There have been some titanic Merseyside derbies over the years, but Everton versus Liverpool in April 2001 will go down in history as one of the greatest ever.

Everton were hovering at the wrong end of the table and were in need of all three points in their hunt to avoid relegation. Liverpool, meanwhile, were fourth in the table and nine points behind the third place Champions League spot but had three matches in hand.

They were due to meet Barcelona in the UEFA Cup semi-final a few days later and would later go on to win the competition along with the Carling Cup and FA Cup.

The 164th derby was keenly contested and Liverpool got off to the perfect start by taking the lead after just four minutes at Goodison Park. Dietmar Hamann released Emile Heskey with an inch-perfect throughball, Steve Watson kept the striker onside, and Heskey raced clear to cooly score past Paul Gerrard for his 21st of the season.

The Toffees bombarded Liverpool with a number of high balls to front men Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell and they were rewarded for the pressure with an equaliser four minutes before the break.

Michael Ball's cross into the box was won by Campbell, but while Jamie Carragher made an important block, Ferguson rifled the rebound into the back of the net.

The second half maintained a high-tempo impteus and Liverpool regained the lead in the 56th minute. Didier Hamann sent a 40-yard pass out to Robbie Fowler to latch on to it down the left. Fowler's cross decieved Ball, then David Unsworth and fell into the path of Markus Babbel to blast home.

Two minutes later, the Reds were awarded a penalty by referee Jeff Winter after Fowler was brought down in the penalty area by Richard Gough. Reds skipper Fowler ran into the box, half stopped, then saw his effort crash against the post.

And they were dealt a further blow with Igor Biscan getting sent off after being shown a second yellow card for a lunge at Unsworth. Replays showed he failed to make contact but referee Winter gave him his marching orders having already been booked for a stray elbow on Ball's face.

Nine minutes from time, Everton were handed a lifeline when Winter awarded them a penalty after deciding Sami Hyypia had held down Ferguson in the box. Penalty expert Unsworth despatched the kick past Sander Westerveld.

Everton thought they had salavaged a point, but couldn't believe their luck as Liverpool grabbed a sensational winner in the fourth minute of injury time. Niclas Alexandersson gave away a free-kick for fouling Gregory Vignal and Gary McAllister spotted Gerrad off his line and planted the free-kick from all of 44 yards into the bottom corner. It was Liverpool's first win at Goodison Park for 11 years.

Everton: Gerrard, Weir, Gough (Alexandersson 73), Ball, Steve Watson (Pistone 61), Unsworth, Xavier, Nyarko, Gemmill, Campbell, Ferguson.

Subs not used: Pembridge, Simonsen, Gravesen.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Smicer, Hamann, McAllister, Biscan, Heskey, Fowler (Vignal 84).

Subs not used: Ziege, Owen, Arphexad, Wright.