Ray Houghton headed Liverpool into the FA Cup quarter-finals with the only goal against Everton at Goodison Park on 21 February 1988. His finish from John Barnes's cross came late in a tie that had offered Liverpool few attacking opportunities.
Everton had ended their neighbours' League Cup campaign in October. Here they again denied Liverpool space, forcing hurried clearances and limiting the service to John Aldridge and Peter Beardsley. Dave Watson and Pat van den Hauwe kept the two forwards quiet despite the absence of Kevin Ratcliffe.
Everton lost Peter Reid to a thigh injury, with Paul Bracewell replacing him, but carried the greater first-half threat. Graeme Sharp missed a chance and Paul Power failed to beat Bruce Grobbelaar after meeting Adrian Heath's chip.
Headers from Ian Snodin and Neil Pointon tested Grobbelaar after the interval. Liverpool survived, then produced the move that settled the match with about a quarter of an hour remaining. Barnes exchanged passes with Beardsley and crossed for Houghton, who arrived to head past Neville Southall.
The 1–0 win, watched by 48,270, secured Liverpool's place in the last eight.