Liverpool, England – In the construction of the song by Swan Derby of Goodison Park, David Moyes, the manager of Everton, called on his players to create a “show” when they hoped for title Liverpool.
While the blue smoke was swept in the air after the equalizer of James Tarkowski on Wednesday evening, the Scottish could barely affirm that he had not obtained his wish.
In a game which was largely weak in quality but at the top of emotion – due to the final of the derby in Goodison before the move of Everton in a new stage at the cutting edge of technology in Bramley -Moore dock – It was one of the oldest institutions in English football that occupied the front of the stage.
The anticipation of this confrontation has been simmering for months, the match having been postponed in December due to the Darragh storm. A few hours before kick -off, Goodison Road was a swell of blue emotion while hordes of Evertonians met to greet the team’s coach, armed with flags and scarves and pyrotechnics.
As referee Michael Oliver whistled full -time, a skirmish had broken up between several players, which led both Curtis Jones And Abdoulaye Doucouré Being shown second yellow cards. Liverpool’s boss, Arne Slot was also sent back.
The quality may have failed, but the drama was certainly not in a 2-2 draw which will look like a defeat for the leaders of the Premier League, who were less than nine points at the top of the table.
It is one of the most powerful rivalries of the game and, with the two teams tied to the 41 Goodison Derby everyone wins before Wednesday’s match, it was always a pulsating meeting.
It was on this lawn last season that the hopes of the defaulting title of Liverpool really crushed and burned in a 2-0 defeat, and it seemed that the story could repeat itself when Everton opened the scoring with a first set. Jarrad Branthwaitewho gave the hosts the advance in this last mandate, which has become a supplier, catching Liverpool with a fast free kick which was coldly exceeded Alisson Becker By a Maverick Striker Painless.
It did not take long, however, in Liverpool to activate their recovery powers; Visitors restoring parity through a clever Alexis Mac Allister stubborn. The objective was the moment of coronation in a fully-action display of the Argentinian and also had a lot to the ingenuity of the ingenuity Mohamed wrongwhose sublime assistance marked its 22nd contribution outside the objectives at the top of the season, exceeding the record previously established by Andy Cole in 1993-1994.
His unparalleled shine was underlined further in the second half when, against the game race, he skillfully slipped the past ball Jordan Pickford To give Liverpool the head. The image of Salah beating his palm against the liver bird on his chest when he was serenade by itinerant support reflects the importance of guaranteeing that the love story of the Egyptian international with the club continues Beyond the expiration of his contract this summer.
Until the Salah strike, it was Everton who looked more likely to score, with Doucoure and Jack Harrison – on to replace the injured Idiman Ndima In the first half – the two are getting closer.
While the game was ahead of Liverpool fans in the Bullens Road End started their celebrations seriously, although their euphoria was arrested when Tarkowski slipped to the Thump back post in a level in the 98th minute.
Although it was a cruel blow for those of a persuasion of Liverpool, there was a feeling of poetry in the fact that this big stadium had another moment to cherish, with the scenes that welcomed the goal of Tarkowski sure to live long in memory of all those who were there.
A long Var check only served to increase emotion, while some fans have spread stands on the ground and those on the terraces struck an Everton resurgent hymn choir: “Spirit of the Blues” .
For fans of the Moyes team, the opportunity to inflict more Liverpool misery before Goodison closes its doors for good.
Indeed, anyone looking for an overview of the nature of the relationship between Everton and its city rivals only need to watch the match program for the shock on Wednesday evening. The hosts chose to decor the front cover with a photograph of former player Mikel Arteta, now director of Arsenal, celebrating his goal in a 2-0 victory against Liverpool in October 2010.
If Arsenal made Usurp Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, Everton fans probably celebrate as fervent as any supporter in northern London. For Liverpool, this result will be ranked for a while, especially for slot, which will surely not feel that neither he or his players listen to his own pre-match warning to have “cool heads but not legs cool”.
Slot will certainly have enough time to collect his thoughts, having been prevented from leading post -match media because of his dismissal, with the charter of the behavior of the key line – brought in 2023 – specifying that managers cannot Not carry their usual functions after being shown a red card.
However, while the frustration of the Dutchman spread on Wednesday evening, his team has always extended his lead to the top at seven points. If they can emerge relatively unscathed compared to the next two weeks – in which they play four Premier League matches, two away from their home – Liverpool will surely have a hand on the title.
The songs of “We won the League to Goodison Park” could be heard ringing from the outside end in the moments before the equalizer of Tarkowski. Thanks to Everton and the power of Goodison, champagne may well have to stay on the ice a little longer.
