Anatomy of Merseyside derby mayhem – James Tarkowski’s late late show, an agonising VAR check and three red cards
The last Goodison Park derby ever erupted in extra time, with Everton fans enjoying one of the most memorable endings to a game in the ancient stadium’s history.
Here’s a minute-by-minute summary of the stunning dying minutes that had home supporters ecstatic:
Liverpool is cruising after Mohamed Salah put them ahead. A head-on collision between Carlos Alcaraz and Jarrad Branthwaite sends both players to the ground, and Everton appears to be losing the match.
David Moyes described the frantic climax to the penultimate Merseyside derby at Goodison Park as a “fitting” finale, with James Tarkowski’s shot in the eighth minute of stoppage time securing Everton’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool.
The Toffees were unfortunate to be losing to Mohamed Salah’s 73rd-minute goal after leading early on via Beto before Alexis MacAllister’s headed equaliser just minutes later.
But Tarkowski blasted in at the death, and the goal survived a lengthy VAR check for offside, causing chaos inside the stadium.
As supporters invaded the pitch, Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans, only to be confronted by Curtis Jones after a scuffle resulted in both players being sent off for second bookings, before Reds manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also dismissed by referee Michael Oliver.
“I think it was hugely important that Evertonians get to finish at their stadium as best as they can,” Moyes told the crowd.
“I just feel like the support in here tonight was fantastic, and I think it was right that they ended the way they did.
“I told the players that it’s wonderful that the fans can go; we didn’t win, which was frustrating, but we got a draw in a game that didn’t look like it was going to go our way.
“It would have been difficult to come here after losing 2-1 and talk about it. But I believe the way the audience stayed till the finish was a great moment.
There was some tooing and froing near the conclusion, which may have added to the amusement.”
It seemed fitting that Goodison might witness one last full-blooded derby.
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