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Anatomy of Merseyside derby mayhem: Tarkowski’s goal, agonising VAR check and four red cards

tom morgan
·7-min read
Police on the pitch after the full-time whistle at Goodison Park
Police and stewards helped break up the fracas between Everton and Liverpool - PA/Nick Potts

The last-ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park exploded into chaos in added time to leave Everton fans celebrating one of the most memorable crescendos to a game in the old stadium’s history. Here is a minute-by-minute breakdown of the breathtaking dying moments, which left home fans in ecstasy:

92 min

Liverpool, having secured their lead via Mohamed Salah, are cruising. A clash of heads between Carlos Alcaraz and Jarrad Branthwaite leaves both players on the floor and the match appears to be drifting away from Everton.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jarrad Branthwaite clash heads
Everton players Carlos Alcaraz and Jarrad Branthwaite clash heads leading to a lengthy stoppage - Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt

97 min 8 sec

Everton are reduced to hit and hope. Vitalii Mykolenko bustles his way down the left and sends a looping, hopeful ball which bounces once and Tim Iroegbunam glances a header beyond his marker.

97 min 10 sec

The ball drops for James Tarkowski on the right side of the box nine yards out and he absolutely rockets it into the top corner. Goodison Park explodes with elation at the most dramatic of last-second equalisers.

97 min 50 sec

Goodison Park is delirious and there is a small pitch invasion in the corner where Tarkowski had been celebrating. The stadium announcer warns fans they are breaking the law for breaching the pitch as the stewards do their best to protect the corner flag, which had been unearthed in the carnage.

Everton fans run onto the pitch to celebrate after James Tarkowski
The corner flag is dislodged during the celebrations - Getty Images/Alex Pantling

98 min

Referee Michael Oliver informs the players a lengthy VAR check is taking place, plunging the entire stadium into confusion. Liverpool initially appeal for a foul, but the main point of contention is whether Virgil van Dijk’s body position is keeping Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure onside. It’s a wafer-thin call. The VAR also checks and clears a possible Doucoure push on Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate.

The VAR offside check for Everton's late goal against Liverpool
VAR checked whether Abdoulaye Doucoure was in front of Virgil van Dijk but he was judged onside - TNT Sport

99 min

After what seems like an eternal wait, the goal is given and the stadium erupts, with another pitch invasion and clashes between the players.

Full time

As Oliver blows the whistle, Doucoure celebrates wildly in front of the away fans and the first ugly clash erupts as Curtis Jones confronts the Everton midfielder.

Abdoulaye Doucoure runs towards the Liverpool fans
Doucoure (far right of picture) runs towards the Liverpool fans - TNT Sport

This sparks a huge melee as players from both sides and police get involved.

Everton and Liverpool players clash after the Merseyside derby
Both sets of players run to the fracas involving Doucoure and Jones - TNT Sport
Police officers help break up the scenes with some fans also making it onto the pitch
Police officers help break up the scenes with some fans also making it onto the pitch - TNT Sport

Ten seconds after full time

Amid the febrile scenes, police and stewards are forced to get involved as Liverpool and Everton team-mates run towards the clash as tensions boil over. Alcaraz appears to be at the centre of it, as the new Everton signing was pictured in a tussle with a female police officer during the ruckus. Darwin Núñez and Van Dijk are among the first on the scene for Liverpool.

Everton's Carlos Alcaraz involved in an exchange with a police officier
A police officer tries to calm down Everton’s Carlos Alcaraz - AP/Dave Thompson

Twenty seconds after full time

A bottle is thrown on the pitch near the players. At least eight players from each side and a dozen backroom staff crowd around the trouble before the situation calms down and they disperse.

A bottle is thrown from the crowd after the Merseyside derby
A plastic bottle thrown from the crowd strikes Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford - TNT Sport

Forty-five seconds after full time

As the melee begins to calm down, Liverpool manager Arne Slot is then seen angrily remonstrating in the face of Oliver, alongside Van Dijk. Oliver responds by sending off Slot, his assistant Sipke Hulshoff, Jones and Doucoure over the ugly post-match scenes.

Arne Slot shouts at referee Michael Oliver after the Merseyside derby
Arne Slot remonstrates with referee Michael Oliver at full-time and was shown a red card - TNT Sport

Doucoure enjoys Slot’s dismissal and walks off the pitch laughing at Van Dijk and clapping his hand to mimic the Liverpool pair before celebrating with an Everton steward.

What they said after Goodison’s derby send-off

Virgil van Dijk

We saw how they celebrated the goal, they have all the right to.

I think Abdoulaye Doucoure wanted to provoke our fans, I think that is what I saw and Curtis Jones didn’t think it was the right thing to do. We all saw it and reacted as a team as we were able to do. You know what happens nowadays, it becomes one big tussle.

Then it is not me who has to deal with it, it is the referee and today I am not sure he had it fully under control.

This is their cup final and they would try to do everything in their power to make it difficult for us. It is a big boost for them but a blow for us.

We have put ourselves in a solid position. The main thing for us is to completely focus on ourselves, and as fans as well, don’t look at what others are doing and writing, just focus on us.

Virgil van Dijk after full time in the Merseyside derby
Virgil van Dijk played Doucoure onside by the narrowest of margins - PA/Nick Potts

David Moyes

I thought the referee refereed the game well, he didn’t get involved with every challenge.

I think the night was maybe made for something to happen. It wasn’t the greatest, it wasn’t the cleanest game of football you’ve ever watched but it was a bit of a throwback, a bit scrappy for both sides. We had to find a way of making the gap not so big and did a good job of it.

I didn’t see it from where I was. I have had a chance to see it and I’m disappointed because Doucoure played really well tonight and I’m going to now lose him because he’s got a second yellow card which turned into a red.

The emotions were running high here all night, the stadium was at fever pitch. You could see what it meant to supporters at the end of the game, the crowd was rocking. It was one of the big nights.

David Moyes celebrates on the touchline after James Tarkowski's equaliser against Liverpool
Everton manager David Moyes helped ensure Liverpool fans could not boast of winning the final derby at Goodison - Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt

Steve McManaman

Abdoulaye Doucoure had 37,000 of his own fans to go and celebrate in front of. To go and antagonise the Liverpool fans was a silly decision. It was only going to end one way.

David Moyes spoke about it after the game, Doucoure is an important player and if Everton go on and lose in their next game it will have been proved an even worse decision.

Phil Jagielka

You can see why Arne Slot was furious. There was a slight little nudge in the box and if that was my team I would be appealing. I would be getting sent off after the game too.

Slot always talks about staying composed but it seems like he lost a bit of his composure at the end there. That’s what a derby does to you.