I'd go as far to say that he did, and there was actually a good positive, or at the very least, semi positive atmosphere in the build up to today's game.
But that quickly made way for the thunderous boos as Villa crossed the pitch, which you just know made it all the sweeter for Gerrard and others involved. Everything we had worked on and fostered in the short time since we sacked Benitez, gone in an instant. And it continued throughout. It wasn't a defiant rallying cry, it was the twisted vitriol of people who don't even know what they are upset about any more. The booing of Digne every time he approached the ball in the 1st half was equally embarrassing and confusing, as it was he who essentially put the final nail in Benitez metaphorical coffin.
And ultimately, they had the last laugh, as so many do against Everton.
That negativity is the poison that has spread through this club from head to toe for more than an entire generation now, and I genuinely can't see a way of fixing it. I hate that they call us bitter, and in doing so, dismiss any and all of the genuine reasons and occurrences that have caused the bitterness to rise. I hate it as the condescending generalisation that it is, spouted by the most arrogant, spoilt and privileged set of hate filled, oblivious, deluded bullies that they seemingly aspire to be.
But we are bitter, without a doubt, and it's killing us.
We always want and expect more, regardless of whether we have earnt it. We are never happy with anything and constantly looking at what others have with envy. Collectively, we are an extremely bipolar fanbase, one minute extolling the virtues of "the best such and such" in the league, or Europe or even the world, and then quick as a flash, accusing some of the same people of then being "the worst". In most cases, neither are true, but the hyperbole around certain players, does absolutely nothing for them, 1 way or the other.
Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.
Who knew Yoda was talking about Everton.