Liverpool lose another lead late on to hand Everton a draw that felt like a win

An explosive encounter was a fitting final derby at Goodison Park

It was never going to be boring, was it?

The Goodison farewell tour has produced plenty of entertainment since the calendar changed into 2025 and Sean Dyche turned into David Moyes. Drab goalless draws have become a distant memory, and the final Merseyside derby to shake these creaking foundations produced the most dramatic moment so far. James Tarkowski rescued a point on his 100th league appearance for Everton with the last kick of the game, after it appeared that Liverpool had turned an early deficit inflicted by Beto into what felt like a season-defining 100th victory in this fixture.

Instead, just as at St.James’ Park, Mohamed Salah was denied the chance to be the matchwinner after a late dagger from a central defender. The Egyptian hasn’t struggled for goals in this fixture but there isn’t a derby that bears his name, a feat achieved by his former teammates Sadio Mane and Divock Origi. Having laid on the equaliser for Alexis Mac Allister and then stabbed his side into the lead with 20 minutes remaining, it appeared as though he had truly carved his name into the history of this grand old game. Instead, an eighth draw from the last eleven Goodison derbies clipped Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League to a still formidable seven points.

The manner in which events unfolded meant that Everton were unquestionably the happier team with a draw, but in truth, the league leaders didn’t do enough to secure victory. An XG of 0.65 and just four shots on target told their own story, and It wasn’t until Salah’s goal that they were able to play the game on their terms. Everton gained the upper hand in the physical battle, with the help of Michael Oliver’s whistle and a feral crowd baying for red blood.

It feels redundant to say that the Goodison Park atmosphere was fiery before kick-off. The return of Moyes, Liverpool’s title charge and the two-month delay caused by Storm Darragh guaranteed a cauldron, but even so, it was a remarkable sight and sound to witness. While the home fans waved flags to recognise their status as the original Merseyside club, the away end brandished 30th birthday balloons - an ever-present reminder of Everton’s trophy drought. Both sides have been singing the same songs for a long time, and in this case, familiarity certainly breeds contempt.

Space is always at a premium here, but on this special occasion, there were even fewer inches to spare. Sander Westerveld - who had some memorable moments of his own on this pitch - was forced to mix with the Evertonians at the back of the stand. Luckily for Slot’s former teammate, either they didn’t recognise him or have forgiven him for past transgressions.`

Liverpool survived the first test that Leicester City failed in the last league game here, Ibrahima Konate heading clear the first big bomb from Jordan Pickford, and the game opened in predictable fashion. Virgil Van Dijk was the only man afforded time to take a breath while in possession 30 yards from his own goal.

Just at the point that Liverpool thought they had taken the sting out of the spectacle, Everton struck. A free-kick on halfway was exploited by a perfectly timed run from Beto, sneaking back onside just in time when Konate’s back was turned. A simple straight ball from Jarrad Branthwaite sent the Portuguese one-on-one with Alisson, where he made no mistake in coolly sliding the ball beneath the advancing goalkeeper. Arne Slot had warned that the one thing his team must not do was give their opponents a lead to hold onto, and as in Nottingham, they couldn’t heed his warning.

The difference this time was that Everton only had five minutes to enjoy their lead. Salah found a sliver of space on the right and delivered another pinpoint ball to the centre of the penalty area. Mac Allister, who had conceded the free kick that produced the opening goal, made amends by rising unchallenged to flick a header beyond Pickford.

It wasn’t long before the Blues took their next big blow. The dangerous Iliman Ndiaye appeared to jar his knee when kicking the turf. After bravely trying to continue he had to tearfully admit defeat, replaced by Jack Harrison with just 25 minutes on the clock. Liverpool’s midfield were fighting to get a foothold, smuggling the ball back with strength and timing, but there remained no space to penetrate through the middle.

It was only when Van Dijk went direct towards Salah and Cody Gakpo that they gained any attacking territory. Luis Diaz was gamely running from left to right, searching for a pocket of space and trying to tempt the defenders to run with him, but Tarkowski and Branthwaite stayed resolute. Everton fed off the steady drip of set pieces, with Mac Allister earning a yellow card as much due to the indignation of the Everton faithful as his foot making the merest of contact with James Garner.

The mounting yellow cards became an increasingly anger-inducing sideshow, as Andrew Robertson, Idrissa Gana Gueye, Conor Bradley and Abdoulaye Doucoure also received cautions, and every challenge saw players and fans from each side baying for more. Gueye could count himself fortunate that Gakpo shrugged off his attempt to drag him down, having earned his first yellow card for a very similar offence. Pickford almost fumbled a smart shot from Dominik Szoboszlai into the path of Diaz right on half-time, but the England stopper was able to smother the ball at the second attempt with help from Tarkowski.

16 fouls and three shots on target was a good representation of an attritional opening 45 minutes, and Oliver remained at centre stage as the second half began. Neither team were happy with the man from the North East, and his lack of control would have an increasing influence on the game. Despite Arne Slot’s well-earned reputation for improving his team at half time, it was Everton that fashioned the early chances. Doucoure was unable to match Mac Allister when similarly placed, producing a header that was as much a clearance as an attempt on goal. Van Dijk let a long ball bounce, creating a break that ended with a dribbling Harrison shot, but it served to illustrate that the home side had grasped the initiative.

A foul from Bradley brought the house to its feet once more, 38,000 voices pleading with Oliver that another minimal brush with a defender should be worthy of a red card. Not for the first time this season, Slot didn’t trust the referee to keep his cool, and the Northern Irishman was replaced along with Ryan Gravenberch. A Liverpool side that started a top-flight match with no Englishmen for the first time suddenly had two Scousers, as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones joined the contest. The visitors were desperate for a moment of calm, but the fire remained. Both sides had penalty appeals turned away, and Branthwaite was denied a goal from a corner by an offside flag. At every available moment, the Blue hordes howled and wailed, desperate to suck the ball in.

The game began to resemble the last meeting here, where Everton were first to every ball, and whenever Liverpool thought they had won the ball, the whistle blew. A total of 20 fouls committed, more than twice as many as Everton, doesn’t give an accurate picture of the battleground where both teams flew close to the wind, but the constant concessions helped the home side build momentum. Another dangerous free kick led to another wasted chance by Doucoure. Suddenly, against the run of play, Liverpool were ahead. A Diaz centre was recycled by another substitute Darwin Nunez to Jones, whose shot was deflected into the path of Salah. The master marksman poked home before anyone could react.

The red corner of the ground sang his name loud and proud. Another goal and assist game, and his eighth strike against the old enemy, behind only Steven Gerrard in the club’s history. Finally, Liverpool gained control of the game. The Scouse subs played a big part in keeping hold of the ball and shutting down any sign of an Everton spark, as did the indefatigable Szoboszlai.

Diogo Jota came on and immediately laid on a chance for Salah that stretched Pickford to his limit in tipping it over the bar. Five minutes of injury time - extended to seven due to a collision between Branthwaite and Carlos Alcaraz - was managed expertly until the very last kick. Van Dijk and Konate had won every header required until he missed one that fell to Doucore, whose flick allowed Tarkowski to smash it into the roof of the net. Queue pandemonium as fans spilt onto the pitch, one hoisting the corner flag aloft in triumph.

Even then, the drama was far from over. A long VAR check for offside eventually concluded that Doucoure hadn’t strayed too far ahead. The Frenchman then lost his head at the final whistle, deciding to celebrate in front of the travelling supporters. Jones amongst others unsurprisingly took issue with this foolish decision, and a melee ensued. Oliver ensured both men paid for their crimes, brandishing a second yellow card to each, before finding a red one for Slot, for what was called afterwards “an overly aggressive handshake”. Perhaps the 46-year-old has a career in Strongman if he ever tires of coaching football teams, but the suspicion was that his squeeze of Oliver’s palm was his way of remonstrating over what he felt was a foul by Beto on Konate that stopped his potential clearance.

The calmness that has been his trademark has been eroded by his exasperation with the choices of referees, and this final choice robbed him of the chance to explain his fury to the assembled press. His captain relayed his own thoughts to host broadcaster TNT, in what was probably a sanitised version of events in comparison:

"I think the referee had a big part in the game today in terms of certain challenges were given as fouls and similar weren't. 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."

A blow that must be shaken off quickly, as Wolves visit Anfield on Sunday, and with Arsenal away at a Leicester side low on confidence, the chances are the lead will be down to four points. A red for assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff means that Johnny Heitinga will likely lead the team at the weekend, and a handsome win will surely consign this tantalising tale to the history books. That book will be well-thumbed by Evertonians, regardless of whether or not it becomes a spanner in the works of Liverpool’s quest for the Premier League crown like derby draws in 2013/14 and 2018/19. For once, their thoughts and feelings won’t be governed by what happens across Stanley Park, and Moyes has given them reason to believe in a better future, in which Bramley Moore enters existence as a Premier League ground.

For Slot, the best relief for what ended as a frustrating evening would be to stroll into their neighbours’ new home next season with a gold badge on their arm reserved for champions.