1986/87 Season

There are few things sweeter for the Blue half of Merseyside than a triumph over the Reds from across Stanley Park and the 1987 title win marked a new high in that regard.

The fact that they did it with a succession of injuries and with star striker Gary Lineker having left for the Nou Camp was even more of an achievement.

The money gained from Lineker's departure brought in some surprising figures including veteran defender Paul Power who helped the Blues cope without Kevin Ratcliffe and Peter Reid.

Despite early season injuries to Paul Bracewell, Pat Van den Hauwe, Gary Stevens, Derek Mountfield and Neville Southall, Everton went unbeaten until late September, but with a large number of draws in that run they were only ever seen as outsiders for the title.

But around Christmas Everton suddenly turned on the style and moved into second place behind Arsenal with Liverpool in third.

With the injured troops returning to the fold, Everton took over from Arsenal, but with Liverpool still challenging, the Reds were seen as title favourites.

However, the pundits had underestimated Everton's resolve and with a turn of seven consecutive wins the Blues soon moved themselves to top spot.

Even a 3-1 loss at Anfield couldn't stop them and, when a Van den Hauwe goal saw them win 1-0 at Norwich with two games remaining, the title was Goodison bound for, so far, the last time....

Click here for a match-by-match account.