The day Everton brought Liverpool down to earth

My favourite game of all time was on Saturday, October 18, 1997 when Everton unexpectedly beat their fierce rivals Liverpool 2-0.

In the age of Wayne Rooney, and the Krakatoan eruption of hope he caused at Goodison, many forget the dreadlocked Danny Cadamarteri and the hype he drew after scoring in the Merseyside derby.

This game was perfect in so many ways; I went to Goodison with my best mate, an over-confident Liverpool fan, who had been telling me just how comprehensively my blue boys were going to be trounced for weeks before the game. I have to admit that I was having some pretty big doubts about Everton, too, with the derby punch-up coming mere days after we surrendered to Coventry in the League Cup.

Our first goal came from a Neil Ruddock own goal; Andy Hinchcliffe (he of the pinpoint corners, whipped in at breakneck pace) took a corner, David James flapped (back when he was plagued by indecision and immaturity) and the ball bounced in off Ruddock. An own goal, 1-0 Everton, and timed to perfection - coming as it did just before half time.