If Everton fail to win at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, there is a very real chance that their hoodoo at the ground of their fierce local rivals will stretch beyond 20 years.
Their last win against Liverpool across Stanley Park came way back on September 27, 1999, when Kevin Campbell struck the only goal of the game after just four minutes.
While that strike further endeared the former Arsenal striker to the Everton faithful, the match itself is better remembered for a fight, three red cards and a defender pulling on a pair of gloves to take his place in goal.
Ahead of the Toffees' latest trip to Anfield this weekend, Sportsmail takes a closer look at the last time they returned to Goodison Park with all three points.
THE BUILD-UP
Unlike this time around, Everton went into the game above their neighbours in the Premier League table having won four of their last five games.
But while Walter Smith's side were sitting pretty in sixth, Liverpool found themselves languishing in 12th following a disappointing start to the season.
Despite this, Gerard Houllier's side were still the favourites going into the game, with Everton's last victory at Anfield having come nearly four years earlier,
CAMPBELL'S EARLY STRIKE
Campbell wrote himself into Everton folklore just four minutes into the match when he received a pass from strike partner Francis Jeffers.
The move had started with a throw-in from Michael Ball, while Nicky Barmby was also involved before Jeffers' clever touch put Campbell through on goal.
He let the ball drop into his path before putting his laces through it and powering it through Sander Westerveld to send the away end wild.
The Dutchman got a touch but couldn't keep it out. His night would only get worse.
THE TROUBLE
What was a typically full-blooded Merseyside derby exploded into life in the 75th minute when Jeffers bumped into Westerveld as he chased down a through ball.
The Liverpool goalkeeper swung an arm at the young forward and he responded with one of his own as they hit, shoved and grabbed each other before referee Mike Riley intervened.
Both players were rightly shown straight red cards, with Steven Gerrard, who had only come on in the 66th minute, also getting an early bath when he clattered Campbell during an Everton counter-attack in stoppage time.
STAUNTON THE KEEPER
Liverpool had made their third and final substitution five minutes before Westerveld was dismissed when Titi Camara came on for Vladimir Smicer.
That left Houllier in the unenviable position of having to choose an outfield player to go in goal, with Steve Staunton taking on the challenge.
The Republic of Ireland defender took Westerveld's gloves for the final 20 minutes and even made an eye-catching save to deny Abel Xavier making it 2-0.
AFTER THE MATCH
Everton fans were hopeful an away win over their rivals would inspire their side to a strong season, but their good start turned out to be a false down.
Smith's men failed to win any of their next nine games and finished the campaign in 13th place, 17 points and nine spots below Liverpool.
They did, however, hold Houllier's side to a goalless draw at Goodison in the return game in April, with the result allowing Manchester United to seal the title the following day.