Even amid the euphoria of their last win at Anfield, 19 long years ago, Everton were staring into a deeply uncertain future.
Kevin Campbell’s goal saw them win 1-0, though the reality of the task that manager Walter Smith had taken on was beginning to bite.
The cash he was promised never materialised, owner Peter Johnson put the club up for sale and the bank insisted that players must be sold.
Smith started that season with 38-year-old and 39-year-old centre halves, Dave Watson and Richard Gough. ‘If anybody thinks that was through choice…’ Smith reflected later.