After deflecting the relegation bullet with a tenuous, six-point shield the season before and losing prized asset Wayne Rooney to Manchester United, nobody was backing Everton to avoid the drop in 2004-05, and a 4-1 home defeat to Arsenal on the opening day only added credence to claims that Championship football was coming to Goodison Park. But in true underdog fashion, David Moyess men defied the odds and bounced back from the Gunners drubbing, won five of their next six matches, and emerged as unlikely title challengers at Christmas. They kept up the pace with table-topping Chelsea and eventual runners-up Arsenal throughout the first half of the season, but their bid for the Premier League crown fizzled out with the sale of midfield lynchpin Thomas Gravesen to La Liga giants Real Madrid. Although they stumbled over the finish line, with a humbling 7-0 battering at Arsenal and 3-2 defeat to Bolton Wanderers capping off the campaign, the 2004-05 term will always hold a special place in the hearts Evertonians. Not only was it their most successful season since the Premier League was formed, they pipped bitter rivals Liverpool to fourth place by three points and secured a spot in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. At a time when the only thing Everton do consistently is concede soft goals, looking back on this stellar season gives supporters solace and hope for the future - so, lets take a look at where the class of 2005 are today. Listed are the squad that ended that season, ordered by the shirt number they wore...
