Everton vs Liverpool Review
James Tarkowski netted a last-minute equalizer in the 98th minute, helping Everton secure a thrilling 2-2 draw against Premier League leaders Liverpool in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Liverpool’s last visit to this historic venue was met with the intense hostility they anticipated, and the atmosphere inside Goodison shifted from high tension to sheer joy just 11 minutes in when the Toffees took the lead. A swiftly taken free-kick by Jarrad Branthwaite was executed flawlessly, allowing Beto to break free behind Liverpool’s defense, where he displayed remarkable composure to curl the ball past Alisson.
Instead of being caught off guard, Arne Slot’s team embraced the challenge and equalized just five minutes later. Mohamed Salah, who had scored six goals in his last eight Merseyside derbies, sent in a precise cross that Alexis Mac Allister expertly headed in, impressively doing so with his back to the goal. The first two shots of the match resulted in goals, leading to a more typical, tense derby from that point on. David Moyes’ team faced a setback before halftime when their key player, Iliman Ndiaye, was visibly upset after being forced to leave the game due to injury. Their troubles nearly worsened when Dominik Szoboszlai took a shot in stoppage time, requiring a strong save from Jordan Pickford.
Alisson, on the other hand, should have faced a challenge with the first significant opportunity of the second half, but Abdoulaye Doucouré misjudged his unmarked header and sent it wide of the goal. Liverpool’s sluggish start to the second half nearly cost them when Branthwaite scored from close range, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The away team was fortunate, but Everton’s missed opportunities came back to haunt them when Salah scored from the rebound after Pickford saved Curtis Jones’ shot, marking a historic moment as it was Salah’s 23rd goal involvement in 13 away games this season, setting a new record.
This seemed to be a decisive blow for Everton, who found it difficult to create scoring chances. However, in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Vitaliy Mykolenko’s cross was headed by Tim Iroegbunam to Tarkowski, who scored a stunning goal, igniting the crowd at Goodison Park. The goal was confirmed after a thorough VAR review, allowing Everton to extend their unbeaten streak in the Premier League to four matches and avoid defeat in their final derby at Goodison.
Following the match, Doucouré and Jones were both sent off as chaos ensued, marking a frustrating night for Liverpool, who still maintained a seven-point lead at the top despite not winning for the 10th time in 13 visits to this stadium.
