January

The first game in January was the beginning of Everton’s road to Wembley.

The clash with Macclesfield Town could easily have proved a banana skin – but a touch of class from Leon Osman and a late Tim Howard save secured a safe passage to the fourth round.

The dust had barely settled on that tie when Everton and Liverpool were the first two teams out of the hat in the fourth round draw.

It meant the rivals would face off twice in six days, with a league meeting first on the agenda.

Before that, Everton dispatched Hull 2-0 thanks to a Marouane Fellaini header and a wonderful Mikel Arteta free-kick.

The first game at Anfield saw Tim Cahill equalise a Steven Gerrard strike for a share of the points, while the FA Cup clash later that same week saw the opposite. Joleon Lescott nodded Everton ahead before Gerrard ensured a Goodison Park replay.

A big month for Everton was completed with games against Arsenal and Manchester United. The Toffees lead the Gunners through another Cahill strike before Robin van Persie’s late, late equaliser. At Old Trafford, a solitary Cristiano Ronaldo penalty was enough to halt the Blues’ nine game unbeaten run.