Everton started the 1890–91 season in superb form with five straight victories, with Fred Geary scoring in each of the first six matches.

Everton then had to sit out the next two months as Preston completed their fixture list until they were only two points adrift with one match each left to play.

In the 1891 British Home Championship, for the second time England played matches against Wales and Ireland on the same day, 7 March 1891, winning both comfortably.

England awarded six new caps for the Welsh game, including the Everton left wing pairing of Edgar Chadwick and Alf Milward.

England selected an experienced team including four players from the Everton side who had recently won the Football League championship, although, rather surprisingly considering the venue, no players were selected from the Blackburn Rovers side who had won the FA Cup in the final on 21 March.