Tarkowski Saves Goodison’s Last Derby with 98th-Minute Equaliser

James Tarkowski’s 98th-minute strike in Goodison’s final Merseyside derby sent shockwaves through the stadium!

February 12, 2025
10:53 pm

In a thrilling farewell to Goodison Park as a derby venue, Everton pulled off a 2-2 draw against Premier League leaders Liverpool, thanks to James Tarkowski’s last-minute equaliser. This match, marking Goodison’s final Merseyside derby, was a wild ride of emotions and showed off both teams’ fighting spirit in a heated clash.

Everton kicked things off with a bang, and the home crowd was buzzing. In just the 11th minute, Jarrad Branthwaite executed a perfect free-kick that found Beto making a speedy run behind Liverpool’s defense. The striker kept his cool and curled the ball past Alisson, giving Everton an early lead and sending the Goodison fans into a frenzy.

But Liverpool wasn’t about to back down. Just five minutes later, Mohamed Salah—who’s a legend in Merseyside derbies—delivered a pinpoint cross that Alexis Mac Allister met with a brilliant header, equalizing for the visitors. The pace was electric, with both teams trading chances in the historic stadium.

The rest of the first half was all about grit and determination. Everton’s spirits took a hit when midfielder Iliman Ndiaye had to leave the game due to injury. As the half went on, Chelsea’s recent rivals, Dominik Szoboszlai and Abdoulaye Doucouré, both came close to scoring—Szoboszlai almost found the net before forcing a fantastic save from Jordan Pickford, and Doucouré’s header went off target.

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Liverpool’s slow start to the second half almost cost them big time. At one point, Branthwaite’s close-range shot was ruled offside, denying Everton a chance to extend their lead. Then, in a moment of frustration, Salah took advantage of Everton’s missed opportunities. After Pickford saved a follow-up shot from Curtis Jones, Salah swooped in on the rebound and fired a stunning strike into the far corner—his 23rd Premier League goal involvement in just 13 away games this season, setting a new record.

Just when it seemed like Everton might not find another spark, the match reached its peak in stoppage time. In the eighth minute of added time, Vitaliy Mykolenko’s cross was expertly headed on by Tim Iroegbunam, and James Tarkowski seized the moment to unleash a powerful, precise finish. The goal, which survived a lengthy VAR review, sent the Goodison crowd into a frenzy and salvaged a crucial point in what was the ground’s final Merseyside derby.

The match ended in chaos as the final whistle blew—both Abdoulaye Doucouré and Curtis Jones were sent off after tensions flared. Despite a spirited performance, Liverpool’s failure to secure a win in their 10th encounter at Goodison added to their frustrations, even as they stayed seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.