LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 24: <(THE SUN OUT. THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Virgil van Dijk captain of Liverpool showing his appreciation to the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Everton FC and Liverpool FC at Goodison Park on April 24, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk shows his appreciation to the Liverpool fans at the end of last season's disappointing derby defeat to Everton at Goodison Park
It wasn't exactly the most accurate of taunts. But that was what made it all the more irritable for Liverpool supporters in the away end of Goodison Park.
It will have sounded like nails on the chalkboard, amplified by a megaphone, for those suffering through the renditions of 'You lost the league at Goodison Park' as an emotionally-draining and injury-hit few months reached its nadir at the home of their most bitter of rivals back on April 24.
Having stumbled and stuttered through that particular month, including a 1-0 reverse at home to Crystal Palace - a result that was the real death knell for title aspirations - the Blues' boasting was not totally on the money for an out-of-sorts Reds, but their point stood nonetheless.
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Liverpool picked the worst possible time for their most insipid display of last season as Jurgen Klopp's final derby in charge saw his meek charges swept aside. It was Klopp's only derby defeat in front of a paying crowd during his time on Merseyside, but the timing of it was rotten.
Over six months on, the Reds return this weekend for what is the final-ever Goodison meeting between the local rivals before Everton step into their bright new future on the banks of River Mersey.
Off the pitch, it's an exciting time for those of a Blues persuasion but results on it, Wednesday night's 4-0 shelling of Wolves aside, have been largely indifferent under Sean Dyche of late.
A shot-shy November rendered the in-house goal of the month competition redundant and Liverpool will make their shortest journey of the season 21 points clear of their local enemies, having scored more than twice as many and conceded just 11 to their hosts' 21.
All football logic points towards an important three points then for the visiting side, but a cliche is just that for a reason, and those insisting the form book be launched 'out the window' on days such as this usually have a point.
That being said, there is a world in where Liverpool will remember the hurt of April's miserable reverse and after so many derby weeks that were spent by Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard reminding their less experienced colleagues of the importance and magnitude of these fixtures, the Reds now have locals lads Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones doing similar.
Captain Virgil van Dijk, too, who offered a wry smile when informed of what was being echoed around Goodison Park on the night in question after Wednesday's draw with Newcastle.
"Who said that?!" he replied when that was put to him. "Wow! They can chat whatever they want! That game was very disappointing in so many ways but Saturday is another opportunity."
There is no potential for Liverpool to lose the league at Goodison this time out but having dropped points for just the third time of the season this week at Newcastle United, there is far more at stake than the obligatory bragging rights and the copious amounts schadenfreude that winning the final-ever derby at the Blues' home will provide.
Instead, victory will be framed as an emphatic statement to the chasing pack that Wednesday night at Newcastle was nothing more than a minor blip on the back of a famous but exacting few days against Real Madrid and Manchester City.
For Everton, Saturday's derby is an opportunity for an historic afternoon at the Old Lady, but Van Dijk's reaction to the reminder about April's Goodison goading was enough to suggest Liverpool are in no mood to accommodate their neighbours. Nor should they. There is a league to be won here, after all.