4 targets, 4 purple playing cards and a last-gasp equalizer that may go down in English soccer lore.
Liverpool’s English midfielder #17 Curtis Jones is held again by stewards as he remonstrates with Everton gamers(AFP)
It was fairly the wild experience within the one hundred and twentieth and remaining Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Everton captain James Tarkowski smashed a shot into the roof of the online within the eighth minute of stoppage time to safe a dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool within the Premier League.
It was nearly the final kick of the sport, sparking wild celebrations inside one in every of English soccer’s most venerable and atmospheric stadiums, which might be demolished on the finish of this season.
“Amazing to score and what an amazing night,” stated Tarkowski, whose uncommon purpose might be remembered as one of many nice moments in Goodison Park’s lengthy historical past.
The “Grand Old Lady” — because the stadium is fondly known as by the locals — has been Everton’s house since 1892. The membership is shifting to a brand new 52,888-capacity venue at Bramley-Moore Dock on Liverpool’s waterfront.
Tarkowski’s strike denied Liverpool a victory that will have lifted the leaders 9 factors clear atop the league. As a substitute, Liverpool’s benefit over Arsenal is seven factors after 24 video games.
Beto put Everton forward within the eleventh minute — the striker celebrated by hitting LeBron James’ “Silencer” transfer — earlier than Alexis Mac Allister equalized within the sixteenth by heading house a right-wing cross from Mohamed Salah, who put Liverpool in entrance within the 73rd together with his league-leading twenty second purpose of the marketing campaign.
An unimaginable end
Then got here Tarkowski’s superb — and, to some, becoming — intervention, together with his purpose solely awarded after a protracted, agonizing video overview for a possible offside within the buildup.
“I simply noticed the ball going extensive and thought, ‘Last minute, why not?’ Tarkowski said. “It managed to fall to me and I let it rip.”
The action didn’t stop there.
After the final whistle, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure appeared to celebrate in front of Liverpool’s fans and was confronted by Liverpool substitute Curtis Jones, leading to a melee involving more players, officials, stewards and even police officers.
Doucoure and Jones both were shown second yellow cards, while Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, got straight red cards. Slot might have been sent off for shaking the hand of referee Michael Oliver aggressively.
Goodbye to Goodison Park
The home fans created a typically feverish atmosphere — blue smoke filled the air around the ground before kickoff and Everton’s players were given a rapturous welcome as they arrived for the game — and they witnessed the most amazing of finishes.
“The place was boiling hot all night, emotional,” Everton manager David Moyes said. “It was an incredible atmosphere inside the stadium.”
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk acknowledged it was “intense” and had his own opinion on the post-match melee.
“I think Abdoulaye Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans,” Van Dijk said. “I think that is what I saw and Curtis Jones didn’t suppose it was the suitable factor to do. After which you understand what occurs if there’s a little tussle.”
As for Slot’s ideas on the sport, the event and maybe his personal purple card, they must wait. He wasn’t allowed to provide post-match interviews after getting despatched off, below Premier League guidelines.
The stats will present the groups met 120 occasions in all competitions at Goodison Park, beginning with the primary assembly in 1894, and every gained 41 occasions.
It was a rearranged league recreation, with the unique assembly — scheduled for Dec. 7 — postponed due to stormy climate.