The reaction of the Everton players at full-time proves that they do care about this football club.
For years now their commitment to the badge and to the fans has been called into question, and rightly so, as they have wallowed around the relegation spots despite their quality.
However, this season under Sean Dyche they have made some real positive strides, and were it not for their points deduction they’d be 16 points clear of the bottom three now and already safe with four games to go.
Those celebrates from the men in royal blue were jubilant, but few looked quite as happy as Idrissa Gana Gueye.
Idrissa Gana Gueye sends message to Evertonians
Something of an adopted Liverpudlian, given just how long he has spent on Merseyside now, the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder continues to prove his importance to this side when called upon.
A relentless workhorse who keeps things ticking in the engine room, watching him and Amadou Onana dance their way around Goodison Park at full-time was a great sight.
But when he returned to the changing rooms, the message he sent to Evertonians was actually an apologetic one.
After all, it had been over a decade since they had last won a derby at Goodison Park, leading him to write on X: ‘14 years… Sorry for the wait.’
Whilst it was tough to endure at the time, we doubt it would have felt as sweet as it does now had fans not been forced to wait.
Idrissa Gana Gueye is enjoying a return to form for Everton
It is remarkable the manner in which Gueye just continues to reaffirm his importance to this side, despite his age.
The 34-year-old has spent five cumulative years at Everton across two stints, and on both occasions has played key roles.
Having first joined from Aston Villa, the energetic midfielder provided the necessary work rate in the midfield to keep the Toffees ticking. When he left, they scrambled for his replacement.
That period without him arguably kickstarted the club’s steady decline, and upon his return, they have continued to narrowly avoid the drop whilst his powers have waned.
But when called upon, first on Sunday and now last night, the Senegal international has stood up and shone.
This late renaissance has come at the perfect time, and continues to outline just why Evertonians love the midfielder so much.
Against Liverpool, he made three clearances, one block and won five of the six duels he competed in. And yet, despite their high press, Gueye managed an 86% pass accuracy too, helping give Everton a foothold against the Reds, via Sofascore.
His importance to Dyche’s side, and many other managers that have come before him at Goodison Park, cannot be understated, as they have won plenty off the back of his performances.
But yesterday’s win, and the slew of stunning personal displays across the entire board, trump the lot.