It is the 20th anniversary of Everton's 1-0 win over Liverpool, when Lee Carsley's goal moved the Blues to second in the Premier League
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David Moyes the manager of Everton celebrates at the end of the Barclays Premiership match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park, on December 11, 2004 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
When Lee Carsley's shot hit the back of the Gwladys Street net on this day 20 years ago, suddenly it all felt real for Everton. After a summer of turmoil that saw the sale of Wayne Rooney to Manchester United, the Blues had rallied in 2004.
Inspired by the astute management of David Moyes, some shrewd signings and the experience of a number of veterans, Everton somehow found themselves in the fight for a top-four berth.
The pursuit was eventually successful. Everton finished the season in fourth, one place ahead of their bitter local rivals. But nobody really believed it was possible until that swing of Carsley's right foot and the subsequent final whistle in the 200th Merseyside derby.
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Before the game Everton were sat in third place. After it they were in second, 12 points clear of Liverpool. And even the pragmatic Moyes got carried away in the emotion of the post-game celebrations at a raucous Goodison Park. Second? Why stop there.
"The reason I'm most excited is for the fans," Moyes said in the aftermath, per the Observer. "If we are in second place, we have got to be in with a shout of the title, haven't we? I think if it was any other club people would say we were in the mix, but there seems to be a doubt that we have the resources to keep it up.
"We'll have to see about that. We certainly haven't got the finances to match Chelsea, but by hook or by crook we are trying everything else to bridge the gap."
On reflection, the derby victory was one of Everton's nervier wins of a campaign that was littered with 1-0s.
Tim Cahill, usually an assassin in the air, somehow missed a free header from six yards out. Liverpool also had a number of chances, but the remarkable Nigel Martyn was able to thwart Steven Gerrard and then Neil Mellor.
It meant the match was on a knife-edge as the clock passed the hour-mark. It also meant the stage was set for someone to seize their moment. On a pitch that included the likes of Gerrard, Cahill and other glamorous names, few would've expected that man to be Carsley.
The holding midfielder was actually capable of striking a mean ball - goals against Newcastle United and Birmingham City spring to mind - but his scuffed effort from 20 yards deceived Chris Kirkland in the Liverpool net. With the ball scuttling towards him, Kirkland could not move his feet quickly enough. And it was past him before he knew it.
"The celebrations were unbelievable," said Cahill in 2019 reflecting on the goal. "It's lucky I was shielding the goalkeeper because he couldn't see it but this celebration, this shows what we're all about.
"It was massive for that season because it played a big part in where we would finish, the intent of what we wanted to do, beating Liverpool. The way we did it, we beat them in the game but physically and mentally it was on a different level."
Everton did still need a couple of late interventions to get over the line, with one block in particular from Alan Stubbs in injury time on Mellor drawing gasps from the Goodison crowd.
But it was a day for Carsley, who had made the sitting position between defence and midfield his own that season. Indeed, there were even claims that Real Madrid had actually meant to sign the Republic of Ireland international in January, not his fellow bald midfielder in blue Thomas Gravesen.
In the aftermath of the win in 2004, the ECHO noted just how significant Carsley had become at Everton.
"There is a newspaper clipping pinned to the notice-board at Bellefield which says "Blues chief warns leave cars at home" to which a team-mate has jokingly added - "and play 4-4-2!"
"...Perhaps it is the year for the ordinary blokes to succeed after all. Greece won Euro 2004, an old crooner called Steve won X-Factor, Danny Williams demolished Mike Tyson and a down-to-earth kid called Khan took the Olympic Games by storm."
Two decades on, the ordinary bloke's big moment remains a precious memory for many in blue. A rare moment in recent times when it all felt possible for Everton. When the prospect of success felt real.