Four goals, four red cards, one mass brawl, and enough controversy, fury, and entertainment to elevate the Merseyside derby far beyond the Premier League norm the final Goodison Park clash between Everton and Liverpool delivered a fittingly explosive farewell.
David Moyes had predicted the 120th and final Goodison derby would be emotional and volatile, and James Tarkowski certainly made it so. In the 98th minute, Everton’s captain volleyed a stunning equalizer to deny Liverpool a crucial win that would have seen them go nine points clear in the title race, reducing the gap to seven instead.
The historical significance of the moment meant as much to Everton fans as the draw itself. Mohamed Salah’s late goal had put Liverpool on the verge of a 42nd win at the home of their oldest rivals, but Tarkowski’s last-minute strike kept the derby record tied at 41 all. Chaos ensued, including two VAR reviews after Tarkowski’s goal one for offside and another for a potential push by Beto on Ibrahima Konaté. After both were cleared, the referee blew the final whistle, and Abdoulaye Doucouré celebrated in front of Liverpool supporters, igniting a brawl. Curtis Jones grabbed Doucouré, leading to both players receiving red cards for their second bookable offenses. Even Arne Slot and his assistant received red cards for protesting the non-call on Beto.
Despite the tension, Everton basked in the energy of the crowd throughout the wild encounter. They made a strong start, feeding off the support of their fans, and scored early through Beto after a well-worked free-kick routine. The crowd was sent into a frenzy, but their joy was short-lived as Liverpool quickly equalized through Alexis Mac Allister’s header after a precise cross from Salah.
Everton, however, continued to press aggressively and created a couple of decent chances to regain the lead, both of which went wide courtesy of Doucouré. Salah, meanwhile, had limited opportunities in the second half but made the most of the one he got. After a quick exchange of passes between Jones and Darwin Núñez, Salah was at the right place to finish at the back post.
As the match entered its final moments, the tension was palpable. Salah’s goal seemed to seal the game for Liverpool, but Tarkowski’s dramatic strike ensured a memorable conclusion to the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. In the end, the match encapsulated everything the historic ground had come to represent: passion, drama, and unforgettable football moments.
