Incredibly for almost 43 years, Everton versus Fulham – whether played at Goodison Park or Craven Cottage – had been the biggest home banker in football. But ahead of a return to London for the FA Cup final the following weekend, the Blues changed all of that in 2009.

While David Moyes had got off to a flier as Everton manager by beating Fulham 2-1 in his first game in charge in 2002, such results were par for the course.

Between 1961 and 2018, the Blues won 22 consecutive home games against Fulham in the league, but the tables had been turned for a long time when going to the Cottagers.

Everton hadn’t triumphed by the banks of the Thames since Alan Ball struck the only goal of the game for them on his debut on August 20, 1966, having completed his £112,000 move from Blackpool – at the time a record transfer fee paid to an English club – on the back of his man-of-the-match display in...