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Everton scored a dramatic last-minute equalizer, which was ruled onside, but VAR’s statement did not address a potential foul on Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate during the build-up.
The Premier League issued a brief statement explaining that VAR had confirmed James Tarkowski’s late goal for Everton in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool on Wednesday night. However, the statement did not clarify whether the possible foul on Konate was reviewed, or what the outcome of that review was.
The game ended with a chaotic finish, including Tarkowski’s last-gasp goal and several red cards, capping off a fiery encounter between the two teams in the final derby at Goodison Park after 131 years. Everton captain Tarkowski scored deep into stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw, but Everton manager Arne Slot was furious about a potential push on Konate, leading to his sending off after the match.
The Premier League’s statement simply said: “The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR, who established that Doucoure was in an onside position in the build-up.”
This could raise further questions for Liverpool, as the incident involving Konate wasn’t explicitly mentioned or addressed in the statement.
Slot was one of four people sent off in the aftermath of the game, joining Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, and Slot’s assistant Sipke Hulshoff.
David Moyes, reflecting on the emotional intensity of the game, said, “The place was boiling hot all night, emotional, incredible atmosphere inside the stadium. You could see what it meant to the supporters at the end of the game, the crowd was rocking. It was one of the big nights.”
This derby, originally scheduled for December but postponed due to Storm Darragh, marked the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park before Everton move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season. The draw, featuring four goals and four red cards, was a fitting end, leaving neither team with definitive bragging rights—both sides now having 41 wins apiece at Goodison with 38 draws.
Tarkowski, reflecting on his equalizer, said, “I’ve watched (the goal) about 15 times, I won’t lose the image of me volleying that ball into the roof of the net against Liverpool, for sure. We are leaving this special stadium so a nice memory for everyone going into the future.”
Liverpool, with a point from the match, remain seven points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of second-placed Arsenal. Meanwhile, Everton’s draw leaves them 10 points clear of the relegation zone in 15th place.
Everton fans, though disappointed with their results, displayed humor in the stands, with one sign reading: “At least an empty (trophy) cabinet is easier to move.”
