Leon Osman believes it is a time for Everton to be optimistic heading into the Merseyside derby at the weekend.
The Blues head into Saturday's clash at Goodison Park as the Premier League leaders thanks to four straight wins in the competition to kick off the 2020/21 campaign.
However, Everton have not been victorious over their rivals for a long time - with this weekend's fixture falling 10 years to the day since their last win over the Reds.
Osman was part of David Moyes' line-up that day and he admits it's unheard of for his former side to go for so long with tasting a derby victory.
He told Sky Sports : "The derby feeling that Liverpool have gone 10 years without tasting defeat in any kind of derby was just unheard of at that time and we would never have expected it. It might have been a season or two since we'd won one, but we were going in there thinking we could come away with the victory.
"It was our day, scored good goals and deserved the win. To finish that fixture and then say we wouldn't win another derby for 10 years is quite frightening.
"It's crazy to think it's been 10 years since we beat them. Hopefully with it falling exactly 10 years to the day, it's a good omen and winning a derby is something we can put behind us on Saturday."
Osman believes the time is right for Evertonians to be optimistic.
Carlo Ancelotti has got his side playing some fantastic football to begin this season, claiming seven straight victories in all competitions before welcoming Liverpool.
And the former midfielder believes the Blues should be full of belief ahead of this weekend's games, not least thanks to Jurgen Klopp's side losing heavily to Aston Villa recently.
"There have been derbies down the years where we've felt we've got a good chance, where you're a bit more optimistic about them than others, but we couldn't have started this season any better," Osman added.
"We've won four league games and three cup games on the run, and we've brought in quality players who affect games at both ends of the pitch. We've signed players with real magic so it's time to be optimistic.
"Liverpool showed last week that they're fallible having been beaten 7-2 away from home against Aston Villa so why not think we can win?
"Beating them would be massive for the belief it would bring to everyone connected to the club. For the likes of Allan and James Rodriguez, maybe it won't make too much difference to them.
"But for those players that have lost a number of Merseyside derbies, it has become a weight around their necks, so it would breed so much confidence.
"It would also underline that these first seven games weren't a fluke, and that this is what these players are capable of doing. It would show this is a quality team moving in the right direction and anything is achievable."
Everton have seen a big improvement since last season thanks to the quality of the signings made over the course of the summer.
The additions have raised the game of those around them, and Osman believes one star has benefitted more than anyone from the transfer of James Rodriguez in particular.
He added: "Last season, we didn't see the best of Fabian Delph or Gylfi Sigurdsson. People were starting to question whether Tom Davies still had room for improvement but bringing quality into the squad has raised the standards of everyone.
"The player to benefit the most from James' arrival has been Sigurdsson. He's been terrific in all the games I've seen him. He's got an intelligent player in James to pass to and when you're his type of player, most of his strength is in his mind.
"He's such a quick thinker, and you need players of a similar ilk around you to understand how you're going to play and I feel he's benefitted massively from his arrival."
