Liverpool looked to have won all three points only for Everton to score in the 98th minute of five minutes of stoppage time in a fittingly wild final Goodison Derby.
Liverpool headed to Goodison Park for the final derby match against Everton before the Reds’ historic local rivals move to their new home and if anyone tells you they can pick apart exactly what happened on the night they’re probably lying to you.
Still, we’ll do our best to give the match that was a shake and see what falls out.
Dissecting the Narrative
The match kicked off as Liverpool’s game in hand in their Premier League title chase. And as Liverpool’s game to bounce back following a shock, Magic of the Cup™ defeat to Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup over the weekend.
For Everton on the other hand it was their final home derby at Goodison before they move to their new home, with both sides heading into it having won 41 times in all competitions (there had been 37 draws) and the chance for one side or the other to earn bragging rights for always and forever. Talk about narratives and narrative potential.
Perhaps fittingly, then, what resulted was the kind of manic, nonsensical, at times seemingly randomly officiated game of not quite football teetering perpetually on the edge of multiple players being sent off that one might have expected. Liverpool held more possession and created more chances and probably deserved to win. For a time, it looked like they have.
Then, 98 minutes in, well past what was supposed to be five minutes of stoppage time, 2-1 for the Reds became 2-2 and a result for Everton to hang their hats on as the ball fell to James Tarkowski and the defender converted with what was probably the cleanest volley he’ll ever strike in his life. A 2-2 victory for the Blues, of sorts.
Both sides close their Goodison accounts stuck on 41 and 37 ticks up to 38 for always and forever and nobody gets the bragging rights even if Everton fans will be the ones headed home feeling like they have.
Winners and Losers
Mohamed Salah
For Liverpool, the headliner up until that 98th minute shocker was Mohamed Salah because of course it was Mohamed Salah. In a relatively quiet night bordering on frustrating for the Liverpool superstar, Salah had an assist on the Reds’ first and then appeared to have won it when he scored the second 73 minutes in.
On a night when it was difficult to tell if Liverpool were to blame for playing poorly or Everton’s combativeness was to credit for the disjointed and chippy affair, Salah still did what Salah always does and served up yet another reminder of how lucky the Reds are to have him. So. They might want to consider tying him down beyond the current campaign.
Michael Oliver
Both sets of fans end the night annoyed with the officials, with their appearing no consistency from moment to moment and tackle to tackle regarding what was a foul, what was a card, or what was an advantage—never mind stoppage time dragging on well past its intended expiry point until Everton eventually scored. In the bizarro world that is English officiating, everyone being unhappy with the referee may well be chalked up as a win.
It should be pointed out, though, that for long stretches the match appeared to have well and truly gotten away from Oliver and it seemed a minor miracle that didn’t lead to incident and injury. That after the final whistle their was fighting between the players and red cards for Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucouré, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, and manager Arne Slot seemed a fitting ending for an occasion that at times appeared too much for England’s supposed best referee.
What Happens Next
For Liverpool, three points from their game in hand would have all but wrapped up the Premier League title. Instead, what could have been a nine-point cushion after all the teams have played 24 times ends up a seven-point cushion. Hardly something to turn your nose up, then, if you’re a Liverpool fan.
Still, nine would have felt a whole lot more comfortable than seven does, and now attention turns to the weekend and a game against relegation-battlers Wolves at Anfield and after a few recent stumbles there feels a pressing need for all three points in that one.