4 objectives, 4 purple playing cards: Coaches, gamers, police land blows in unruly Everton vs Liverpool match

It was fairly the wild experience within the a hundred and twentieth and ultimate Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Everton captain James Tarkowski smashed a shot into the roof of the web within the eighth minute of stoppage time to safe a dramatic 2-2 draw with Liverpool within the Premier League.

It was nearly the final kick of the sport, sparking wild celebrations inside one among English soccer’s most venerable and atmospheric stadiums, which can be demolished on the finish of this season.

“Superb to attain and what an incredible night time,” stated Tarkowski, whose uncommon purpose can be remembered as one of many nice moments in Goodison Park’s lengthy historical past.

The “Grand Previous Girl” — because the stadium is fondly referred to as by the locals — has been Everton’s dwelling since 1892. The membership is transferring to a brand new 52,888-capacity venue at Bramley-Moore Dock on Liverpool’s waterfront.

Tarkowski’s strike denied Liverpool a victory that might have lifted the leaders 9 factors clear atop the league. As a substitute, Liverpool’s benefit over Arsenal is seven factors after 24 video games.

Beto put Everton forward within the eleventh minute — the striker celebrated by hitting LeBron James’ “Silencer” transfer — earlier than Alexis Mac Allister equalized within the sixteenth by heading dwelling a right-wing cross from Mohamed Salah, who put Liverpool in entrance within the 73rd together with his league-leading twenty second purpose of the marketing campaign.

An unbelievable end

Then got here Tarkowski’s wonderful — and, to some, becoming — intervention, together with his purpose solely awarded after an extended, agonizing video assessment for a possible offside within the buildup.

“I simply noticed the ball going large and thought, ‘Final minute, why not?’ Tarkowski stated. “It managed to fall to me and I let it rip.”

The motion did not cease there.

After the ultimate whistle, Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure appeared to have a good time in entrance of Liverpool’s followers and was confronted by Liverpool substitute Curtis Jones, resulting in a melee involving extra gamers, officers, stewards and even cops.

Doucoure and Jones each had been proven second yellow playing cards, whereas Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, bought straight purple playing cards. Slot might need been despatched off for shaking the hand of referee Michael Oliver aggressively.

Goodbye to Goodison Park

The house followers created a sometimes feverish environment — blue smoke crammed the air across the floor earlier than kickoff and Everton’s gamers got a rapturous welcome as they arrived for the sport — and so they witnessed probably the most wonderful of finishes.

“The place was boiling scorching all night time, emotional,” Everton supervisor David Moyes stated. “It was an unbelievable environment contained in the stadium.”

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk acknowledged it was “intense” and had his personal opinion on the post-match melee.

“I believe Abdoulaye Doucoure needed to impress our followers,” Van Dijk stated. “I believe that’s what I noticed and Curtis Jones didn’t suppose it was the correct factor to do. After which you realize what occurs if there’s a little tussle.”

As for Slot’s ideas on the sport, the event and maybe his personal purple card, they should wait. He wasn’t allowed to provide post-match interviews after getting despatched off, beneath Premier League guidelines.

The stats will present the groups met 120 occasions in all competitions at Goodison Park, beginning with the primary assembly in 1894, and every received 41 occasions.

It was a rearranged league sport, with the unique assembly — scheduled for Dec. 7 — postponed due to stormy climate.