Everton vs. Liverpool: Top 5 moments from the Merseyside derby

One of England's most heated rivalries is set to resume Sunday, when Everton hosts Liverpool in the 225th edition of the Merseyside derby.

The two sides, famous for physical matches whenever they meet, are a far cry from the title-winning squads that went to battle in the past, yet the rivalry remains intense as ever.

There was little to separate the two during a pair of timid performances last season that saw each low-scoring fixture finish without a winner. There was, however, the usual jostling between players on the pitch that's made the encounter a must-watch for neutral supporters around the world.

Here's a look back at five of the most memorable moments from the Merseyside derby:

1982: Ian Rush's 4 goals lead Liverpool to blowout win

Few individual and team performances can compare to the scoring display Ian Rush and Liverpool put on in the 1982 derby.

Making Liverpool's 5-0 thumping even better, in the eyes of Reds supporters, was that the dominant performance took place in enemy territory, at Goodison Park.

Rush, an admitted Everton supporter growing up, put four goals past his boyhood club to etch his name into history.

1989: Merseyside unites after Hillsborough tragedy

Differences were put aside on an emotional Saturday afternoon in May of 1989, when Liverpool and Everton met in the FA Cup Final just five weeks after the tragedy at Hillsborough, which saw 96 Liverpool supporters lose their lives.

In the pre-match ceremony that saw Gerry Marsden perform Liverpool's anthem, "You'll Never Walk Alone," Everton supporters joined their counterparts in waving their blue flags and singing along to the famous tune.

(Courtesy: ELMSWOOD48)

Liverpool would go on to claim a 3-2 victory.

1991: Everton unofficially ends Liverpool's domestic dominance

Liverpool was an absolute force for the better part of three decades. Whether it was Bill Shankly leading the lads to unprecedented success in the '60's and '70's, or Bob Paisley's years of dominance at home and on the European stage, the club looked like a side poised to carry its success into the 1990's.

Under the guidance of club legend Kenny Dalglish, however, Liverpool saw its reign of domestic dominance come to end quickly into the new decade.

The unofficial conclusion occurred during a 1991 draw with Everton, when Tony Cottee's goal to bring the match level at 4-4 was followed by Dalglish's surprising resignation. Liverpool has failed to add to its 18 first-flight trophies since its triumph in 1990.

1999: Merseyside brawl caps off 20th century

Few meetings between Liverpool and Everton can express the hatred the two teams feel towards one another more than their final meeting of the 20th century.

An otherwise dull 1-0 win for Everton was overshadowed by a series of violent incidents, capped off with an intense scuffle between Liverpool goalie Sander Westerveld and Everton's Francis Jeffers. Along with their dismissals, a young Steven Gerrard was also shown a red card in the feisty encounter.

2012: Gerrard's hat-trick leads Liverpool to glory

There are few ways a Scouse like Gerrard would rather make his 400th Premier League appearance with Liverpool than with a chance to go up against Everton.

Yet Gerrard likely wouldn't have ever dreamed of marking the occasion with the scoring display he put on when he led the Reds to a famous victory at Anfield.

With Liverpool toiling in the middle of the table, en route to another trophy-less season, Gerrard gave the Anfield faithful something to cheer about when he netted a hat-trick in the final Merseyside derby of the season.

While the win did little to benefit Liverpool's place in the table, fans might look back at Gerrard's heroics as a bigger achievement than Everton's impressive finish to the season, which saw them finish higher than the Reds.