Everton fans lit flares and launched fireworks outside Goodison Park on Wednesday ahead of the final-ever Merseyside derby at the ground.

Fans were encouraged to get down early and welcome the Everton team bus ahead of the game while simultaneously intimidating the Liverpool players.

Clips shared on social media showed hundreds of supporters gathered outside the stadium hours before kick-off, with a sea of blue awaiting both sets of players upon arrival.

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Fan group the 1878s had posted on social media urging Everton supporters to 'march down' to Goodison. "For our last ever night game at Goodison there will be a coach welcome. The team will arrive at 5:45, however we do not know the exact route the coach will take. This will be determined by how big the crowds are outside the ground. We advise fans to line the streets on Goodison Road."

It comes after David Moyes had spoken about the emotion ahead of the game. "It is incredible that it is now coming to an end at this stadium. Will it be rougher or tougher because this is the last one? I don’t think so. But the stadium has played a big part in building this up to being a more explosive derby," said the Scotsman.

"I will tell the players about what it means to the supporters, although if I have to tell them that you’d have to question where they are in their footballing world. The last one at Goodison is a big thing. Everyone here is trying their best to make the last few games memorable and to put on a spectacle."

Meanwhile, Arne Slot warned his players to be ready for a 'fight' at Goodison. "You have to stand up to those emotions. I have noticed also in the Plymouth game that the intensity of the tackles, how aggressive they were, it was definitely a quality of their players but also because of the emotions in the stadium," he explained.

"We have to be up for that and I’ve seen the game from last season and we were quite ready because after 10 minutes the referee blew his whistle 11 times and 10 times in favor of Everton. The Liverpool players were ready to compete but every time it was a free-kick."