Two players and Liverpool coach Arne Slot received red cards after the final whistle as Everton’s James Tarkowski smashed home a brilliant volley in the 98th minute to hold table-topping Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in the last-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
Liverpool went behind in the 11th minute but after Mo Salah’s second half goal looked to be cruising towards a nine-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the table.
Five minutes were added at the end of the match, but referee Michael Oliver played into the 98th minute when Tarkowski popped up at the back post to volley the equaliser, sparking wild scenes in the stands of the old stadium. An agonising VAR check went Everton’s way.
“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,” said Tarkowski.
“I just saw the ball going wide and thought ‘last minute, why not’. It managed to fall to me and let it rip.”
The final whistle blew straight after the restart and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure ran towards Liverpool supporters and shushed them. Liverpool’s Curtis Jones ran in and wrestled with the Everton player and both saw red.
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Liverpool coach Arne Slot, whose team has gone 20 games unbeaten and still holds a strong position in the league, confronted Oliver.
“It is apt really that the last game at Goodison Park is a game like this. Like an old school 80s game,” said former Liverpool star Steve McManaman.
“There was not a load of quality in the game but it was wild, it had passion, it had fight.
“There were a number of sending offs at the end, people wanted to antagonise each other and fight each other. It was fitting it ended in absolute chaos.”
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