Down Priory Road, as Goodison Park first loomed into view, it was difficult to see what had altered for this derby than the ones before.
There, clustered together, were six police riot vans. In the middle of Stanley Park, another stood on its own. Everywhere you looked, there were officers in high-visibility jackets watching and waiting for any possible eventuality.
This might have been the first time for Everton and Liverpool to go head-to-head without backing from the stands but no spectators inside the stadium did not mean there would be no police presence in the neighbouring area.