There were chaotic scenes after the final whistle of the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park with four red cards being brandished by referee Michael Oliver.
Liverpool were denied local bragging rights as Everton captain James Tarkowski struck a 98th-minute equalizer in the final-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, securing a dramatic 2-2 draw on Wednesday night.
This was David Moyes’ first derby against Liverpool since his initial spell as Everton boss ended in 2014, while Arne Slot experienced his first taste of the rivalry at Goodison. After 131 years of clashes at the historic ground, the draw fittingly balanced the final tally at 41 wins each and 38 draws.
Just days after Liverpool’s shock FA Cup exit to Plymouth Argyle, Everton piled more misery on their rivals when Beto opened the scoring early. However, the lead didn’t last long—Alexis Mac Allister nodded home a Mohamed Salah cross just five minutes later, marking a record-breaking assist from the Egyptian.
Everton looked the stronger side early in the second half, even having a potential go-ahead goal from Jarrad Branthwaite ruled out for offside.
With 20 minutes to go, Salah’s well-taken strike put Liverpool ahead for the first time, and they seemed destined for victory. But deep into stoppage time, Tarkowski unleashed a stunning shot into the top corner, sparking wild celebrations as fans stormed the pitch. After a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood.
Tensions boiled over after the final whistle, leading to red cards for Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones following a heated melee. Liverpool’s frustrations were clear as Slot also saw red for his protests to referee Michael Oliver.
Despite the late setback, Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points over second-placed Arsenal with what had been their game in hand. Meanwhile, Everton moved 10 points clear of the relegation zone, sitting 15th.
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