THE football world was a very different place the last time Everton won at Anfield.

More than a decade has passed since Kevin Campbell struck beyond Sander Westerveld in front of the Kop to send Liverpool tumbling to a 1-0 home defeat.

Back in September 1999, David Moyes was still a fledgling manager learning his trade in the third tier of English football with Preston North End.

And Rafael Benitez was beginning a year of studying methods in England and Italy after resigning following Extremadura’s relegation from the Spanish Primera Division.

For Everton skipper Phil Neville, then an integral member of the Manchester United squad that was basking in the afterglow of an unprecedented treble, the time has come to end the wait for Blue glory in the Red heartland on Merseyside.

“It has been a long time since we won a game at Anfield and everybody knows it is one of the most difficult places to go to and actually win a game,” says Neville.

“It’s been like that for the last 11 years for Everton. Statistics are thrown in front of you, they can be daunting, and you can be scared of them, but for this team we’ve just go to go for it and make sure it is not another year on top of that till we can win a game at Anfield.”

Although having not won on their last 10 trips across Stanley Park, Everton have actually lost only four times at Anfield during the past decade.

And Moyes’s side can take encouragement from 12 months ago, when they drew twice at Liverpool inside a week.

Both Merseyside teams have underachieved this season after filling the runners-up berths in the Premier League and FA Cup last time around.

However, recent form suggests the tide may be turning. Liverpool are unbeaten in six top-flight games while Everton have not lost in the Premier League since they were beaten 2-0 in the Goodison derby in November.

And Neville accepts victory in tomorrow’s encounter would set either side up for a strong finish in the final third of the campaign.

“I think their season has mirrored ours in a way,” he says. “The first half of the season I think both teams can be really disappointed with their own performances, ourselves and Liverpool.

“I think both teams are looking forward to the second half of the season, so I think we are probably catching each other when we are both on the way up now but Saturday’s game will look after itself.

“It is going to be a fantastic game of football and an unbelievable atmosphere.”