for £6,000, including £2,000 of his own money, so Everton could continue. He charged the club a rent of just £100 a year.

Everton played here for eight years, transforming the ground from no more than a field to an international-class stadium that could accommodate 20,000 fans.

It was at Anfield that Everton won their first league title in 1891.

By 1891 Houlding had increased Everton’s rent to £250 a year, as the club began to attract bigger and bigger gates.

Houlding wanted to convert Everton FC into a company, so they could raise money to buy the stadium from him.

Other members of the Everton committee were not too happy with this idea. They wanted a long-term rent for the club.

Mr Houlding would only agree to this on a rent level that was unacceptable to the club.

The end result was Everton left Anfield, finding a new home across Stanley Park at Goodison Park.

John Houlding was left with a good stadium, but no club to play in it.

So in 1892 he decided to establish a new club, and Liverpool FC were born.

Decade by Decade

The 1880s

Everton were founder members of the Football League finishing 8th in the first season and then runners-up in the next.

Everton Total Points: 51pts

The 1890s

Everton claimed their first silverware in the 1890/91 season when they won the First Division in the third season of the competition.

They finished two points clear of the previous two times winners Preston North End despite losing their last two games of the season.

They were also twice FA Cup runners-up in this decade.

Liverpool’s first season was in the Lancashire League, which they won to get promoted to Division Two.

They then won Division Two but were immediately relegated from Division One in their first season.

They bounced back at the first attempt winning Division Two and saw out the rest of the decade in Division One, and were runners-up in the 1898-99 season.

Everton Points for Decade: 344pts
Everton Total Points: 395pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 395pts
Everton Total Honours: 1 x League Championship

Liverpool Points for Decade: 291pts
Liverpool Total Points: 291pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 159pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 2 x Division Two titles

The 1900s

The 1900s saw Everton finish runners-up in the First Division three times, without winning it. They did however win their first FA Cup in 1906 beating Newcastle 1-0 in the Final. They were also runners-up the following year.

The 1900s were a successful decade for Liverpool. They won the First Division twice, in 1900-01 and then in 1905-06, they were also runners-up in 1909-10. The second title win came immediately after promotion from Division Two.

Everton Points for Decade: 406pts
Everton Total Points: 801pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 801pts
Everton Total Honours: 1 x League Championship, 1 x FA Cup

Liverpool Points for Decade: 405pts
Liverpool Total Points: 696pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 506pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 2 x League Championships, 3 x Division Two titles

The 1910s

Everton won their second league title in 1914/15, just before competitive football was suspended due to the First World War. They were also runners-up in 1911-12.

Liverpool spent most of the decade languishing towards the bottom of the First Division, they did reach their first FA Cup Final in 1914, where they lost 1-0 to Burnley.

Everton Points for Decade: 247pts
Everton Total Points: 1,048pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 1,048pts
Everton Total Honours: 2 x League Championship, 1 x FA Cup

Liverpool Points for Decade: 228pts
Liverpool Total Points: 924pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 734pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 2 x League Championships, 3 x Division Two titles

The 1920s

The end of the 1920s saw Everton win their third league title, followed by their second FA Cup the following year. It was also the decade that saw record scorer Dixie Dean make his debut and he would go on to score a record 60 league goals in the 1927-28 season.

Whilst Liverpool’s poor form in the FA Cup continued they took home two successive league titles at the start of the decade.

Everton Points for Decade: 416pts
Everton Total Points: 1,464pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 1,464pts
Everton Total Honours: 3 x League Championship, 2 x FA Cup

Liverpool Points for Decade: 472pts
Liverpool Total Points: 1,396pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 1,206pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 4 x League Championships, 3 x Division Two titles

The 1930s

Everton suffered their first relegation at the end of the 1920s, so 1930-31 saw their first season competing outside of the top flight. They won the Second Division at the first time of asking and then won the First Division immediately after. They also won the First Division in 1939 and the FA Cup in 1933.

For Liverpool, the 1930s were less successful, although they spent the entire decade in the First Division their best position was 7th in the 1934-35 season.

Everton Points for Decade: 416pts
Everton Total Points: 1,880pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 1,819pts
Everton Total Honours: 5 x League Championship, 3 x FA Cup, 1 x Division Two title.

Liverpool Points for Decade: 364pts
Liverpool Total Points: 1,760pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 1,570pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 4 x League Championships, 3 x Division Two titles

The 1940s

The Second World War limited the amount of football played this decade to four seasons. Everton finished in the bottom half of the First Division in each of them.

Liverpool claimed another league title, and were again runners-up in the FA Cup, losing the 1950 final to Arsenal 2-0.

Everton Points for Decade: 154pts
Everton Total Points: 2,034pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 1,973pts
Everton Total Honours: 5 x League Championship, 3 x FA Cup, 1 x Division Two title.

Liverpool Points for Decade: 187pts
Liverpool Total Points: 1,947pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 1,757pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 5 x League Championships, 3 x Division Two titles

The 1950s

Everton got relegated for the second time in 1951, and spent three seasons in the Second Division before returning to the top flight in 1954. The decade was an unsuccessful one for the club picking up no further honours.

The 1950s were also unsuccessful for Liverpool. In fact, as Everton got promoted back to the First Division in 1954 Liverpool got relegated to the Second Division, where they would go on to spend eight seasons.

Everton Points for Decade: 402pts
Everton Total Points: 2,436pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 2,237pts
Everton Total Honours: 5 x League Championship, 3 x FA Cup, 1 x Division Two title.

Liverpool Points for Decade: 450pts
Liverpool Total Points: 2,397pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 1,907pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 5 x League Championships, 3 x Division Two titles.

The 1960s

Everton picked up two more league titles in the 1960s and finished in the top six for all but one season in the decade. They also won the FA Cup in 1966 and were runners-up in 1968.

Liverpool spent the first two years of the decade in the Second Division, but when they returned to the top flight they began to assert a dominance that would last almost 30 years. They won two league titles and their first FA Cup.

Everton Points for Decade: 527pts
Everton Total Points: 2,963pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 2,764pts
Everton Total Honours: 7 x League Championship, 4 x FA Cup, 1 x Division Two title.

Liverpool Points for Decade: 538pts
Liverpool Total Points: 2,935pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 2,331pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 7 x League Championships, 1 x FA Cup, 4 x Division Two titles.

The 1970s

Whilst Everton spent the entire decade in the top-flight it reaped no silverware. The closest the club came was three top 4 finishes and a League Cup Final.

For Liverpool on the other hand it was the opposite. The club claimed five league titles and finished runners-up 3 times. They also won their second FA Cup, two European Cups and two UEFA Cups!

Everton Points for Decade: 527pts
Everton Total Points: 2,963pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 2,764pts
Everton Total Honours: 7 x League Championship, 4 x FA Cup, 1 x Division Two title.

Liverpool Points for Decade: 538pts
Liverpool Total Points: 2,935pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 2,331pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 12 x League Championships, 2 x FA Cup, 2 x European Cup, 2 x UEFA Cup, 4 x Division Two titles.

The 1980s

The 1980s saw a period of Merseyside dominance. Everton won two league titles and were runners-up once, and also won an FA Cup and finished as runners-up on three occasions (twice to Liverpool). They picked up their first European trophy, the European Cup-Winners Cup and were runners-up in the League Cup.

Liverpool were even more successful. They won another six league titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and two European Cups. They were also League runners-up three times, FA Cup runners-up once, League Cup runners-up once and European Cup runners-up once.

Everton Points for Decade: 671pts
Everton Total Points: 3,634pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 3,435pts
Everton Total Honours: 9 x League Championship, 4 x FA Cup, 1 x European Cup Winners Cup, 1 x Division Two title.

Liverpool Points for Decade: 787pts
Liverpool Total Points: 3,722pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 3,118pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 18 x League Championships, 4 x FA Cup, 4 x League Cups, 4 x European Cup, 2 x UEFA Cup, 4 x Division Two titles.

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The 1990s

The 1990s brought little success for either side of Merseyside but in particular they were a real struggle for Everton who avoided relegation on the last day of the season twice. Their sole honour in the decade was one FA Cup win.

Liverpool fared little better after finishing as League runners-up in the first year of the decade. They took home the FA Cup and League Cup once each.

Everton Points for Decade: 487pts
Everton Total Points: 4,121pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 3,922pts
Everton Total Honours: 9 x League Championship, 5 x FA Cup, 1 x European Cup Winners Cup, 1 x Division Two title.

Liverpool Points for Decade: 658pts
Liverpool Total Points: 4,380pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 3,776pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 18 x League Championships, 5 x FA Cup, 5 x League Cups, 4 x European Cup, 2 x UEFA Cup, 4 x Division Two titles.

The 2000s

Whilst Everton’s league positions improved in this decade their levels of success decreased. The closest the Toffees came to silverware was finishing as runners-up in the 2009 FA Cup.

Liverpool didn’t have any success in the League, although they did finish as runners-up twice. However they took home plenty of cups this decade: two FA Cups, two League Cups, one Champions League, and one UEFA Cup

Everton Points for Decade: 541pts
Everton Total Points: 4,662pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 4,463pts
Everton Total Honours: 9 x League Championship, 5 x FA Cup, 1 x European Cup Winners Cup, 1 x Division Two title.

Liverpool Points for Decade: 706pts
Liverpool Total Points: 5,086pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 4,482pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 18 x League Championships, 7 x FA Cup, 7 x League Cups, 5 x European Cup/UCL, 3 x UEFA Cup, 4 x Division Two titles.

The 2010s

This decade was again bereft of any success for Everton, with the club’s last honour to date remaining the 1995 FA Cup.

Liverpool finally claimed their first league title in 30 years in 2019-20 and also won a League Cup and a Champions League. The club also finished as runners-up in four other cup competitions over the decade.

Everton Points for Decade: 552pts
Everton Total Points: 5,214pts
Everton Top Flight Points: 5,015pts
Everton Total Honours: 9 x League Championship, 5 x FA Cup, 1 x European Cup Winners Cup, 1 x Division Two title.

Liverpool Points for Decade: 724pts
Liverpool Total Points: 5,810pts
Liverpool Top Flight Points: 5,206pts
Liverpool Total Honours: 19 x League Championships, 7 x FA Cup, 8 x League Cups, 6 x European Cup/UCL, 3 x UEFA Cup, 4 x Division Two titles.

Final Thoughts

Everton were founded in 1878, Liverpool in 1892, so Everton are older by 14 years.

Liverpool were actually founded out of a dispute between Everton and their landlord John Houlding which result in Everton leaving Anfield, where the club had played for eight years.

Liverpool were established to fill the void left at the ground and the rest is history, and a very rich and successful one for Liverpool!

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