The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park ended in dramatic fashion, marked by a mass brawl that resulted in four red cards after the final whistle.
Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones and Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure were dismissed following a clash at the end of a thrilling 2-2 draw. Jones was incensed by Doucoure’s celebration in front of the away fans just minutes after the Toffees had equalized against their city rivals.
The situation escalated into a feisty scuffle that drew the attention of players from both sides, police, and stewards, leading to Liverpool boss Arne Slot also receiving a red card from referee Michael Oliver. Additionally, Reds assistant manager Sipke Hulshoff was sent off for vehemently arguing the awarding of Everton’s equalizer.
The atmosphere at Goodison Park reached fever pitch when James Tarkowski scored a half-volley in the eighth minute of stoppage time. The home fans celebrated, but their joy was briefly halted due to a lengthy VAR review of the goal.
Once the goal was confirmed, Goodison erupted again, igniting raucous celebrations. Doucoure darted toward the visiting fans after the final whistle, prompting Jones, who had come on as a substitute, to confront him. Following the scuffle, both players, already on yellow cards, received their second bookings.
Shortly after, Slot was dismissed following a heated exchange with the referee. Liverpool, who were seconds away from going nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, were aggrieved by the awarding of Everton’s equalizer, with Ibrahima Konaté appearing to be impeded in the lead-up to the goal. This controversy seemed to fuel Hulshoff’s fury, leading to his red card as well.
Liverpool had initially taken the lead through Mohamed Salah, who netted his 22nd Premier League goal of the campaign. Salah also provided the assist for Alexis Mac Allister’s header after Beto opened the scoring for Everton.
Tarkowski’s goal ultimately became a fitting end for the Toffees in their last derby at Goodison Park before moving to Bramley Moore Dock next season. Post-match, Tarkowski expressed pride in his team’s performance, highlighting their efforts to restrict Liverpool’s chances and the significance of their late equalizer.
