Jamie Carragher described the ending to Wednesday’s Merseyside derby as a ‘sickener’ but said it was a ‘fitting way’ finale for Goodison Park in this particular fixture.
Liverpool looked to have secured all three points on a dramatic night when Mohamed Salah fired past Jordan Pickford in the 73rd minute. Leading 2-1, the Reds controled the latter stages of the game and looked set to extend their lead at the top of the table to nine points.
But James Tarkowski’s injury-time equalizer ruined those hopes as he scored a spectacular late strike to send the home fans into delirium. Several ran on to the pitch with one even grabbing the corner flag and thrust it into the air.
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It proved to be the final action of an emotional night, but the chaos extended beyond the full-time whistle as Abdoulaye Doucoure and Curtis Jones were involved in a heated exchange that resulted in both being sent off by referee Michael Oliver.
Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also dismissed as tensions spilled over at the end. The pair felt Tarkowski’s goal should not have stood given it came after the permitted five minutes of added-on time and there was potential foul on Ibrahima Konate in the build-up as he was pushed.
Writing on X after the match, Carragher, a boyhood blue who played 737 times for Liverpool, claimed the game ‘was a classic’. “Sickener at the end but fair play to the blues as the [goal] was a cracker.
“Fitting way I suppose to end this fixture at Goodison. I know people think I’m the celebration [police] but I do hope that lad kept the corner flag! 7pts clear 14 to go.”
Liverpool fans were also not happy at the officiating, with the decision to award the free-kick that led to Beto’s opener incorrect and replays showed there was no contact on Iliman Ndiaye. Oliver also failed to award a free-kick to Salah after he was clearly clipped by Antolin Alcaraz late on.
Arsenal fan Piers Morgan posted an image of Oliver on X along with the caption ‘my hero’. Carragher made his feelings clear on the refereeing performance by resharing Morgan’s post.
Virgil van Dijk said Oliver ‘didn't have the game under control’ while Slot was not able to give his post-match verdict due to his red card.
