Everton 2-2 Liverpool
by James Nalton
at Goodison Park

THERE are late equalisers that feel like wins or defeats depending on which side you’re on, then there’s whatever this was on Wednesday night on Merseyside.

Liverpool fans were singing about winning the league at Goodison Park and belting out a rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone as the clock ticked towards the end of the five allotted minutes of added time.

Then in the 8th minute of added time, the ball fell to James Tarkowski in the area and he rifled a shot into the roof of the net as only centre-backs who’ve found themselves in such positions can.

It created a moment that saw the last-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park become a highlight rather than a footnote for the team that has called that stadium home for 132 years, and something that the blue half of the city will recall fondly.

From the point of view of the red half, the draw takes Liverpool seven points clear at the top of the league table, and at the start of the game, they might have taken this result.

The version of Everton under David Moyes is much stronger than the one Liverpool would have faced in December when this match was originally due to be played but postponed due to Storm Darragh.

The league leaders knew they were in for a game when Beto opened the scoring with a cool finish in the fiery atmosphere after Jarrad Branthwaite’s through-ball from deep.

Alexis Mac Allister equalised shortly after with a header from Mohamed Salah’s cross. When Salah gave Liverpool the lead in the second half it looked like they would take all three points and the final Goodison derby would be one Everton fans would rather forget.

This was why the unlikely late equaliser was even more than one of those that felt like a win for the team scoring it.

It was a moment in the history of a stadium and a place. One that allowed this game to become part of that history and meant it can be looked back on fondly by those who have called it home.

“The place was boiling hot all night and there was an incredible atmosphere,” said Everton manager David Moyes.

“It was mayhem all game. It was an old-fashioned throwback in some ways.”

We didn’t get to hear from Liverpool manager Arne Slot as he had been sent off by referee Michael Oliver at the end of the game.

For what, we don’t yet know, but he was likely protesting about the additional minutes of time played beyond the five.

Both sets of fans had reason to be upset with the referee throughout, and this added to the atmosphere inside the ground.

It was no surprise that it spilled onto the pitch — quite literally as Everton fans ran on after Tarkowski’s equaliser.

Then a flashpoint between Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure involved what felt like every member of staff working in the stadium on the night.

A sea of players, stewards, police, and club staff tried to break the pair up after Jones noticed Doucoure celebrating in front of the Liverpool fans and intervened.

As football scuffles go, this one was fairly full-blooded, something beyond the usual harmless pushing and shoving and over-the-top theatrics. It felt like they had to be broken up and teammates rushed in with purpose rather than ceremonially.

Jones and Doucoure received second yellow cards and were duly sent off before Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were shown straight reds.

It was the type of game we will still be learning things about years from now, and it was a fitting finale for such a historic fixture in such a historic stadium.