I’ve never been able to truly a enjoy a derby. Not until they’re over and, hopefully, Liverpool have won.
So naturally I’d feared the worst when Kevin Campbell had put Everton in front that particular day. A goal that generated that sinking feeling in your stomach, you know the one I mean, watching their players celebrate and listening to the majority of those inside Goodison roaring in joy.
But on this afternoon, it was one of those good days for those of us of a Red persuasion. It’d be the away section making all the noise in the end.
Michael Owen’s clinical penalty before half-time would put us into the lead before John Arne Riise scored a stunning solo goal that would birth the soundtrack to his Reds career just after the break.
It wasn’t plain sailing from then, though. Far from it. It rarely – if ever – is at Goodison in these games.
Jerzy Dudek and Stephane Henchoz took turns to keep the Blues out and, on this occasion at least, I left for home after the final whistle finally allowed me to enjoy it.
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_**Steve Hunter**_
We all have a ‘Where were you for Gary McAllister’s incredible free-kick winner at Goodison Park in 2001?’ memory.
It’s a moment I will personally never forget.
Having started commentating with the Reds in 1999-2000, this was towards the end of my first full season in my dream job, and a truly astonishing campaign.
This was a Merseyside derby that had the lot and then some; pure, edge-of-the-seat drama that only the joy of the football theatre can bring.
Going into this derby, a home defeat by Leeds United three days earlier had seen Gerard Houllier’s side drop out of the top four. Steven Gerrard was sent off, too, making him suspended for Goodison.
The game, which had the rather unusual kick-off time of 6pm due to being selected for live TV coverage, started in a raucous atmosphere.
Emile Heskey and Markus Babbel had twice put the Reds in front before Robbie Fowler missed a penalty that would have made it 3-1, hitting the post.
Igor Biscan was dismissed and the hosts earned a controversial penalty that had Sami Hyypia seething. David Unsworth converted it to level on 83 minutes.
Houllier’s response was to take off Fowler and bring on Gregory Vignal. Many Kopites sighed, thinking this was a defensive change. But it was the full-back who won what has became one of the most-famous Reds free-kicks.
From fully 35 yards out and with the clock ticking into a 94th minute, McAllister spotted Blues goalkeeper Paul Gerrard had left a gap and exploited it, swirling the ball into the bottom left corner.