After three games without a win Liverpool finally got off the mark to avoid their worst start to the season since 1911-12. The fact we achieved our first victory of the new campaign over Everton made it even sweeter and the style of play made it a joy to watch.
Last April's derby gave us the surreal experience of a 3pm kick but it was back to normal this time around with Sky handing us a 12.30 slot. This meant there was little time for fans of either side to get tanked up and the atmosphere from the Park End wasn't quite as nasty as in previous visits. A handful of them still came up with their 'murderers' chant though.
After last seasons splendid view of six posts I had an unobstructed vantage point this time from Row 8 of the Paddock, near the corner flag. The angle was so tight though that it would be easier to watch most of the action from the Gladys Street end on the video screen.
After the 0-0 draw with Spurs, there were indications that Houllier would restore Murphy and Riise to the starting line up for a game he dare not lose. The decision to keep with the same team was a brave one, considering one of the key areas of the game was going to be in midfield, where Everton were bound to employ some bruisers.
But Houllier opted to go with Kewell, Smicer and Diouf, relying on the brilliance of Steven Gerrard to keep Linderoth and Naysmith in check. Everton set their stall out in the first minute when Naysmith committed a bad foul on Diouf and was booked.
As expected they tore at us with Rooney and Radzinski both having opportunities in the opening ten minutes. Biscan conceded a free kick in a dangerous position on the quarter hour mark but Pembridge's effort went harmlessly wide.
Midway through the half we managed to get into the game more as Everton ran out of ideas. Kewell missed a golden opportunity when he skied over the bar from near the penalty spot and Baros went on a good solo run before eventually being crowded off the ball.
At the back though we were still coming under pressure and Biscan made a tremendous tackle on Radzinski when he was clean through on goal. Had Beckenbauer or Moore made it, it would still be getting re-played thirty years later. The Park End appealed for a penalty, which was laughable and Mike Riley quite rightly waved play on. I have to say myself though that my heart was in my mouth for a moment. Biscan has given away a few penalties in the reserves and first team, but he has clearly been practising timing his tackles as this was superbly executed.
It wasn't until the 25th minute that we saw a shot on target and it was Dudek that was called into action when Naysmith tested him from outside the box. Kewell and Smicer then tried their luck for us but both shots went well over the bar. On the whole most of the first half was like watching paint dry, as the teams tested each other out and most attempts on goal were only half chances.
The Park End were providing far more entertainment as they howled at every refereeing decision that went against them. They also have this tendency to stand up and point at players or officials quite a lot. I think they must have been born with their arms in that position.
Then in the 39th minute the deadlock was broken. Kewell played Owen through and he placed the ball delicately past Simonsen. There was an eternal wait as the ball bobbled towards the goal and agonisingly hit the post, only to rebound into the goal and pave the way for scenes of delirium in our section.
Almost immediately the Blues nearly got back into it when Rooney was played through. Luckily though Dudek was up to the challenge and blocked his shot after he had hesitated for a split second. Rooney looked like he had his whole weight on his shoulders due to the burden of carrying his useless team mates and 40,000 Neanderthal supporters.
As expected he came in for some stick from our fans, but thankfully it was good natured and not the despicable chants that were aimed at his mother last season. 'Allez Allez What Does Rooney Weigh' will be a derby classic for years to come, if he stays there or they don't go down anyway.
There was still time for Liverpool to nearly add to the lead before half time. Owen had an effort saved and Kewell's brilliant snap shot was just tipped over. After two disappointing earlier efforts, it was nice to see him get one on target.
Immediately after the restart there was a nervous moment when Dudek was kicked as he gathered the ball after only parrying an Everton free kick. He responded to treatment but it was an uneasy moment for Reds fans.
Last season we took the lead at Goodison shortly before half time and sat on it, almost paying a terrible price after the interval. There were fears the same thing may have been happening again but we needn't have worried. Straight away we were down the other end and a blistering shot by Smicer was brilliantly punched out by Simonsen.
It took is just six minutes to double the lead. Baros forced his way into the box from the left, drawing defenders to him in the process. This left Owen unmarked in the middle and he slotted the ball into the corner of the net after it was laid off to him.
Everton tried to get back in but there was no way back and their fans knew it. Rooney screwed the ball well wide when clean through and also had a weak header well off target. Carragher was a rock and not letting anything past him, while Biscan was casually fending everything off in the way that Hansen used to.
It's a far cry from his last two visits to Goodison. In 2001 he was marooned on the left wing and sent off for two bad tackles while last season he was injured early on, having been given a torrid time by Rooney, leading to an enforced substitution that probably won us the game. He has always been a joke player but just maybe this will be the season he justifies his £5.5 million fee.
Not long past the hour, Everton had given up completely and their fans started to trickle out. Sending on Ferguson was a clear sign Moyes had ran out of ideas, but the Birdman of Barlinnie did give us one scare when he curled a free kick onto the bar, only for it to bounce away to safety. This incident apart, we were running the game by now, spraying passes around and cutting through their defence at will. Only politeness stopped us really going for the kill.
A third goal was inevitable though and it came with eleven minutes remaining. Owen broke clear on the right and took the ball past Simonsen before unselfishly passing to Kewell rather than try to shoot from an acute angle. Kewell then brilliantly steered the ball into the net with a low volley, which could have gone anywhere. His shooting had been gradually getting nearer to the target all afternoon and his goal was perfect, excellently finding the space between the Blues defenders who had got back to cover the line.
Everton totally capitulated and we probably would have won by more if Heskey had remained on the bench rather than replace Baros. In the final minute he foolishly went for goal himself rather than pass to Owen who was unmarked at the edge of the six yard box. But before the game I'd have settled for 1-0 so there was no way I was complaining we kept the score down to three. It's still our biggest win at Goodison since the 5-0 annihilation in 1982-3.
After the game Houllier came onto the pitch to shake every players hand and the players deservedly took the acclaim of the 3,000 Reds fans. In previous years we have stayed behind to taunt the Park End but there was no point this time, as hardly any of them were left by the final whistle.
It's a shame the international break has disrupted our rhythm as on the performance I'd fancy us to beat anyone at the moment. It's crucial that our players return from their European qualifiers unscathed, as the team can not be changed at the moment. It was a pleasure to watch and it was great to see Houllier think 'fuck the opposition, I'll put a team out that will make them worry about us'. It worked and a few more games like will make us enjoyable to watch again.
