JAMES TARKOWSKI scored an equaliser that will echo through 133 years of Goodison Park history – and sparked a mass brawl at full-time.
In the FINAL EVER Merseyside derby at the historic ground, Liverpool thought they had come from behind to earn all three points when Mo Salah slammed home from close range.
Tarkowski became the unlikeliest of heroes when he smashed home an incredible volley to equaliser in the 97th-minute as the two sides played each other for the final time before Everton move to Bramley-Moore dock.
But the drama had not stopped there – first there was an agonising VAR check and then a mass brawl between players that saw police separate them and continued down the tunnel.
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Liverpool fixtures
The Reds next face Wolves at home but their other three fixtures before we head into March are looking extremely tricky.
This is a make or break period for Arne Slot’s side with every result important.
They will have viewed the result as two points dropped especially with the tough matches just around the corner.
- Feb 16 – Wolves (h)
- Feb 19 – Aston Villa (a)
- Feb 23 – Man City (a)
- Feb 26 – Newcastle (h)
Everton fixtures
That really was a vital point for Everton as they continue their resurgence under David Moyes.
The Toffees are now up to 15th – the point seeing Moyes jump ahead of former team West Ham – and are already 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Their next three fixtures are all against bottom half teams – yes, that includes 13th-placed Man Utd – and a strong run of form could see them rapidly climb the table.
- Feb 15 – Crystal Palace (a)
- Feb 22 – Man Utd (h)
- Feb 26 – Brentford (a)
Don’t know when they’re beaten
That could be said of both sides tonight.
Both trailed at one stage, both settled for a point in the end.
A real topsy-turvy game but it’s nothing Liverpool aren’t used to.
They’ve recovered from losing positions to accrue 15 points in the Premier League, with only recent league rivals Man City (17) winning more.
Tough run
If Arsenal come through their next few fixtures, that lead could be a touch narrower.
Look at the next three for Liverpool after Wolves at the weekend!?
Two away trips at top four contenders Aston Villa and Manchester City before a home game with another Champions League hopeful in Newcastle.
Title race still on?
The lead is up to seven points now with everyone playing the same number of games.
Arsenal without a striker will likely find it tough to win enough games should Liverpool drop points.
So is the title race done? Tim Sherwood doesn’t think so, telling Soccer Special: “It keeps it open, in my opinion. Seven points.
“It’s still a big gap, of course it is. But nine would have been too much. Seven keeps it alive.
“Not only are they celebrating in the blue half of Merseyside tonight, Liverpool will feel like it’s a defeat because it’s come so late in the day.”
Image
This is the image circulating social media, showing Michael Oliver looking straight at the Konate incident at the end of the game.
Liverpool are incensed that a foul wasn’t given and when the offside was checked, they cleared the foul too.
In truth, you’d be livid if you didn’t get the foul for your side when shoved with two hands.
No presser
No press conference to come from the visitor’s camp tonight.
Arne Slot’s red card obviously playing a part but no stand in or any word from anyone other than Van Dijk’s media round.
Penny for his thoughts….
Needle
Van Dijk gave a bit back in the comments after the game too, saying: “This is their cup final and they would try to do everything in their power to make it difficult for us.
“It is a big boost for them but a blow for us.”
Lost in the madness
So much to speak about after the game.
But one thing that hasn’t yet been mentioned was Mo Salah’s involvement once again.
A quiet game by his lofty standards yet registering yet another goal AND assist on the night – the 40th time he’s done both in the same game.
Opta say his 22 goal involvements – 13 goals and nine assists – from 13 Premier League away games is already the MOST in Premier League history.
That record is now one more than Andy Cole in 1993-94.
Match report
It was one of they nights. Miss it? Where have you been?
Luckily we’ve got you covered with our match report below.
By Ken Lawrence
Arne Slot left Goodison Park in a red haze amidst mayhem after James Tarkowski scored a stunning equaliser eight minutes into time added on.
The Dutchman thought he was leaving the last ever Merseyside derby with a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
But memories from his first and last visit to the home of Everton will not have been made of this.
His furious rant at referee Michael Oliver earned him a red card, as he joined Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones and Everton rival Abdoulaye Doucoure in being sent-off for being involved in a brawl after the final whistle.
‘Good position’
More from Virgil van Dijk, who on the title race told TNT Sports: “We have a lot of games up until the international break. We have put ourselves in a very good position and that is down to hard work, quality and consistency.
“We just have to look at ourselves, don’t look at what others do, just try to focus on ourselves and be the best version of ourselves.
“We have put ourselves in a good position, let’s keep going.”
‘Important’
Jordan Pickford says the point means so much to the club as they know how damning it’d have been to lose to their local rivals tonight.
He told TNT Sports: “It was a great point. There was anxiety at the end with the VAR, but it was massive for the fans and for us.
“To finish at Goodison with a point, we thought we played very well tonight and an important point for in the table as well.
“It was a fantastic strike. We didn’t give up, we kept pushing and pushing. There were some great performances out there.
“That edge in a derby is always crucial. We deserved a point.
“We knew it would hang over the fans heads and our heads if Liverpool won 2-1 tonight. We have to take the positives from it and we know we have to go to Anfield in a few weeks.”
Daft stat
Amidst all the drama, in case you missed this incredible stat, tonight was the first time in Premier League history that Liverpool’s starting XI didn’t feature an Englishman.
So that is the first in 1252 games that no English player has started for the club. It’s quite incredible.
Emotions high
David Moyes is disappointed to lose Doucoure for the next game after his red card.
He told Match Of The Day: “I didn’t see it from where I was. I have had a chance to see it.
“I’m disappointed because Doucoure played really well tonight and I’m going to now lose him because he’s got a second yellow card which turned into a red.
“The emotions were running high here all night, the stadium was at fever pitch. You could see what it meant to supporters at the end of the game, the crowd was rocking. It was one of the big nights.”
Watch the rammy
Fancy watching the big full-time fight?
You’re welcome!
Assistant off!
I thought I’d managed to get all the red cards but I seem to have missed one.
Liverpool’s assistant Sipke Hulshoff was also shown a red card after the whistle. Mo Salah might well be manager next week at this rate…
The Premier League Match Centre tweeted: “The referee issued second yellow cards and red cards to Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucouré following an altercation after the final whistle.
“Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also shown straight red cards after the final whistle.”
‘Mental’
David Moyes reckons the ending was fitting to round off derby games at this ground.
He told TNT Sports: “Mental probably sums it up. A brilliant finish for us, to finish the last Goodison Merseyside derby and score in the last minute is in a way fitting.
“We would have liked to have won the game but at 2-1 down I was just thinking that we probably weren’t going to get back in, it just looked like Liverpool would keep us out.
“We worked hard, kept at it, probably had more attempts in the second half than the first. Tarky had the quality which was the one that really mattered.”
Record ends even
That goal is huge for Everton in so many ways.
But it was the 120th and final derby at Goodison Park between the clubs in all competitions.
That late goal ensures that the record remains all-square – they can’t have had Liverpool beating them more than they beat Liverpool at their own ground.
Now, after 120 games both sides have won exactly 41 each with 38 draws. The Friendly Derby indeed.
Right to be angry?
Phil Jagielka told TNT Sports: “You can see why Arne Slot was furious. There was a slight little nudge in the box and if that was my team I would be appealing. I would be getting sent off after the game too.
“Slot always talks about staying composed but it seems like he lost a bit of his composure at the end there. That’s what a derby does to you.”
‘No control’
Virgil van Dijk said Michael Oliver wasn’t in control of the game throughout and admitted he told the referee that at the end.
On the rammy at full time, he told Match Of The Day: “It was a very big provocation from one certain player. We all saw it and reacted as a team as we were able to do.
“You know what happens nowadays, it becomes one big tussle.
“Then it is not me who has to deal with it, it is the referee and today I am not sure he had it fully under control.”
And down the bottom
Everton move level on points with Tottenham with that point.
They’re now up to 15th and a full 10 points clear of the bottom three.
Some turnaround in their fortunes.
What it means
So Liverpool’s lead is now seven points at the top.
They do have a tricky run of fixtures between now and the end of February.
But do the chasing pack have enough to capitalise on any slip ups? I’m not so sure…
Peacemaker
Abdoulaye Doucoure appeared to tell Virgil van Dijk he’d see him in the tunnel at the end.
Van Dijk appeared to then see the funny side as he chatted with Michael Oliver.
The Liverpool players clearly not happy with the goal and that will likely rumble on.
It’s not likely to stop them going on to win the title but it denied them a huge win.
Hearing from Arne Slot soon will be interesting.
Match winner
James Tarkowski had a shocker at the weekend as Everton were dumped out the cup.
But he’s the Everton hero for now – and likely forever – with that goal and told TNT Sports: “Early on I got a chance and I panicked a bit. Late on I just decided to get in the box, it dropped, I just let it go and see what happens. Amazing to score and what an amazing night.
“I just saw the ball going wide and thought ‘last minute, why not’. It managed to fall to me and let it rip.
“We knew it was a tough game but we worked hard, restricted them to a minimum amount of shots. Disappointed with the way the goals go in but we’ve started to score a few goals now, thankfully we got two tonight.”
Controversial
There’s real anger from Liverpool that a foul on Konate wasn’t given in the build-up to that winner.
Rio Ferdinand think it shouldn’t have stood, telling TNT Sports: “If I am Ibrahima Konate I am wanting a foul for that challenge.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
