Remember When... Andy King's Classic Goal Won a Merseyside Derby

Everton's injury-hit season has produced few highlights for the blue half of Merseyside as they prepare for a Premier League derby against Liverpool.

So let's take them back 31 years to a Goodison Park derby that produced a result they would love to witness on Sunday: Everton 1, Liverpool 0.

It was a victory that ended a seven-year nightmare for Everton, seven years when they tried - and failed - to beat their Mersey rivals on 15 occasions.

Now they were coming up against a Liverpool team that ranks among ever produced at Anfield, a team that would concede only 16 goals as they went on to win the old First Division championship.

One of those goals, though, is part of Everton folklore because it was enough to earn them an overdue victory over Bob Paisley's team on that October afternoon.

And it was certainly enough to guarantee Andy King a special place in Everton's history as he settled the 164th Mersey derby in quite spectacular style.

Yet, despite Liverpool's previous domination of the 1970's against their neighbours, it could hardly be regarded as a shock win,.

Yes, Liverpool went into the game as the unstoppable league leaders on the way to their 11th title after winning nine and drawing two of their first 11 games.

But this was an improving Everton side, which had also started the season well under manager Gordon Lee and were only three points behind them in second place.

Predictably, then, it was a fiercely-contested affair in front of a crowd of 53,131, with tasty tackles more prominent than clear-cut chances for the opening hour.

Then Dave Thomas, once of Burnley, set up Mike Pejic for a raking pass into the Liverpool area.

Martin Dobson, another former Burnley player, competed well to head it back and, from 20 yards, King angled his and volleyed beyond Ray Clemence and inches inside the angle of the post and crossbar.

Remarkably, it was only the second goal scored by Everton in 14 league meetings between the teams, another measure of the hold that Liverpool exerted over them in that period.

But it ensured a win that Everton's performance warranted, with King helping them control the crucial midfield zone.

The goal also cemented King's relationship with the Goodison fans, who was swamped by their get-well messages when he suffered a heart problem earlier this year.

It is affection based on more than just that notable goal, which was followed by another when the two teams met in a 1-1 draw at Anfield later in the season.

Signed from Luton Town in 1976, King's energy and unbridled enthusiasm allied to a sharp football brain made him a popular figure - even without his knack for scoring important goals.

King later moved to QPR and West Brom, returned to spend two more less productive years at Everton and, as his career tailed off, played briefly for Wolves, Luton, Aldershot and several Irish and non-League clubs.

He has since managed Waterford, Mansfield, Swindon and Grays Athletic and is now the chief scout at Plymouth Argyle.

This is how the teams lined up on October 27, 1978:

Everton: Wood; Todd, Kenyon, Wright, Pejic; Nulty, King, Dobson, Thomas; Latchford, Walsh.

Liverpool: Clemence; Neal, Thompson, Hansen, A Kennedy; Heighway, Case (McDermott 73), Souness, R Kennedy; Johnson, Dalglish.