James Tarkowski’s goal deep in stoppage time gave Goodison Park a fitting final Merseyside derby as Everton overcame a blown lead to draw Liverpool 2-2 on Wednesday.
The draw means Everton and Liverpool finish their 120 derbies at Goodison with matching 41-38-41 records.
Mohamed Salah had a goal and an assist as Liverpool appeared set to beat Everton, but Tarkowski scored a goal in the eighth minute of stoppage that withstood a long VAR review to give the Toffees a memorable win.
WATCH – Everton v Liverpool full match replay
The two rivals clashed after the final whistle as Curtis Jones took great offense to Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrating in front of visiting Liverpool fans and shoved the Everton midfielder in the back. Doucoure and Jones were shown their second yellow cards of the game and Liverpool boss Arne Slot was also shown a red card after the game as the trio all face supplemental discipline.
Beto put Everton ahead after 11 minutes but Salah set up Alexis Mac Allister to answer five minutes later before cleaning up a second-half half-clearance.
Instead, it’s just a single point for Liverpool, who are now seven points clear of Arsenal on the Premier League table while Everton’s 27th point is 10 clear of the bottom three.
These two teams were supposed to meet in early December but the game was postponed just hours before kick off due to the impacts of Storm Darragh on Merseyside.
Goodison gets one last great derby moment
“Just listen to that, that’s amazing,” James Tarkowski said on the USA Network as Goodison Park serenaded his Toffees after the final Merseyside derby at the hallowed ground. And it was amazing. Sometimes sports seem to meet the moment’s meaning with drama, and the Everton captain drilled the Toffees level in the eighth minute of stoppage time was just that. It felt similar to Winston Reid’s winner for West Ham versus Manchester United in the last game at the Boleyn Ground, yet in a derby and at the death. Goodison went nuts as a sea of bodies converged on the corner flag, unaware that a long VAR review was coming to draw the tension to the extreme. The fraternal nature of modern athletes sometimes zaps a bit of zing from traditional rivalries, but there was no sense of that at the end of this Merseyside derby. Don’t let Curtis Jones’ extreme reaction and the ensuing fight detract from the moment. Everyone but Liverpool supporters — and maybe even a few of those — will acknowledge the greatness of this moment for Everton.
Everton vs Liverpool player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Everton vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Everton vs Liverpool player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Everton go to Crystal Palace at 12:30pm ET Saturday, while host Wolves at 9am Sunday.
How to watch Everton vs Liverpool live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:30pm ET Wednesday (February 12)
Venue: Goodison Park — Liverpool
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Everton vs Liverpool final score: 2-2
Beto 11', Mac Allister 16', Salah 73', Tarkowski 90+8'
Everton vs Liverpool live updates — By Nick Mendola
James Tarkowski goal!! Everton 2-2 Liverpool (90+8')
Wow!!
Ashley Young whips in a prayer of a cross and it’s bounds around a bit before Timothy Iroegbunam gets a last head on it.
The ball falls to the back post and James Tarkowski rips proverbial the cover off of it to leave Alisson Becker pawing the air.
Goodison goes nuts before a long VAR review that eventually reveals Beto onside in the build-up.
Mohamed Salah goal! Everton 1-2 Liverpool (73rd minute)
You felt it was coming, but only because Everton had wasted so many chances.
Tarkowski and Branthwaite both block Liverpool shots but the latter’s headed redirection is settled by Salah and blasted past Pickford.
Liverpool subs
Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold enter for Ryan Gravenberch and Conor Bradley, 61'.
Doucoure hammers point-blank header wide
Alisson might’ve had the near post covered, but it feels like Abdoulaye Doucoure just missed a huge chance.
Idrissa Gana Gueye whips in a cross in from the right and Doucoure arrives but cannot turns his powerful header on frame.
Feels big. Moments later, Harrison cuts a cute shot across goal but wide of the far post. 1-1, 55'.
Halftime — Everton 1-1 Liverpool
Just a super half of opponent frustration from Everton, who could easily be ahead on a quicker-reacting day from Jordan Pickford.
Shots are 3-2 for Everton, and they’ve had more of the danger than their derby rival visitors.
Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite has an assist and has already rung up eight defensive actions in a half that saw Liverpool keep nearly 70% of the ball.
Incredible intervention
Dominik Szoboszlai drills a low shot across goal and Pickford’s collection is troubled by a late low bounce.
Luis Diaz tracks the ball with vigor but James Tarkowski beats the Liverpool attacker to it and slides it away. Big time play.
Iliman Ndiaye injury
Everton’s electric winger is injured in a 50:50 challenge and he’s very emotional as he limps off the pitch.
Jack Harrison is being readied to enter this 1-1 match after less than 25 minutes.
Alexis Mac Allister goal! Everton 1-1 Liverpool (16th minute)
And Liverpool answer!
Mohamed Salah gets the ball on the right side and has just a bit of space to sweep a cross toward the heart of the 18.
Alexis Mac Allister turns a header toward goal and Jordan Pickford can’t quite read it en route to the side netting.
Beto goal! Everton 1-0 Liverpool (11th minute)
A deep free kick for Everton sees the lines well outside the 18.
Beto times his run perfectly to reach Jarrad Branthwaite’s low pass behind the defense.
The Bissau-Guinean has Ibrahima Konate well-beaten rolls the ball past Alisson Becker to give the Toffees a surprise early lead.
Everton lineup
Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gana Gueye, Garner, Doucoure, Lindstrom, Ndiaye, Beto
Liverpool lineup
Alisson, Robertson, Konate, Van Dijk, Bradley, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz
Everton vs Liverpool preview — By Joe Prince-Wright
These two teams were supposed to meet in early December but the game was postponed just hours before kick off due to the impacts of Storm Darragh on Merseyside.
A lot has changed for Everton since then as David Moyes has replaced Sean Dyche and the Toffees have won three-straight Premier League games as Moyes has pushed them well away from the relegation zone. Everton also have new owners in the Friedkin Group and are looking forward to a much brighter future as their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock is almost ready. With so much to look forward to, Everton’s fans will also be extremely emotional for the final derby at Goodison.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot will be looking for a reaction after his much-changed side lost 1-0 at second-tier strugglers Plymouth Argyle on Sunday as they crashed out of the FA Cup in shock fashion. Still, Liverpool are top of the Premier League table, in the Champions League last 16 and are in the League Cup final. The Reds will be the heavy favorites against Everton but they have struggled in Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park over the years and lost 2-0 there last season to hit their title hopes hard late in the season. This is Liverpool’s game in-hand over Arsenal and they have a chance to stretch their lead atop the table to nine points with 14 games to go.
Everton team news, focus
Beto stepped up big time in the Premier League last time out as Everton’s only fit striker delivered two calm finishes in the 4-0 home win against Leicester. Moyes will look to play the ball long and central to Beto in-behind with Doucoure, Ndiaye and Lindstrom running off him too. Everton’s January loan signing Carlos Alcaraz is also really dangerous at timing his runs into the box and will be a threat.
OUT: Orel Mangala (knee), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh), Armando Broja (ankle), Dwight McNeil (knee), Seamus Coleman (calf), Youssef Chermiti (thigh)
Liverpool team news, focus
All of the superstar will come back into the team as Alisson, Robertson, Van Dijk, Konate, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Gakpo and Salah didn’t even travel to Plymouth for the FA Cup defeat at the weekend. Liverpool lost Joe Gomez to injury in that game, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to still be out so Conor Bradley will continue at right back. Liverpool’s front three will likely be Gakpo, Salah and Nunez.
OUT: Joe Gomez (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring)
Everton vs Liverpool prediction
This is going to be wild and you can expect Everton to make it really difficult for Liverpool. Moyes knows how to set a team up to frustrate and this Everton side is full of players who don’t mind playing that way. Expect an eventful last derby at Goodison. Everton 2-2 Liverpool.
