Ahead of the 2000-01 Premier League campaign, Ipswich Town, who had been promoted from Division One during the previous season, were the favourites with the bookmakers to be relegated.
However, although they got off to a losing start away at Tottenham Hotspur, George Burley's men more than held their own during the opening few months, particularly against the bigger clubs.
They held Manchester United and Arsenal to draws at Portman Road, while they also recorded victories away at Everton and Leeds United.
It meant that they travelled to Liverpool 13 years ago today with the belief that they were capable of collecting a positive result.
That confidence was further boosted when they learned that Gerard Houllier had left Emile Heskey, who had scored 12 goals in his last 11 outings for the home side, on the bench.
© Getty Images
Nevertheless, the Reds started brightly and Robbie Fowler had an early chance when he evaded his marker to meet a Markus Babbel cross, only to see his headed effort held by visiting goalkeeper Richard Wright.
Up the other end, James Scowcroft was denied by Sander Westerveld, but the Dutch keeper was powerless to prevent the Suffolk side from taking the lead in first-half stoppage time.
Jamie Clapham picked out Marcus Stewart inside the Liverpool penalty area. From there, the former Huddersfield Town frontman cut inside, before beating Westerveld to roll the ball beyond the reach of the retreating defence to score his 10th goal of the season.
© Getty Images
With 60 minutes played, Houllier introduced Heskey into the action in place of Michael Owen and he had an almost instant impact when he was put through on goal by Fowler. As he bore down on Wright, though, John McGreal got back in time to deny the England international.
Liverpool continued to mount attacks, but as the match entered the closing stages, their luck was out when Danny Murphy curled an effort from distance against the crossbar.
That proved to be their final opportunity as Ipswich held out for the three points that saw them move up to third in the table with 17 matches played.
The Reds would eventually be in that position come the end of the season, but Ipswich defied the doubters by qualifying for the next term's UEFA Cup courtesy of a fifth-placed finish.
LIVERPOOL: Westerveld; Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher; Murphy, Ziege (Biscan), McAllister, Barmby (Smicer); Owen (Heskey), Fowler
IPSWICH: Wright; McGreal, Hreidarsson, Venus, Clapham; Wilnis, Wright, Holland, Magilton; Scowcroft, Stewart
Liam Apicella
