So, the final score in Merseyside derbies at Goodison Park reads: Everton 41, Liverpool 41, 38 draws. Thanks for joining me, it’s been emotional. Here’s Andy Hunter on a wild night on Merseyside. Here’s the Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk. “It was always going to be intense. It’s very disappointing to lose it in the last second of the game, or even over extra time – but we take it and move on. The referee had a big part in the game, in terms of what fouls were given. This is [Everton’s] cup final and they’ll do anything they can to try and win.” On the late red cards: “Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans, and Curtis thought that wasn’t the right thing to do. I think the ref didn’t have the game under control in my opinion, I said that to him. It is what it is, I guess we take the point and move on.” It’s finished Celtic 1-2 Bayern Munich – no last-gasp heroics from the hosts, but they’re still in the tie. A minor point: Mohamed Salah was awarded player of the match before Everton’s late equaliser. Perhaps not the most cherished trophy in his collection – maybe he’ll pass it on to Tarkowski. Here’s David Moyes! “A brilliant finish for us, to end the last Merseyside derby with a last-minute equaliser, it feels fitting. We struggled to get a good finish away … but Tarky did in the end! It was a great goal, one that will be remembered in Goodison history.” “It wasn’t the cleanest, best game of football you ever watched but it was a bit of a throwback. We had to find a way to make the gap [between the teams] smaller, and I think we did that. We could have gone away feeling we were unlucky, but we got the point. “The players have responded really well to me, we’re trying to improve what we can. We went a little more direct tonight, but it suited us, suited the stadium tonight. Beto and Doucoure both did a great job against two top centre-halves. Could there be more late drama at Celtic Park? The hosts have pulled one back, and there are seven added minutes to come. Here’s how the top of the table looks. If the title race might have felt over if Liverpool had won tonight, they still have a very handy seven-point cushion over Arsenal. “Speaking as a neutral, and not at all as an Arsenal fan, praise be to the Moyesiah for resurrecting the title race,” writes Kari Tulinius. “Everton’s bus parade is tomorrow if you’d like to announce it,” writes a salty Bob Coyne. “Forest fan here,” writes Hasan. “Aside from a vague, unrealistic desire to see Liverpool give up points in the title race, I really have no reason for any emotional involvement in this game. So why am I just the tiniest bit misty eyed at Everton’s last minute heroics then? Football, as a man once summarised, bloody hell.” The best way I can describe the goal, is that Everton whacked the ball high in the air about 20 times in a row, and it ended up with Mykolenko on the left. His looping cross was nodded on by Iroegbunam to Tarkowski, who absolutely smashed it into the roof of the net. Absolute scenes, and a fitting way to end a retro-coded thriller. Here’s James Tarkowski, who says he spent an hour practicing volleys at Phil Jagielka’s house and didn’t score one. “I just thought, last minute, why not? Get in the box, it fell to me and I just let it rip. I had a tough weekend so this was a nice moment.” Jones, Doucouré ... and Slot sent off! Both Doucouré and Curtis Jones are shown second yellows for their contretemps – and now Arne Slot, who had come on to the pitch to remonstrate with Michael Oliver, is shown a red card too! Mercy me. Full time: Everton 2-2 Liverpool The final whistle blows, just as an almighty scrap breaks out – Curtis Jones reacting after Abdoulaye Doucouré had celebrated in front of the away fans. Football, what a sport. They are taking their time with this – it looks onside to me – and after the green line pops up, a potential foul by Beto on Konaté is checked. The VAR party-poopers are trying their best here, but the goal is finally given! GOAL! Everton 2-2 Liverpool (Tarkowski 96") Oh. My. Word. In the final Goodison Park derby, Everton have a last-gasp equaliser as James Tarkowski smashes the ball into the roof of the net. There are fans on the pitch … Everton celebrating in a great blue bundle down by the uprooted corner flag … and a VAR check! 95 mins: We continue, with another minute or two due after that clash of heads. No Michael Keane, but O’Brien has pushed upfield alongside Doucoure and Beto … 94 mins: Nunez, who was sent in the direction of Bramley Moore dock by that one-two, stays down briefly but is OK to carry on. Now, two Everton players – Alcaraz and Branthwaite – are down after banging heads. 93 mins: Iroegbunam plays a one-two with Doucoure and sees his name up in bright blue lights – but his shot from 30 yards out flies high and wide. At the other end, Jota threatens to break through on goal but is closed down. 92 mins: Mykolenko has time and space to whip a cross in but sends it into the stands, much to the home fans’ dismay. 90 mins: Salah dances through the Everton defence and looks to have been brought down near the edge of the area – but Michael Oliver simply gestures for him to get up and get on with it. 89 mins: There will be five added minutes. It says something for Everton’s attacking options that David Moyes is about to send Michael Keane on as a makeshift centre-forward. “Mo Salah’s smash has given Liverpool the advantage but perhaps Carlos Alcaraz can get Everton back to deuce,” says Peter Oh. 87 mins: Jota immediately gets involved, jinking in and out of the area and finding Salah, whose shot is heading straight for the top corner until Pickford throws an arm out to tip it over the bar. 86 mins: After Nunez and Tarkowski grapple for what feels like a full minute, Young comes on for Garner. For Liverpool, Diogo Jota replaces Luis Diaz. 84 mins: Beto gets a yard of space and shoots, but his effort from 25 yards out is scuffed and easy for Alisson. Everton are sending Ashley Young on imminently. 82 mins: That goal has sucked a lot of energy out of the stadium, and Everton look a little punch-drunk as they try to regroup for a final push. A goal either side of half-time has Bayern Munich 2-0 up and in charge against Celtic: “Salah just doing Salah things,” notes Ben Wilkinson. “Liverpool surely have to win the League and have a proper go at the Champions League this season, if only to get this man his Ballon d’Or.” 79 mins: Worth noting that Salah has had a relatively quiet game, yet has still delivered a goal and an assist. He adds another magic moment here, a stunned backheel pass to Alexander-Arnold, whose sweeping ball upfield is just beyond Nunez. 77 mins: Changes for Everton – new recruit Carlos Alcaraz takes the mantle of flinty playmaker from Jesper Lindstrom, and Tim Iroegbunam replaces the booked Gueye in midfield. 75 mins: That is Mo Salah’s 22nd Premier League goal of the season and might be the most important of all. Liverpool have been right up against it tonight, but might just escape with a win and a nine-point lead that feels unassailable at this stage of the season. Who else could it be? Luis Diaz’s cross is cut out by Tarkowski and Curtis Jones is quick to react, lashing the rebound across goal. It’s headed away by O’Brien, but only as far as Mohamed Salah, who slams the ball home at the far post. Inevitable! GOAL! Everton 1-2 Liverpool (Salah 72") Everton have looked the more likely team to score for the entire second half – so, of course, it’s Liverpool who go in front! 71 mins: The ball is whipped in and punched away by Alisson, but Everton get it back and it falls to Tarkowski, 15 yards out. He should really just smash it at goal but decides to play it sideways instead, and Doucoure hoofs his effort way over the bar. 70 mins: Jack Harrison, who has done well after coming on for the injured Ndiaye, wins a free kick after a trip from Mac Allister … 68 mins: Two more Liverpool changes: Robertson replaced by Tsimikas, and Darwin Núñez on for the ineffective Gakpo. This game does appear tailor-made for the Uruguayan’s particular set of skills. NO GOAL! Branthwaite bundles home from the corner from O’Brien’s header – but it’s flagged offside and replays confirm that O’Brien was offside in the buildup. 66 mins: Everton win a corner as Van Dijk stops Beto from meeting Harrison’s cross at the near post. Doucoure twirls his arms, amping up the home crowd … 65 mins: In the Everton area, Szoboszlai goes down under pressure from Mykolenko, who has a little look up at Michael Oliver – but replays show there wasn’t any real contact. 64 mins: Jones gets booked for a lunge on Lindstrom as Liverpool continue to be put through the wringer in midfield. 62 mins: Under pressure (again) from Beto, Konate sees the ball bobble onto his arm as he’s grappling with the Everton forward. No penalty, and VAR waves it away too. It would have been harsh. 61 mins: Jones and Alexander-Arnold are on, and seconds after their introduction, a big penalty shout for Everton … 60 mins: I was about to suggest Diaz was struggling a little up front, but he makes a dazzling run through midfield and is unlucky to lose the ball with a lack of red shirts around him. 58 mins: Tarkowski extends a telescopic leg to deny Liverpool a corner. The visitors, on the back foot for much of this second half, are making changes, with Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones coming on. 56 mins: Eek! Doucoure gets ahead of Conor Bradley, who does his best to back off but still impedes the Everton man. Foul, but no second yellow for Bradley – although Arne Slot immediately summons Alexander-Arnold from the touchline. 54 mins: More positive signs for Everton as Beto and Doucoure team up on Van Dijk, before the former feeds the ball to Harrison, whose shot from a tight angle rolls wide. 52 mins: Ooooof! This is Everton’s best chance since the goal, created by Lindstrom’s threaded pass to Gueye, whose cross finds Doucoure unmarked. He has to at least get a header on target, but miscues and sends the ball into the stands. 50 mins: With Garner waiting to come back on, Liverpool earn a corner. The commanding Branthwaite gets ahead of Gakpo to thunk it clear with his head. 48 mins: Mac Allister’s gloved hand connects with Garner’s face in a fairly innocuous incident – but Oliver stops the game for Garner to be treated, as it counts as a head injury. 47 mins: Beto looks to have latched on to a through ball, but is penalised for the foul on Konaté which allowed him to escape. 46 mins: Jack Harrison takes an early shot on goal, but it’s blocked by Konaté. Peep! We’re back under way. Celtic are keeping Bayern Munich at bay in their Champions League playoff, first leg. Join Will Unwin for that one: Your half-time thoughts: “This Everton performance reminds me of Kentucky basketball in the Rick Pitino era. Foul on every play, they can’t call them all” – Joe Pearson. “Why do I get the feeling this game is going to be decided by a 98th minute miskick from Darwin Núñez? God knows which team will benefit though” – Peadar de Burca. “In 2003, the first year of Ashley Young’s top flight career, Gerd Schroder and Jacques Chirac were leading Germany and France, the Matrix sequels came out, the biggest song of the year was In Da Club by 50 Cent, and Jude Bellingham was born. I’m so old” – Zach Neeley. Half time: Everton 1-1 Liverpool Goals! Cards! Shouting! Lights! FOOTBALL. More of it please, in 15 minutes’ time. 50 mins: Liverpool go close! It’s not been their finest half of football but Liverpool nearly end it in front. Dominik Szoboszlai’s low shot is parried by Pickford and with Diaz closing on the rebound, Tarkowski makes a goal-saving interception! Diaz might have been offside, but still. 49 mins: Now Branthwaite is raging at Luis Diaz, and the forward’s penchant for giving him a shove when the ball’s in the air. No booking for the Liverpool forward – yet. 48 mins: Bradley makes amends, in a fashion, by drawing a high boot from Doucouré, who gets his name in the notebook as Everton take a 3-2 lead in the yellow card count. 47 mins: Moments after Diaz sees his shot blocked, Conor Bradley, who is very much up for this one, is booked for clattering Mykolenko. 45 mins: Branthwaite nods away Bradley’s cross as Liverpool finish the first half ensconced in the Everton half. 44 mins: We’ll have a decent chunk of stoppage time after Ndiaye went off injured. Five minutes, to be precise. Salah wants a free kick, rather than an advantage, after Gueye pulls his arm. The Everton man, already on a yellow, will have to be careful. 42 mins: Having chased Konate down in pursuit of a lost cause moments earlier, Beto gets his head to Jack Harrison’s cross, but his flick is wide of goal and too far in front of Doucoure at the far post. 41 mins: This game has a lovely retro vibe to it, and we’re treated to what looks like Jordan Pickford picking up a long-range back pass – however, it seems Mykolenko miscued his clearance under pressure, sending the ball pinging back 20 yards. 40 mins: At the other end, Mykolenko beats Bradley in the air but his header bounces through to Alisson. 39 mins: Diaz tries to deflect a long ball into Szoboszlai’s path, but uses his arm to do so, and is penalised. 38 mins: Liverpool win a corner, but Mac Allister’s inswinging corner fails to beat the first man. Honestly, if I were a football manager, I’d be docking wages every time that happened. 36 mins: It’s now 2-1 to Everton … on yellow cards, as Idrissa Gueye wrestles Luis Diaz to the ground. I think the Lindstrom one was a bit silly, given that Mac Allister probably should have been booked for the foul. 35 mins: Beto wins another knock-down which Garner races on to, only to be clipped by Mac Allister. Lindstrom asks Oliver to show a yellow card, which he does – to Lindstrom, for mouthing off. Everton don’t make the most of the free kick, but they are certainly unsettling their opponents in the air. 34 mins: On co-comms, Rio Ferdinand recalls his encounters with Moyes’ Everton sides back in the day. “You’ve have scratches round your earholes, your shirt torn up.” 32 mins: Lindstrom goes unpunished after grappling with Luis Diaz, before Beto is penalised for clattering into Van Dijk. The Liverpool captain isn’t happy with the hosts’ agricultural approach, and gestures in Michael Oliver’s direction. 29 mins: Liverpool now have a significant edge in possession but are finding it hard to play through Everton’s narrow midfield, with Beto offering plenty of nuisance value under high balls. 26 mins: The near-post delivery is poor, headed comfortably away and then cleared by Mac Allister. Liverpool threaten a break but Gueye shepherds Robertson off the ball, and gets a push in the back. The Liverpool full-back is booked, our first yellow card of the night. 25 mins: Jack Harrison, who is on for Ndiaye, gets involved quickly, almost linking up with Garner in the area and then winning a free kick as he’s brought down by Conor Bradley. 23 mins: Ndiaye tries to walk it off but he can tell something’s wrong – possibly medial ligament damage, Ally McCoist suggests on commentary. Ndiaye is absolutely distraught as he’s helped from the field, jersey pulled up to hide the tears. Hoping it’s not as bad as he obviously fears it is. 20 mins: Iliman Ndiaye, marauding across midfield with his socks riding rebelliously low, kicks the ground after being nudged off balance by Szoboszlai – although I’m not convinced from replays there was much contact at all. Anyway, the Everton man needs a visit from the physio. “A bolt out of the Blue,” cheers Mary Waltz. “So much time left, so many disappointments that flood the mind. But we have a chance, the energy of the crowd might shove the boys over the finish line.” Three minutes later: “Well, that feeling of hope didn’t last long, eh?” This is a terrific response to what could have been a big blow to Liverpool’s self-belief. Mac Allister plays it out wide to Salah, who curls in a perfect cross to meet the Argentinian’s run. Without a blue shirt to bother him, Mac Allister flicks the ball into the far corner before Jordan Pickford can react. GOAL! Everton 1-1 Liverpool (Mac Allister 16") Liverpool players are happier now. They’re level! Beto celebrates with LeBron’s “Silencer” celebration, which was also reprised by AJ Brown at the Super Bowl this weekend. The more you know, etc. Liverpool players are unhappy that Ndiaye seemed to impede Conor Bradley in the buildup to the goal. GOAL! Everton 1-0 Liverpool (Beto 11") Branthwaite takes it, and strokes a through ball in behind Liverpool’s high line. Beto races on to it, takes a touch, and pokes the ball past Alisson and into the corner. Goodison erupts! Mac Allister is penalised for a careless shove in midfield, and Everton have a free kick on the halfway line … 9 mins: At the other end, Lindstrøm looks to have been shoved off the ball by Robertson but plays on, whipping a low cross into the side netting. Maybe he should have waited for the whistle. 8 mins: Salah lifts a pass to Szoboszlai down the right, but his cut-back towards Díaz is cleared. Liverpool press with intent, forcing Beto to clear away via a deflection off Díaz. 6 mins: Beto is a touch slow to read a headed ball forward, allowing Robertson to get back and mop up. Will Unwin is on duty for Celtic v Bayern Munich: 5 mins: Liverpool half-clear the corner before Szoboszlai beams a mishit clearance high in the air – but the flag is up for offside. 4 mins: Lindstrom, a player reborn under Moyes, links well with Doucouré down the right and plays in a low cross, which Konaté clears for a corner. 2 mins: A first Liverpool foray forward is booed in theatrical style, while Salah being barged off the ball is greeted with a lusty cheer. Peep! Here we go. Michael Oliver is the man in the middle, hoping to avoid dishing out the 30th red card in Merseyside derby history. Matt Dony is another nervous Liverpool fan. “December 2019. David Moyes facing the media as newly-installed West Ham manager. Talking about his history and experience as a Premier League manager, he says, ‘That’s what I do. I win.’ And how we laugh.” “But, Moyes did win games. A lot of them. He’s been an easy target since the United debacle, but he is clearly a very good manager. As has been shown by the change in Everton’s results since taking over from Dyche. Long story short, I’m scared.” There’s an almighty roar around the ground as the theme from Z-Cars kicks in. Everton fans have banners hanging from every rafter, but Liverpool supporters have brought a few too – including one which reads: “at least an empty trophy cabinet is easier to move.” Ouch! Everton fan Gary Naylor writes: “The Gallery is very moving. I’m not (and I know this is hard to believe) a sentimental Scouser, but I do feel a very deep connection to Goodison, partly because it’s where I remember my father, who first took me there in 1970. I’m not there tonight (this Chekhov at Shakespeare’s Globe isn’t going to review itself) but I’m going to most of the home games in the Spring. Not sure how I’m going to feel on the 18th May, but, as Rob Smyth would sign off here a few years ago, I suspect I’ll be saying that it’s been emotional.” “Nervous Liverpool fan here,” writes Patrick Crumlish. “By any rational analysis Liverpool should win, but Everton’s form, Moyes’ return, the hapless nature of the FA Cup defeat, and the emotion of the last Goodison derby ... Let’s just say I’m not looking forward to this one.” Anyone who’s been to Goodison, or anyone who has fond memories of a historic football stadium long since converted into flats, might get a little dewy-eyed reading this: It’s the sound of Goodison Park that gets you. The deep rumble of feet pounding on planks when a blue shirt walks to the corner flag, a thundering drumbeat that vibrates through the legs, up into the torso, direct to the heart. It’s the staccato clatter of wooden seats flipping skyward as a player runs down the wing. The chants started in the belly of lower stands which spill out into the air in swirling eddies, echoing disjointedly around the ground. David Moyes is in the house and like Nina Simone, he’s “feeling good.” “We know it is a great night for everybody connected to Everton, because it is the last Merseyside derby at this stadium,” Moyes adds. “I am looking at it like another game and trying to get another three points for the team.” “Anybody who has come here will tell you the evening games are always special. The close proximity to the pitch, the small tunnel. The crowd won’t disappoint and we have to make sure we give them something to shout about.” “Trying to make chances against Liverpool is never easy. When we do get the opportunities we need to be clean, take them when they come around, and put them under pressure ourselves too.” Since the first derby at Goodison Park in 1894, this fixture has been incredibly well-balanced. Everton have won 41 (their biggest victory being 5-0), and Liverpool 41 (biggest win: 5-0), with 37 draws. Predictions for tonight? In the spirit of parity, I’ll guess at 1-1. Here are the pre-match thoughts of Arne Slot, who was still playing for PEC Zwolle the last time David Moyes managed a derby at Goodison Park. “I look forward to every game we play but this is definitely a special one. We’re all aware of the fact that it is the last time this match is being played over here so it is a game to look forward to. “In this league it is important to win every single gam … we need to win many, many games to stay in the position that we are now. We know our competitors are able to win many games in a row as well. “We know how difficult this game is for us. We know what happened here last season [Liverpool lost 2-0]. We know what David has brought here to this club in his four matches in charge so far. It is going to be a difficult one.” He adds that “Trent is not close at all to start, but can come in for a few minutes.” On the busy fixture list: “We have five games in 15 days. It goes on and on – sometimes players need a rest.” David Moyes goes with the Everton line-up that thumped Leicester 4-0 in the Premier League on 1 February – although he only made one change to his XI for the Cup defeat to Bournemouth. Luis Díaz is the only player who started at Home Park to retain his place as Arne Slot returns to what is pretty much his first-choice team. Trent Alexander-Arnold is back in the bench after injury, with Conor Bradley holding on to his place at right-back. The teams are in Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; Lindstrøm, Doucouré, Ndiaye; Beto. Subs: Virginia, Begovic, Keane, Harrison, Young, Alcaraz, Iroegbunam, Sherif, Heath. Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Díaz. Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Jones, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Alexander-Arnold, Quansah. Some incredible shots in this gallery, looking back at Goodison Park derbies. Preamble The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was supposed to take place in early December, before Storm Darragh caused a late postponement. Everton had just beaten Wolves 4-0 to end a five-game winless run, apparently easing the pressure on Sean Dyche; in reality, that was his last win as Everton manager, with David Moyes returning to the hotseat a little over a month later. The “Moyesiah” has resurrected the team with three straight league wins, and enjoyed four wins over Liverpool at Goodison in his previous tenure. With Everton nine points clear of the drop and freed from the shackles of Dycheball, fans can enjoy the long goodbye to their famous old ground, and will hope to start the party tonight. As for Liverpool, they sat seven points clear at the top of the Premier League back in December – and now have a six-point lead, with tonight’s game in hand. Arne Slot’s smooth first season in charge hit an unexpected bump at Plymouth in the FA Cup on Sunday, where the manager rested several first-teamers with this derby in mind. With Everton also eliminated from the Cup by south-coast opposition in Bournemouth, this rearranged game now stands out as a marquee fixture for Moyes, a chance to turn Liverpool’s blip into something more serious. Also at stake is the all-time winning record in Goodison derbies – both teams have won 41 games each at this venue. Kick-off: 7.30pm GMT.