In the final Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park, James Tarkowski scored a stunning 97th minute volley to snatch a point from league leaders Liverpool after Mohammed Salah thought he had secured all three points for the visitors.
Beto and Alexis Mac Allister had both scored in the first 20 minutes, and Salah thought he won the game in the 73rd minute, before Tarkowski’s last minute equaliser. Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucouré both saw red after fulltime as a fracas ensued which saw both players receive second yellow cards. Liverpool manager Arne Slot was given a straight red.
As it happened
David Moyes took charge of Everton in the last ever Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park and named an unchanged side from the one that thumped Leicester City. Slot reverted back to his usual league starting eleven, with only Conor Bradley retaining his place over the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Goodison Park erupted after 11 minutes, as Jarrad Branthwaite took a free kick from inside his own half and cut out everyone in the high Liverpool defensive line. Guinea-Bissau international Beto was the sharpest, as he angled and timed his run to perfection. One-on-one with Allison, he nestled the ball into the back of the net.
It took Liverpool five minutes to equalize and it was a super header from Mac Allister. Doucouré tried to counter for the Toffees, but the Argentine midfielder stopped him in his tracks. Salah then received the ball out on the right wing and whipped it into the box, where Mac Allister had made a late run and managed to glance the ball goalwards. Jordan Pickford saw it late and scrambled across his goal but was unable to reach the ball before it dipped into the bottom corner.
Embed from Getty ImagesA few players were shown yellow cards, as Jesper Lindstrøm, Idrissa Gana Gueye and Doucouré were booked for The Toffees, whilst Andy Robertson and Bradley were cautioned for the visitors.
The final chance of the half fell Liverpool’s way, as Cody Gakpo picked up a loose ball and found the marauding Szobozlai. He hit a pile driver from distance that Pickford had to save. but it propped up to Luis Díaz who thought he had a tap in, only for Tarkowski to make an excellent challenge to deny Liverpool from taking the lead.
After the interval, Everton came out with a lot of confidence and created a plethora of issues for the league leaders. Gana ghosted beyond Roberton and sent a cross which picked out Doucouré but his header went wide. Another chance came as Beto turned and drove infield, before finding substitute Harrison who took the ball into the area whilst being ushered slightly to wide. He pulled the trigger but the ball scuffed wide of Allison’s post.
Alexander-Arnold was introduced alongside Jones for Bradley and Ryan Gravenberch and almost immediately, Everton were demanding a penalty for a handball from Ibrahima Konaté which was not given by either Michael Oliver or VAR.
Everton did then have the ball in the back of the net but were denied by the offside flag as Branthwaite finished from a set piece after drifting just offside.
Embed from Getty ImagesSalah had hardly had a sniff at all in the second half, but he would soon provide Liverpool’s biggest moment of the night. Jones received the ball after Everton failed to clear a cross and he caressed a curling effort on goal, which forced Pickford into a save. Salah hit the spilled effort first time on the angle and sent the Liverpool players and fans into a mass frenzy.
The Premier League leaders were professional and displayed the resilience of champions as they nullified The Toffees, while Salah was denied a brace as he looked to bend one in from 25 yards but Pickford made a super save. However, that was not the end of the drama.
Tarkowski hit an unbelievable half volley in the 97th minute which caused carnage in the Gladys Street End of the ground as fans entered the pitch to celebrate. VAR checked for both an offside and foul which caused anxiety around the ground. The goal was given and Goodison got to relive the moment once more in the last ever Merseyside Derby at the historic ground.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe full time whistle was blown and still more drama and chaos ensued, as Doucouré rushed to the Liverpool supporters and celebrated in front of them, which caused a mass melee, with Jones running over and pushing the Evertonian. All players and staff were involved which ultimately resulted in Doucouré and Jones receiving second yellows meanwhile Slot was also shown a red card for something he said upon the final whistle.
Liverpool remain top of the league and now seven points clear of Arsenal, while Everton move level with West Ham on 27 points. Up next for these sides is a trip to Selhurst Park for Everton who take on Crystal Palace while Liverpool will host Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The lineups
EVE: Pickford; Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, O’Brien; Garner, Gana, Doucouré; Lindstrøm, Beto, N’diaye
LIV: Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Díaz, Gakpo