4 targets, 4 purple playing cards and a last-gasp equaliser that may go down in English soccer lore. It was fairly the wild trip within the a hundred and twentieth and closing Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton at Goodison Park on Wednesday (February 12, 2025).
Everton captain James Tarkowski smashed a shot into the roof of the web 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 all English soccer’s most venerable and atmospheric stadiums, which will likely be demolished on the finish of this season.
“Wonderful to attain and what a tremendous night time,” stated Tarkowski, whose uncommon aim will likely be remembered as one of many nice moments in Goodison Park’s lengthy historical past.
The “Grand Outdated Girl” — because the stadium is fondly known as by the locals — has been Everton’s dwelling since 1892. The membership is transferring to a brand new 52,888-capacity venue at Bramley-Moore Dock on Liverpool’s waterfront.
Liverpool nonetheless on high
Tarkowski’s strike denied Liverpool a victory that may have lifted the leaders 9 factors clear atop the league. As an alternative, Liverpool’s benefit over Arsenal is seven factors after 24 video games.
Liverpool and Everton gamers tussle following the ultimate whistle in a Premier League soccer match at Goodison Park, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025
| Photograph Credit score:
AP
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 dwelling a right-wing cross from Mohamed Salah, who put Liverpool in entrance within the 73rd along with his league-leading twenty second aim of the marketing campaign.
Tarkowski’s banger
Then got here Tarkowski’s wonderful — and, to some, becoming — intervention, along with his aim solely awarded after a protracted, agonizing video assessment for a possible offside within the buildup.
“I simply noticed the ball going broad and thought, Final minute, why not?’ Tarkowski stated. “It managed to fall to me and I let it rip.” The motion did not cease there.
After the ultimate whistle, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure appeared to have a good time in entrance of Liverpool’s followers and was confronted by Liverpool substitute Curtis Jones, resulting in a melee involving extra gamers, officers, stewards and even cops.
Doucoure and Jones each had been proven second yellow playing cards, whereas Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, obtained straight purple playing cards. Slot might need been despatched off for shaking the hand of referee Michael Oliver aggressively.
Goodbye to Goodison Park
The house followers created a sometimes feverish ambiance — blue smoke stuffed the air across the floor earlier than kickoff and Everton’s gamers got a rapturous welcome as they arrived for the sport — and so they witnessed probably the most wonderful of finishes.
“The place was boiling scorching all night time, emotional,” Everton supervisor David Moyes stated. “It was an unimaginable ambiance contained in the stadium.”
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk acknowledged it was “intense” and had his personal opinion on the post-match melee.
“I believe Abdoulaye Doucoure needed to impress our followers,” Van Dijk stated. “I believe that’s what I noticed and Curtis Jones did not assume it was the proper 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 should 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 instances in all competitions at Goodison Park, beginning with the primary assembly in 1894, and every received 41 instances.
It was a rearranged league sport, with the unique assembly — scheduled for Dec. 7 — postponed due to stormy climate.
Printed – February 13, 2025 12:59 pm IST
