Everton 2-2 Liverpool (Beto 11′, Tarkowski 97′ | Mac Allister 16′, Salah 73′)
GOODISON PARK — The last derby in Goodison history ended in predictably combustible fashion, with a 97th-minute equaliser from James Tarkowski and a flurry of red cards after the final whistle.
Abdoulaye Doucoure sparked chaotic scenes as he celebrated the late equaliser in front of Liverpool fans, Curtis Jones remonstrating with him and players from both sides squaring up.
Referee Michael Oliver also faced a verbal barrage from Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who was shown red, while Doucoure, booked during the game, was shown a second yellow, as was Jones.
It was pure theatre and drama, after Mohamed Salah appeared to have settled a historic night, putting Liverpool 2-1 ahead after 73 minutes.
The striker had already assisted on Alexis Mac Allister’s equaliser, cancelling out an early opener from Beto as the famous old stadium hosted its last derby.
Then, after 73 minutes, he was on hand to sweep the ball in after Jones had won the ball off Jake O’Brien and seen a shot blocked by Jarrad Branthwaite.
It was Salah’s 22nd goal of the season and 14th assist – his 36 goal involvements more than ten teams have in the Premier League table.
But with five minutes of added time having originally been shown, it was seven minutes into stoppages that Tarkwoski had the last say from a long ball into the box by Ashley Young.
Tim Iroegbunam helped the ball on to the defender who volleyed sweetly home, although VAR took a long look before allowing the goal to stand.
The goals had come early, in keeping with the big build-up that had preceded the last Goodison derby and which had elevated one of the biggest rivalries in the game to fever pitch.
Mac Allister gave away a free-kick for an 11th minute foul on Iliman Ndiaye, with Branthwaite taking the free-kick.
It was the sort of move clearly orchestrated on the training ground, with a sweeping pass that Beto ran onto, catching the Liverpool defence and Ibrahima Konate, in particular, unprepared.
The striker still had Alisson to beat but did it superbly, with a composed right-foot finish through the Brazilian’s body.
It was a real test of resolve and backbone for Slot’s league leaders but, based on what we have seen from them to date this season, one we should have know they would respond to.
In fact, they did so within five minutes, the length of time it took Mac Allister to atone for the free-kick he had given away for the opening goal.
The midfielder won a strong challenge in midfield and found Konate whose pass pushed Salah into space on the right, enough space, certainly, for the Egyptian to send over a perfect cross which Mac Allister, back to goal, steered into the net with a deft header.
It was just the start the neutral would have predicted, and wanted, as the “Grand Old Lady” hosted its 120th, and last, Liverpool derby. It was also the last night game that Goodison will stage and Evertonians certainly wanted to see their home out with a roar.
It all started before kick-off, fireworks and flares greeting the team buses down Goodison Road.
And once the action started on the pitch, it was all suitably frantic; Tarkowski setting the tone when he clattered into Cody Gakpo after all of ten seconds.
The goals, obviously, raised the tempo although a lengthy stoppage after 25 minutes, after Ndiaye came off second best in a challenge with Dominik Szoboszlai, seemed to calm things down.
It took until first half stoppage time for either keeper to be forced into a save, Szoboszlai unleashing a long shot that Jordan Pickford parried, with the keeper and Tarkowski combining to block Luis Diaz on the follow-up.
But the interval arrived with five bookings having been made by Oliver and the smart money being on a red one after the break.
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