So Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League is seven points rather than nine, after Everton captain James Tarkowski snatched a last-gasp equaliser in front of the Gladys Street End. As delirium broke at in a pulsating Goodison Park, Evertonians celebrated a 2-2 draw that might just keep Arsenal in the title race, and deny their near neighbours an unassailable lead at the top.
With near 40,000 packed into the historic Goodison Park, the expectant crowd saw two early goals. Beto put the home side ahead after barely ten minutes, after referee Michael Oliver gave a free-kick that should never have been awarded. However, Liverpool fell asleep, as a quick pass into the penalty area was despatched under the advancing Alisson. The lead barely lasted five minutes, as Alexis Mac Allister rose highest to glance a Mo Salah cross beyond Pickford. A game of football was in danger of breaking out.
The Merseyside derby is often high in emotion and, in truth, usually lacks quality. The last-ever top flight derby at Goodison was no exception, with neither keeper busy; certainly not as busy as officials trying to keep up with the flurry of yellow cards, with five players booked in the first half. Yes, tackles were firm and, as you’d expect, no quarter was given, but Liverpool can surely feel aggrieved that so many decisions went against them. Michael Oliver had a shocker. His refusal to blow for a clear foul on Salah in the second half, with Liverpool 2-1 up and the brilliant Egyptian bearing down on goal, surely contributed to the melee that erupted after the final whistle.
The second half saw Everton on the front foot, and it was perhaps a little against the run of play when Salah scored with his right foot with a little over 15 minutes remaining. Braithwaite failed to properly clear the ball in the penalty box after a smart Liverpool attack. By this time, Goodison was a cauldron, with Liverpool fans, unwisely as it turned out, goading Evertonians with, ‘we won the league at Goodison’. Yet, for all the world, it looked like they were right, as what by now had become a fractious encounter entered five minutes of injury time.
Arne Sot would have hoped that the changes he made, bringing on Trent, Jones, Nunez, and later Jota, would allow his side to control the final minutes. However, Liverpool never quite got to grips with Everton’s relentless physicality. Dominik Szoboszlai particularly, struggled to adapt to what so often resembled a throw back to the 1980’s. Everton’s ‘dogs of war’ sprang to mind at times, and their tenacity paid off with what became the last kick of the game.
Having somehow played well beyond the allotted five minutes of injury time, Liverpool failed to clear a hopeful Everton cross. Ibou Konate was blatantly fouled as the ball fell to Tarkowski at the far post. He lashed it high into the net and pandemonium broke out, Doucoyre celebrating in front of the away fans as Jones, already booked, reacted and fists and even head-butts led to a full scale on-pitch old-fashioned ‘scrap’. The lengthy VAR check for off-side and a possible foul on Konate, which somehow got dismissed, before the goal was eventually given, failing to come to Liverpool’s rescue. Meanwhile, Slot, so often calm but clearly incensed by the officiating, also faced the wrath of Oliver after the final whistle, and was dismissed, joining Jones and later the assistant manager.
Perhaps it was fitting that the game should end in such controversy. Perhaps it was fitting that Everton, so often in the shadow of their more successful neighbours, should avoid defeat in the final minute. Perhaps though, at the end of the season this historic 2-2 draw will be seen by Liverpool as one point gained, rather than two points dropped. For now, Slot’s men are in the box seat, and must surely still be favourites to lift their 20th top flight league title.
