Late Tarkowski goal earns Everton draw in emotional derby finale

LIVERPOOL, England :Everton captain James Tarkowski equalised deep into stoppage time to earn them a 2-2 Premier League draw against Liverpool in a storybook finish to a dramatic final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday.

Liverpool extended their lead atop the league table to seven points over second-placed Arsenal with what had been their game in hand, while Everton climbed to 10 points above the drop zone in 15th.

And after 131 years of Goodison derbies, the draw was a fitting ending with the final tally totalling 41 wins apiece and 38 draws.

Liverpool looked poised for victory when Tarkowski struck in the 98th minute with a blistering shot into the top corner. Bedlam ensued with scores of fans piling onto the pitch, before a lengthy VAR review ruled the goal was onside.

The fulltime whistle sparked a scuffle between the players and both Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure and the Reds' Curtis Jones were shown red cards after Jones took umbrage at Doucoure celebrating in front of the Liverpool stands, while Liverpool boss Arne Slot was also shown a red.

"Amazing to score and what an amazing night," a smiling Tarkowski said. "I just saw the ball going wide and thought 'Last minute, why not?' It managed to fall to me and let it rip.

"Listen to that," he added about the crowd, who serenaded the team with "Forever Everton." "That's amazing. They will remember it. I'm just proud of my team, stuck at it."

Everton's Beto had the old stadium shaking with his 11th-minute goal, running onto a free kick that Jarrad Branthwaite cleverly slipped into the left side of the box and slotting the ball under the arm of goalkeeper Alisson.

The jubilation lasted all of five minutes as Alexis Mac Allister levelled, timing his run perfectly to