It is one of the few occasions when Liverpool's momentum has been checked in the Premier League this season. But it ultimately helped convince the Reds and boss Arne Slot their title challenge was capable of going the distance.
Back in mid-December, the odds were stacked against Liverpool when, already a goal down at home to a vibrant Fulham, they were compelled to play more than three-quarters of the match down to 10 men following the sending-off of Andy Robertson.
Having failed to win only three of their first 23 games in all competitions under new head coach Slot, such adversity was a rarity for the Reds at the time. Twice, though, they dragged themselves back from being behind with Diogo Jota's late equaliser earning a draw on a weekend when fellow title challengers Arsenal were similarly held at home by a dogged Everton.
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While some pessimistic supporters viewed it as two points dropped against inferior opponents, others understood the wider picture. And that battling draw ensured Wednesday's Anfield derby win - Jota again making a huge impact with the only goal - stretched Liverpool's unbeaten league run to 26 games, the fourth-longest in the club's history.
"It was a difficult situation," recalls Slot, whose team play the return at Craven Cottage on Sunday. "Did I learn something? I already knew this team had a lot of character, not only working with them but also what they have done in the past.
"It was last season when they were down to 10 men at Newcastle and they were 1-0 down and Darwin (Nunez) scored two goals.
"It wasn't a surprise for me or something new I learned. But to be involved in it myself, I definitely saw what a special team this was and it gave us a lot of confidence for the games afterwards, yes."
A tough afternoon, yes. But there's no doubt the last few weeks have been the most difficult of the season for Liverpool. It was bad enough that narrow Champions League elimination to Paris Saint-Germain was followed by a woeful League Cup final defeat to Newcastle United.
But that Slot's side then had 17 days to wait until their next match meant there was far too much time for their first real bump in the road under the Dutchman to be dissected, deconstructed and, in some quarters, the Reds to be derided. Having gone into the international break as the dominant team of the Premier League campaign, Liverpool were suddenly being dismissed in the absence of a ball being kicked.
It took a nervy first half against Everton to blow away the cobwebs and inject some confidence before the second stanza acted as a reminder of why the Reds went into this weekend's round of games needing only 13 points from their final eight games to claim a record-equalling 20th Premier League title.
And Slot regards the controversial end to the Goodison derby against the Blues in February as another notable landmark in his team's progress.
“The biggest thing we have learned was from the away game at Everton when things went against us and we did concede in the end," says the Reds boss. “Now I think I have seen us learn from that game again when another major decision went against us (James Tarkowski not being sent off early on in midweek) - but it didn’t get into our head.
"Maybe it helped that we played in front of our fans this time because they were a big help. But even the bumps (we’ve had) we have always - except for the Newcastle game - given everything we could.
“Look at Paris Saint-Germain. I couldn’t have asked for anything more than what they gave in that game. I think that was the best game of football that will be played this season. I’m hoping not, because it would be nice if we see more of those games.
“You can always lose - but the way we lost against Newcastle was the way this team and I hate to lose.”
Slot adds: “The mentality is also part of it - and being consistent is also part of it mentally. If you have a good result or a bad result, how do you react to that. Are you showing up the next time doing the same things again?
“Against Everton I saw us play better football. I saw us react better when bad decisions were being made by the referee. I saw us being firmer in the tackle and winning duels than we were in the League Cup final.
“These are the ingredients we need to win a game of football in the Premier League - and the players are aware of that. I think it’s an accomplishment if I can only recall one game when I wasn’t happy with those three things - and that is a big compliment for the team.”
Liverpool have a number of selection calls to make for Sunday afternoon. Caoimhin Kelleher is on standby to continue in goal should Alisson Becker not pass his concussion test, while Jarell Quansah will challenge Curtis Jones for the right-back role although Conor Bradley may be available after seven weeks out. Harvey Elliott is pressing for a start in midfield against his old club, while Cody Gakpo could come in on the left flank.
