Is This The Worst Miss In A Merseyside Derby?

The Merseyside Derby between Liverpool and Everton is one of the most fiercely contested fixtures across the footballing world. Over the years, the fixture has seen some of the most iconic moments in the history of the English game. With games full of goals, controversial moments and unrivalled drama. One particular moment in the 1987 League Cup between the two teams at Anfield sticks out. It is the moment Graeme Sharp missed an open goal. A moment fans still refer to as the “worst miss in a Merseyside derby”.

The Worst Miss In A Merseyside Derby

The match was like any other Merseyside derby. Both teams gave 100% to the cause. Tackles both legal and some not-so-legal littered the game at a high frequency. Everton probably should have taken the lead in the first half but Sharp missed a glorious chance that he probably should have done better with. For some reason, Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson passed the ball straight to him inside the Liverpool penalty box. With just Bruce Grobbelaar to beat Sharp placed a tame shot straight at the Zimbabwean keeper who made an easy save.

However, that miss was nothing in comparison to the miss in the second half. With the score and match finely balanced at 0-0 John Barners found himself facing his own goal on the left-hand side of Liverpool’s half. Without looking up to sense any danger Barnes played the ball back towards his own goal. The trouble was he passed it straight to an unmarked Graeme Sharp.

“How Did He Miss That ?”

A goal seemed inevitable as Sharp evaded a challenge from Grobbelaar to find himself completely open in front of the goal. Everyone in front of The Kop held their breath in anticipation of going 1-0 down. To everyone’s surprise – not least Sharp’s he placed a tame effort wide of the post. The miss was so remarkable that it is still talked about today in the pubs of Merseyside. It was the polar opposite of his unbelievable long-range winner just three years earlier in the same fixture. A goal that won the Match of the Day’s Goal of the Season award.

The aftermath of Sharp’s remarkable miss was the score remained 0-0 and the game continued apace. In the 84th minute, Everton full-back Gary Stevens made a foray into the Liverpool half and unleashed what appeared to be a weak shot. The ball however deflected off a Liverpool defender to evade the diving Grobbelaar and nestle in the bottom corner. The goal would go on to be the only goal of the game and seal an impressive away-day victory for Everton.

Sharp’s Stellar Career

Despite the miss, Sharp is widely regarded as one of the most beloved figures in Everton’s history. He was a key member of an Everton team that won the following trophies in the 1980s.

• First Division: 1984-85, 1986-87
• FA Cup: 1983-84
• FA Charity Shield: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
• European Cup-Winners Cup: 1984-85

Sharp would also add the title of Everton’s top goalscorer in 1981–82, 1982–83, 1984–85, and 1987–88. He would also go on to make 12 appearances for Scotland scoring once against Malta.

So, the League Cup fixture between Liverpool and Everton saw the team from the blue side of Stanley Park come out victorious on two occasions. Not only did they beat their arch-rivals 1-0 to progress in the cup. In doing so, they also won the “worst miss in a Merseyside Derby” competition at the same time. Courtesy of star striker Graeme Sharp.