Everton-Liverpool: D-Day at the Merseyside Derby

With the 207th Merseyside Derby just a few hours away, I thought I would give my insight on what has been an extraordinary season so far, but also what could end up as the biggest disappointment Everton has had in recent times.

I have been a season ticket holder at Goodison since 1994, and have seen the worst of the worst, players like Carl Tiler, Earl Barrett, Stuart Barlow, Brett Angell; the list is endless!

But after all the dross, I am finally witnessing a consistent top six side, but above all a side playing football, not humping it up field for 90 minutes (like the redshite do when Crouch is playing).

Earlier in the season, at the reverse fixture to this Merseyside Derby, I had it planted in my mind that it was time for Moyes to go. Although we were robbed at least one stone wall penalty that day (I say two), we were poor and never looked like a premiership outfit.

This coupled with a relativley shite start to the season made me want Moyes gone.

I felt he could take us no further, that we would always be in and around the top 10 with him, but that we had no hope of ever getting near to breaking into that top four. How wrong was I!

I am of the generation that's just to young to remember the glory days of '84-'87 (born in '85), which, in a way, is a good thing, because if I had been around, I would hate the scum accross the park a lot more than I do now due to their antics in Belgium one May evening in '85.

We had the world at our feet, and had it cruelly taken away by rioting scum. People forget that we too were in a European final in the same month that year, and got rave reviews from the authorities in Rotterdam and were told "Evertonians are welcome here anytime" by the mayor. We even played games of football with Rapid Vienna fans and police in the streets of Rotterdam before the game. What's done is done now, and we are only just recovering 22 years later.

Back to the present: Tomorrow is make or break. We need at least a draw at Anfield or we can certainly kiss fourth goodbye.

I think a win is crucial, if we can beat them we then play Derby at home, next Sunday while they play Arsenal. There is a possibility we can be four points clear with five to play.

If we lose, then we have a fight to keep hold of 5th, with Portsmouth only four points behind. Above all else, we need another European adventure like this season, whether that be in the form of Champions League or UEFA Cup.

I will be at Anfield tomorrow, unfortunately sitting with the Liverpool fans in their side of the Anfield Road end. One of three things could happen: I end up in hospital, I end up spending the night in a police cell, or both!

In all fairness, I will take all of them ten times over as long as we get the three points.

Evertonians are born not manufactured. Come on you blue boys!