It is the hope that kills you.
Even in defeat Everton, so dismal on the road for so much of the season, showed once again they can cause problems to title challengers. Had controversial decisions gone their way - Anthony Gordon having a clear shout for a penalty with the scores level - they might have left their city rivals with a valuable point, maybe more.
Goodison Park and Anfield may only be separated by Stanley Park but Everton and Liverpool are, on the pitch, worlds apart. Yet that was not obvious for much of the 240th Merseyside derby.
