The 2003-04 campaign was a brutal fight for survival for Everton as The Toffees spectacularly slumped to a nervy 17th-place finish in the Premier League, narrowly escaping relegation under manager David Moyes. Leading the line was the mercurial 18-year-old star, Wayne Rooney, whose 9 crucial league goals were a beacon of hope in a turbulent year defined by a profound lack of consistency and a humiliating 0-3 Merseyside Derby defeat. The campaign ended under the shadow of a major crisis: the fast-growing rumours of Rooney's imminent £27 million sale to Manchester United, marking a painful and unforgettable chapter in the club's modern history.