James Tarkowski scored in the 98th minute to rescue a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool, as four red cards were issued in a heated Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points but were denied a crucial victory by Tarkowski’s stunning strike, which came after Mohamed Salah had put Arne Slot’s men ahead.
The match ended in chaos as Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucouré, Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones, Slot, and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were all sent off following heated exchanges after the final whistle.
The result could prove costly for Liverpool if they fail to secure a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title.
“Very tough,” admitted Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. “We saw their celebrations at the end, so we know how much it meant to them. But for us, it was disappointing.”
Everton, set to move to a new 53,000-capacity stadium in Liverpool’s Bramley Moore Dock next season, gave their historic home at Goodison Park a memorable send-off in their final derby against their city rivals.
“Mental probably sums it up,” said Everton boss David Moyes. “A brilliant finish for us—scoring in the last minute of the last Goodison Merseyside derby is fitting in many ways.”
Liverpool’s hopes of a historic quadruple were already dented following their shocking FA Cup exit to second-tier Plymouth on Sunday.
Slot responded by making 10 changes, fielding his strongest available squad, including Salah and Van Dijk, both of whom had been rested over the weekend.
Everton also suffered an FA Cup setback, losing to Bournemouth on Saturday, momentarily halting the momentum they had built under Moyes.
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