Bolt from the Blue
Everton 2 - 2 Liverpool
James Tarkowski cemented his place in Goodison Park's storied history and denied Liverpool an indelible stain on the Old Lady's record with a stunning, net-busting, last-gasp equaliser in front of the Gwladys Street
The Grand Old Lady deserved this. Through the decades, her famous old bones have rattled and shaken to the thunder of the greatest fans in the world. She has borne witness to triumph and agony, desperation and heroic escape, but as the clock ticked deep into injury time tonight it looked for all the world as though she would play witness to one more painful defeat on her final staging of England’s most passionate local rivalry and, most likely, her last night under the lights.
Everton, depleted but belligerent and defiant, had led the 245th Merseyside derby, only to see Mohamed Salah fleetingly emerge from the far periphery of this match to lay on an assist for Liverpool’s equaliser and, then, seemingly rifle home a 73rd-minute winner that would have extended the Reds’ lead at the top of the table to nine points.
The headlines were being written and the context being fleshed out: of Liverpool’s superior quality and match-winning pedigree; of Everton’s inferiority and injury-ravaged squad (another foot-soldier, arguably the most important, was lost when Iliman Ndiaye had to be helped off the pitch in the first half) following a disappointing and mostly unproductive transfer window, the enduring legacy of Farhad Moshiri’s waste and the handcuffs of PSR; of the stark underlining of that gulf in class inherent in Abdoulaye Doucoure’s glaring misses at 1-1 from chances that might have delivered the Toffees a famous win.
Enter James Tarkowski, villain of piece here just four days ago as the Blues crashed out of the FA Cup to Bournemouth and culpable, to an extent, for Alexis Mac Allister’s 16th-minute leveller this evening, to write another entry into Goodison folklore with a net-ripping, stoppage-time volley that almost blew the roof off this treasured anachronism of a stadium. Chaos. Bedlam. Ecstasy. Unbridled jubilation. Relief. And, perhaps, one last moment of historic importance for a stadium that has seen so many.
It goes without saying that a last-gasp winner would have been all the sweeter and, in truth, had the team Skipper’s 98th-minute thunderbolt sealed all three points, the undisputed title front-runners could have had few justifiable complaints — although complain they still would and complaining they are regardless — because David Moyes’s side created the better chances on the night and did enough to win.
Doucouré wasted two gilt-edged chances to work Allison Becker at the very least and Jack Harrison came close to capping a very good personal performance with a rare goal while Arne Slot’s mob, for all their talent, deep bench and well-oiled machinery, hardly troubled Jordan Pickford all evening.
Everton had to play very well to have any chance in this game and, lifted by the fevered blue-smoke welcome they received outside the ground before kickoff, they did acquit themselves laudably. Beto responded to concerns pre-match that the Blues would be crucially lacking the aerial prowess and hold-up play of the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin by making himself enough of a nuisance in aerial duals against Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté while putting himself about admirably in the physical battles on the ground.
Then, he calmly slotted home the opener with the effortless composure the exhibited against Leicester 10 days ago as Everton brilliantly caught the visitors out with a quickly-taken free-kick. Jarrad Branthwaite took full advantage of Conor Bradley’s inattentiveness by sliding the set-piece through a yawning gap where Beto’s arced run kept him onside and left him with just Allison to beat with a smooth side-foot finish.
AFPFears that the home side had “gone too soon” were realised just five minutes later. Doucouré was robbed trying to gallop towards the halfway line, Ndiaye missed the ball with a sliding attempt to intercept Konaté’s pass to Salah and before Vitalii Mykolenko could get tight to the Egyptian he had floated the ball to the edge of the six-yard box where the diminutive Mac Allister rose highest to guide a header inside the far post with Tarkowski standing a yard off him.
The game then lapsed into a more typical derby phoney war that increasingly became dominated by the inconsistent fussiness of Michael Oliver and his notebook and yellow card. Jesper Lindstrøm and Idrissa Gueye were booked within two minutes of each other after Andy Robertson was carded while Dominic Szoboszlai somehow escaped censure at all over the course of the 90 minutes despite being a serial offender.
Everton, who had lost some of their rhythm and impetus after a long delay for Ndiaye’s injury before he was forced off in tears with an apparent knee injury, wasted their set-piece opportunities but had a chance late in the first half when the substitute Harrison swung in a cross but Beto miscued his header.
Szoboszlai, meanwhile, had the Reds’ only other chance of note of the half when he forced a one-handed save from Pickford and Tarkowski lunged in to prevent Luis Díaz from seizing on the rebound.
On the other side of the interval, Everton regrouped. Harrison drove forward and had a shot blocked within a minute of the restart before Gueye surged to the corner of the box in the 54th minute and clipped a perfect ball for Doucouré but despite having all the time and space he could have asked for, he planted his header well wide of the target.
A minute after that, Beto was onto a loose ball like a shot and he fed Harrison but, having engineered space for a shot, the loanee could only screw his effort across the face of goal and behind. Later in the half, Branthwaite would have the ball in the net but Jake O’Brien was offside in the build-up.
Curtis Jones came on for the yellow-carded Bradley and promptly got booked himself for scything Harrison down but after Tarkowski had served up a great chance for Doucouré and the French-born midfielder spooned an awful shot into the Gwladys Street, the Liverpool sub combined with another of Slot’s second-half introductions, Darwin Nunez, and an unwanted assist from Lady Luck with 17 minutes of 90 to go.
Tarkowski stretched to get a foot to Diaz’s in-swinging delivery, O’Brien was a fraction of a second too slow to react to the loose ball, Jones got a toe on it, Nuñez played it back to him and though Branthwaite got his head to the resulting shot, it ricocheted straight to Salah who controlled adeptly and quickly fired it past Mykolenko and between Pickford and the near post.
Moyes responded within a few minutes by taking Lindstrøm and Gueye off in favour of Charly Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam but, in truth, Liverpool’s second goal had knocked the stuffing out of Everton and it would be another 10 minutes before they fashioned another opening, this one spurned by Beto who shot tamely at the keeper.
Salah forced a rare save from Pickford who palmed his sweeping effort over the bar at one end, Iroegbunam ballooned the ball disappointingly over at the other and that appeared to be that. Goodison appeared to be condemned to taste bitter defeat in her 120th and final derby.
The clock was rolling towards 97:00 as Ashley Young, a late change for James Garner, hoisted a cross-field ball towards the opposition penalty area that Doucouré nodded down to Harrison. His attempted cross was blocked but it broke to Mykolenko who hooked it back into the “mixer” where it eluded Beto and Konaté and was knocked to the side by Iroegbunam.
Tarkowski, who had jogged increasingly further forward as the move developed down the left, had arrived level with the penalty spot by this point and time seemed to stand still as the ball dropped invitingly in front of him and then go to warp speed as he crashed an unstoppable volley into the roof of Allison ’s net. As he wheeled away in delight, the overwhelming majority of 40,000 fans erupted at the best strike in a derby since Phil Jagielka's almost unfathomable beauty at Anfield 11 years ago.
It was an explosion of joy quickly tempered by an agonising delay as Video Assistant Referee, Chris Kavanagh, and company pored over replays at Stockley Park, first at a tight offside call on Doucouré from Young’s initial ball and then on what the Reds perceived to have been a push by Beto on Konaté . But, after what seemed like an eternity, the goal was given and the Blue faithful could celebrate in earnest.
Of course, few all-Mersey clashes are complete without a red card or two and referee Oliver got to brandish three after the final whistle as Doucouré’s goading of the away fans was met with fury and a bout of “handbags” with Jones and the cluster of blue and red shirts who joined in, while Slot was sent off for something he said to the official as the pair shook hands in the centre-circle.
These two storied clubs came into the evening deadlocked at 41 wins apiece on this hallowed ground and the tally of draws not far behind. It would have been so painfully cruel and yet perversely apt for a club that has heaped so much misery on Everton through the decades — from the 1984 Milk Cup final, the Heysel ban, the denial of the double in 1986, and a catalogue of referee-assisted derby defeats since the turn of the millennium — to have left an indelible red stain on the history of Goodison Park that could never have been scrubbed. Thankfully, that ignominy was avoided by Tarkowski's heroics.
Again, the only thing more fitting than equalising with the last kick of the game would have been a last-gasp winner but, under the circumstances, denying them the satisfaction of a derby record on our ground and a nine-point lead at the top was a more than acceptable alternative.
Perhaps the fact that Everton’s moment of euphoria was to deny Liverpool a victory was once again instructive of the gulf that has opened up between the two clubs over the Premier League era. The hope from the Blue perspective is that as the last chapters close on Goodison Park and the Toffees transition to Bramley-Moore Dock, it heralds the first step in bridging that chasm.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers13/02/2025 03:24:54
The more things change, the more they stay the same! David Moyes is the manager of Everton and Lyndon Lloyd is the go-to guy for a comprehensive and well-written report of the game. Now if only we could go back to the pre-VAR days, Tarks’ rocket deserved the feeling of unbridled joy without the nerve wracking offside check. I’m still expecting them to disallow it now!
13/02/2025 03:36:48
Barely slept a wink after that, what a match. We showed what we are made of. Our never say die attitude is back, with a goal for the ages. They never cease to amaze me. What a classless, whinging, entitled lot.
13/02/2025 03:38:49
A point rescued, or three potential points lost ? I think the latter, the few hailing Doucoure as some sort of hero (WTF ?) need their heads wobbling. Missed a sitter, and his stupidity of celebration at the end, at least he will miss a game, pity it wasn't the rest of the season - what a dickhead and liability !
Hope N'diaye injury isn't too bad, after another example of unpunished thuggery ended his evening ! Felt the Alcaraz sub was far, far too late. On to Palace on Saturday, where I hope another good performance will seal our safety, provided we have enough fit players for the match. Great spirit shown in adversity !
Looking forward to our next encounter, just hoping the amount of fit and available players can achieve a result, Palace are reasonable opposition but can be a bit erratic, hope Saturday proves the same.
13/02/2025 04:00:07
Good spirits and feelings emanating from the Welkin, early doors yesterday.
Last night was a fitting finale to this fixture at Goodison Oark.
Everton deserved at least a draw and Foucs, could have had a brace before Salds goal.
Showed the neighbours to the sporting world their true colours.
Let no person call Evertonians, bitter.
The RS are the world's dour puss winners, every time.
Oliver played a part imho, he should ha e sent at lest two RS off by 60 minutes.
Still a great night for Everton.
UTFTs!
13/02/2025 04:53:56
Apt that is felt like a struggle, overcoming adversity against them as it has been the case for most of the last 55 years with the glorious exception of Howard's winning blues in 1984-87 and Joe's domination of them in the mid-90s.
Goodison boiled over, it was a tense scrap and the fantastic conclusion was no better than we deserved. Redemption for Tarks after last Saturday and he has now written himself into Everton history.
We now have 8 players injured with Ndiaye going off and Doucs suspended. It is great that we have the points in the bag and David Moyes has done an excellent job. I simply don't think he is even a mid-term solution but he deserves to take us to BMD.
Well done to him!
13/02/2025 04:58:23
This is glorious writing and match report by Lyndon.
It was a throwback derby day with us gaining a welcome draw with a last gasp whack-it-with-laces volley from an unlikely hero. You beauty Tarks.
A credit should go to Moyes (whisper it quietly) as we have started to play proper footy through the flanks and also passing effective and measured through-balls instead of constant high punt kicking by Pickford and centre backs.
13/02/2025 05:47:44
Derek 4
Not three but two potential points lost!
Beautiful prose, Lyndon, as always.
13/02/2025 06:17:33
Donal, I stand corrected, my excuse is on a small keyboard the 2 and 3 being so close together, hence the mistake, plus there is no Edit facility on here despite many requests from both myself and others, but you know what I meant, I acknowledge your pedantry, lol! :-)
13/02/2025 07:15:42
I'm looking forward to games now from the beginning of the week, they're not just an afterthought an hour before kick-off. What Moyes has managed to achieve with the same squad of players that Dyche had is just brilliant. While I wasn't fully confident of any kind of result last night, there was a part of me this morning when I read the various match reports that wasn't surprised. As others have said, West Ham's loss has been our gain, you just have to look at the league table today.
There have ben many comments made as the season has gone on that we are now looking up to midtable clubs like Brighton, Bournmouth and Fulham. I think that Moyes has shown that the cliche about coaching and tactics making a difference is patently true. I know in part it may also just be new manager bounce, but Moyes have shown this squad, as well as the fans, what they are capable of. We may well have had a midtable squad all along.
13/02/2025 07:20:44
Fab stuff Lyndon, you have a gift with words.
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one to struggle with a full night's sleep following that... and I didn't even watch the game!
It would be lovely to think that we're safe, which I'm fairly sure that we will be, but we need to keep on gathering points to make certain.
An equally lovely thought (but less likely) is that Everton and Plymouth have caused a serious enough wobble for their season to derail.
13/02/2025 07:41:06
Great summary of the game Lyndon but equally great is the BBCs write up by Phil McNultys on Goodison. It makes me not want to leave the place.
All very emotional with wonderful memories and last night capped it.
13/02/2025 08:18:04
Great report Lyndon, it’s amazing how you manage to capture the atmosphere as well as a balanced view on the match itself. Thought we put on a fantastic display to earn that point and it could have been more if we had a decent no 10 to put away the great chances we had.
13/02/2025 08:22:13
Surely a penalty against Konate?
13/02/2025 08:26:43
Beautifully crafted report. The highlight? " Slot's mob".
13/02/2025 08:40:20
Can anyone imagine the players putting in a performance like that under Dyche? I have said it before, and say it again, thank you David Moyes.
13/02/2025 08:41:53
Lyndon, top quality report, fitting for such an iconic fixture. How Toffeeweb will miss you.
I must have run around the coffee table half a dozen times, shouting with the occasional swear word thrown in, but mostly delirious. I haven't bounced around and shed such happy tears since we beat them before. So much emotion.
Three wins and a draw, but injuries are mounting..
Now, if we can follow it up...
13/02/2025 08:43:57
Brilliant report, says it all. The final sentence suggests Bramley-Moore may help to bridge the chasm. I hope that's right, but Everton wouldn't have had a chance last night without the madness of Goodison Park. I pray Bramley-Moore can at least in some way replicate the intensity of our great old ground.
13/02/2025 08:54:20
Sweet though that equaliser was, the performance deserved better, arguably. Although somewhat subdued, Salah gave them the prospect of a victory that their performance didn't merit. By way of contrast, our lack of clinical finishing cost us the win. Fine margins, which is as much as one can hope for in the derby.
13/02/2025 08:54:30
You sum it up well Lyndon, all the right ingredients in there, a satisfying read, we were very close to the perfect outcome, but the emotions of the night are so strong they will stay in the memory.
Onwards blues, Palace next, coyb
13/02/2025 09:12:21
Staggered that others are not raging about Konate's basketball antics and our lack of penalty.
13/02/2025 09:32:37
True to form report Lyndon,precise and expressive, a great read. I could only take in the game via audio commentary on Everton TV, but that itself had me sitting on the edge of my seat mostly, but also wildly animated celebrations with our two goals, the last being one to savour for many a year to come.
It didn’t bring the 3 points, but deserves to be alongside DCL’s winner last year for the eruption-like display of passion that roared from the stands and terraces that ensued.
What a strike I witnessed on seeing the highlights!!!! Beto’s goal also, cool as you like, slotted home with the aplomb of a player finally getting the kind of service he feeds off.
On a different note though,I would like to concur with John at #18, the compacted, close to the pitch scenario at Goodison being the key ingredient in our fans vociferous support, making Goodison the hot steaming cauldron of raw emotion that visiting teams are all to0 aware of.
Ccan it be as intimidating at BMD? We will have to wait and see. But well done all you Blues that were in attendance last night. I felt so much a part of that whilst listening in. COYB!
13/02/2025 10:06:18
Great report, Lyndon.
It was one of those nights that the rich patchwork of Everton folklore is made of.
A game with everything. Passion, skill, determination etc etc but also drama. The injuries, the bookings and that last minute equaliser and the eternity whilst VAR made their conclusions. And then that mele and the red cards.
An amazing night.
Listening to the entitled players moaning afterwards, seeing their petulance on the pitch and this morning seeing more moaning from their fans just reinforces all the previous opinions of that horrible club.
Over many years we have had referees favour them over us and the red card count for us is far higher.
Tarks can be forgiven for the odd error — he gives everything.
13/02/2025 10:11:04
Frank (16)” Can anyone imagine the players putting in a performance like that under Dyche? “
No I never imagined Dyche getting a performance like that from the players I saw it at Goodison against Liverpool last season when we bullied and battered them 2-0, praise Moyes by all means but give Dyche his due as well.
13/02/2025 10:13:50
Now THIS is what I call a match report.
Brilliantly written, passionate and full of detail that only an Evertonian would appreciate.
TW can go fuck itself!
Keeps it up, Lyndon. A few tweaks here and there and you’ll have the perfect site for us Blues.
UTFT!!!
13/02/2025 10:47:37
Endorsing many comments above about the quality and intelligence ( as always) of your reporting Lyndon. The numbers on this site will swell exponentially as we desert TW to follow you. The only thing currently missing though was the ability to post our reactions and comments immediately upon the end of the game. Now that would have been fun and truly entertaining. Onwards and upwards Toffees and Evertonia.
13/02/2025 10:48:23
In terms of Dyche's chances of replicating our victory from last season I think it might as well have been a different team, playing under a different manager. I'm not sure if he'd "lost the dressing room" as the old cliche goes but he and as a result the team certainly looked to have lost something, maybe belief. The team under Moyes looks night and day better even when shorn of key personnel.
13/02/2025 11:01:15
Just like to add my appreciation for the quality of the report Lyndon. Like many others, I suspect, Evertonia will now be my go to, for all things Everton. Sadly TW is a shadow of the former excellent site it was under your stewardship. Best wishes for the future.
13/02/2025 11:25:07
It was a derby with a difference for me.
Last Autumn, Mrs Mills booked a holiday in Dorset for this week, safe in the knowledge there was no match at Goodison. Nature, of course, took over, created a storm and, inevitably the derby was re-arranged for 12th February.
It was a tricky situation, but made much easier by the fact I was able to pass my grandson, Charlie, my ticket. As a 10 year old boy, I witnessed history at Wembley as we beat Sheffield Wednesday to win the FA Cup. At least 10 year old Charlie could see the last derby at Goodison.
Having missed only one home match against the rs over the past 60 years, it was strange to watch the game in a very small room in a village pub in Dorset. Stranger still to be with one of my oldest pals, Keith, an armchair red. And the other 10 people in the bar were wearing red shirts!
It was painful to listen to them all whining about how biased the ref was, how dirty Everton were, their baying when they scored, but I bit my tongue.
With a minute to go Keith, sensing they had the game sown up, went to the toilet. He said he heard a great roar, so assumed the rs had scored again. But it was just me. What a moment.
Half the room emptied; to be fair to the other half we shook hands and had a bit of a laugh. The landlord loved it, I wished him well for the rest of the season as he was an Arsenal fan!
On Saturday, I sent a video clip of young Charlie to Tony Abrahams. It was from the boys’ match on Saturday, of Charlie smashing a shot onto the underside of the crossbar, the ball bouncing out, a potential late winner thwarted.
Tony messaged me yesterday, saying he hoped Charlie would bring us luck, and a shot would go in for us off the underside of the bar. It didn’t quite happen, but I reckon the Tarks Exocet will at least have scorched the paintwork of the Gwladys Street goal. That one is on you, Antony!
13/02/2025 11:49:07
Great report Lyndon. No less than what we've become accustomed to over the years.
I couldn't travel or attend last night, but will be at Palace on Saturday. Some important criteria for me:
1. Find the stadium this time and don't go wandering around South East London.
2. Meet John Raftery.
3. Meet Mark Murphy, if he reminds himself it's a half 5 kick off.
4. If a few others are around, as I'm sure they will be, meet up with them.
We should go into that with confidence.
As to last night, well that had everything. A totally passionate derby played with desire and commitment. I actually thought it was a fairly even encounter.
And before that lot start crying and moaning (they already have), they could easily have had 2 sent off during the match and that looked like a clear penalty. was ignored.
After last week, I said we need to use Beto like we did against Leicester. Put the ball through for him to run onto. He is not a target man, although can be a nuisance. A calm finish after quick thinking by Branthwaite. Perfect start, but was it too soon? The answer was yes.
I was worried about Ndiaye. That looked serious and the anguish on his face as he walked off would suggest he thought that. At least he walked off, but Moyes' description in his interview was that they think his knee moved. That doesn't sound great. Fingers crossed as he's arguably been our best player this season.
I'll skip the Salah goal. Give him that time and space in the box and there is usually one outcome.
And then Tarkowski has his Jagielka moment, causing Goodison to explode. Once confirmed, it exploded again.
A scuffle at the end with the entitled take umbrage to Doucoure goading Lucifer's Children.
Jones finally gets his red, however should not have been on the pitch. Doucoure joins him along with Slot and someone else from their coaching staff.
Now, the authorities may take a dim view, with an inevitable slap on the wrists for both clubs and a fine. Well, it was worth it. Obviously Van Dijk got involved.
I'll finish on Doucoure. He may have been awful for most of this season and, at times, a liability. But whilst we could do without losing players to suspension for the run in, his "in your face" actions to the Kopites, followed by his smiling and gesturing to St Virgil of Anfield was pure gold. I was almost jealous it wasn't me!! He's gone up in my estimation.
We've still got to play these again. Well, it's all been set up for a tasty one at the extended shoebox.
13/02/2025 12:17:18
Only thing this site is missing is the Live Forum. It's the only thing Toffeeweb has over this, because as always, Lyndon's match report is leagues above the dispassionate fare now being served by that site's new custodians.
We were magnificent. Don't get me wrong, they were shite, but that was largely on us completely nullifying them, except for their spawny second goal, and us falling asleep for the first.
As for them cry-arsing about the referee (who was shit, by the way) Jones could have gone, Bradley should have gone, and Konate's Rodri impression should have given us a penalty. Let alone the fact they kicked the fuck about of Ndiaye (with no punishment, by the way) until he went off injured, perhaps for the season.
If we get a result on Saturday, our worries are pretty much done. To be honest, they are already, but I'd love for us to look up. Had we won tonight, we were thirteenth. Can you have imagined that six weeks ago?
13/02/2025 12:22:45
I fully concur Danny. I would not want my players to get involved with the crowd nor indeed condone it but once it happens then you have to try and enjoy it and I felt Doucoure, who had been goaded all game, felt it was the right time to tell the RS to calm down, stop singing THAT song and his emotions simply got the better of him. I don't condone it but once he'd done it and the whole RS lost the plot I was loving it. The drama was the cherry on the icing of Tarks's goal and it made the night for me. It helps bury the memory of Gerrards run along the touchline and I won't sit here and be pious about it. Fair play to him, I hate em. Yes we will miss Doucoure next game but he'll get a games rest and allow Alcaraz to perhaps step in for his full debut. I hope we have helped to derail them and it was good to see Slot lose the plot UTFT's
13/02/2025 12:28:25
Rob - The Everton v Liverpool thread that’s listed under ‘Forums’ at the top of the page was/is the de facto live forum. It worked in exactly the same way as TW’s live forum.
Maybe Lyndon might consider creating a link to it via the main page for the next match so that it’s a bit more obvious?
13/02/2025 12:32:07
Tony, I did see that, but it felt more like a normal match thread to me, so I went to TW for a change. But cheers. :)
13/02/2025 12:46:53
And they have the cheek to call us bitter!!
Excellent piece Mr. Lloyd
13/02/2025 14:13:40
Superb report Lyndon. I'm amazed by the lack of class Liverpool's players, manager and fans have shown since the match. It's been hilarious to watch. Just can't understand why they aren't called out for it more.
13/02/2025 14:23:21
"the enduring legacy of Farhad Moshiri’s waste" - I must disagree with that, the only part of your excellent summation not entirely accurate: It should read "Kenwright's waste", Thanks to Moshiri, we're moving into a state of the art new stadium in Summer, and even Johnson got us the Park End stand, while the parasite wanted us in Kirkby so his Tesco mate would share the profits with him 😡
Sorry for the rant, and as for the game, something I must point out, is the revelation that is Jake O'Brien, a player deemed unworthy of a place in the worst Everton displays I've ever witnessed. Also, James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite have really impressed lately. It all bodes well for the future as a lot of these guys are young and extremely talented.
Let's hope we add some more class in the summer and the move to BMD is the springboard to an Everton resurgence, where we are competing at the opposite end of the table COYB
13/02/2025 14:24:17
Lyndon, I feel like I have just moved house or changed school. I loved Toffeeweb, but what made it brilliant was you and Michael and every reader or contributor.
So, get the builders in, design it the way it works for you.. it's going to be something special, Congratulations on a brilliant restart!
13/02/2025 15:19:28
Lyndon superb and thorough report. I just signed up, you’re badly missed off Toffeeweb. I hope N’diaye injury isn’t as bad as they’re suggesting, knee ligament damage. Just reading the redshite fans racially abusing Doucoure, nothing new with their history, but are they not brain dead and embarrassing their own players and club, considering many of their players they cheer every game are the same race, shit for brains.
13/02/2025 16:05:06
It felt like a win and for once VAR contributed to the climax. David Moyes has returned home. It is also fun that we are above the Hammers who got first dibs on Potter.
13/02/2025 16:42:36
An incredible ending, I was sat here thinking about how this will end with them having more victories at Goodison than us and it was really bothering me...far more than I initially thought it would.
Then Bang!!! One of the best goals I've seen for a long time at the St end,absolute bedlam in my living room as I screamed the house down.
Massive loss in Ndiaye, we can only hope its not as serious as it looks but with our record I think we're all expecting the worst. We need McNeil back now as there's very little creativity left in this team and his set pieces and shooting have been greatly missed.
And, nice match report Lyndon, I'm finding it hard to read TW as they simply aren't One of Us.
13/02/2025 16:55:48
Just emigrated from Toffeeweb to here. As a 74 year old and veteran of many Derbies I still havnt come back down to earth, but will comment further when I get my breath back.
Proud of the support given to the team, not surprised by the crass behavior of LFC players, coaching staff and fans, hope they cried all the way back to whatever country they came from.
13/02/2025 17:32:01
I’ve already praised little Charlie, on Toffeeweb, Peter, and I just hope he stayed until the end last night mate.
I’d have loved to have been in that toilet listening to one Evertonian, making a lot more noise than ten Liverpudlians, and now you have explained that you was in the company of so many moaners, I realise why you was out of character on Toffeeweb last night😂😭
13/02/2025 17:32:35
and we will always be the last winners of a Goodison Derby. Something that Sean Dyche got right UTFT's
13/02/2025 17:43:26
Forgive the delayed comment, Lyndon -- I'm still learning to navigate the highways and byways of Evertonia to find my destinations -- but that report was a top-corner volley in itself.
13/02/2025 18:05:35
I’m guessing the red shite are in a competition for the crappiest collection of so called beards ….cant decide if it’s a jimmy hill tribute or back combed pubes …..
13/02/2025 18:12:11
Anyone hesitating switching from Toffeeweb should compare Lyndon’s impassioned match report to its anodyne equivalent in Toffeeweb.
A night at Goodison to member for ever, certainly the greatest without an actual win.
13/02/2025 18:12:17
Excellent report, Lyndon. Just what I was looking forward to after a busy day. Some great memories for everyone there and those of us watching on a screen.
Interesting what I saw Beto say today, that it 'makes a difference when the manager doesn't scream at you.' I remember Moyes' first time here, when he once said that 'I'm not the kind of manager that puts his arm around s player.' Either Moyes has mellowed or it really became toxic under Dyche.
Either way, he's made a good start this time round.
I couldn't tell how many times I've watched the Tarks goal!
13/02/2025 18:51:57
This guy has summed up perfectly what it is like supporting Everton and any other "real" footy club that has been starved of success - brilliant article, well written and descriptive...
13/02/2025 19:01:57
#49 Gerry what a superb article we where all “ corner flag guy “
For our disallowed goal I was “ getting suffocated whilst being kissed on my head by the guy who sits behind me guy “
he’s says he won’t do it again !
13/02/2025 19:27:57
Lyndon, as usual a fantastic report so thank you.
The handball was clear and blatant. One of many decisions the referee got wrong last night.
Lots of excellent thoughts already posted here but two words stand out most for me, as documented by Mr O’Neill … ‘the entitled.’ You have hit the nail on the head Danny. Just like you mate, I have friends and family who are of the red persuasion and I have told them all today that unless they cease to associate with their football club, they will be going to hell.
As for Doucoure’s antics - good on him. Here are a few names for you just off the top of my head ; Marc Guehi, Bruno Fernandes, Tyrone Mings and Jordan Henderson. What do they have in common I hear you ask. The answer is that all of them have celebrated in front of me over the last couple of seasons and goaded the crowd much worse than Doucoure did last night.
I’m sorry he’s suspended now but let’s have some perspective please … he’s also single-handedly responsible for getting not one, not two but three kopites sent off last night.
For that alone he should have a statue at BMD.
13/02/2025 20:14:02
Lyndon quality post as always highlighting why TW was so successful and why this site will be another go to for all blues.
Despite all the protests and allegations from the biased and entitled kopites I honest feel that over the 90 minutes we were the better team and deserved at least a draw.
The difference Moyes has made in a few short weeks has been nothing short of miraculous and although the 2-0 win last season was something to be savoured there was something about last night which can be compared to the Bayern Munich night.
The atmosphere was special as only Goodison and Blues supporters know.
The euphoria was only matched by the sour faces and tones of the RS and the media.
Onwards Evertonians.
13/02/2025 20:16:24
Lyndon, thank you, what an absolute literary feast, no one writes articles as consuming as you.
As for the match, the Daily Express shyte writer reckoned Ndiaye dived to get the free kick Beto scored from, no taken out at the knees from my view.
I had three whining reds on a customer call today, not very professional, but I kept dropping in the odd analogy, which kept them moaning.
Onwards and upwards, Palace next.
13/02/2025 21:01:35
Thank you Lyndon for your article. It fully encompassed the raw emotion of last night. And so eloquently written.
We arrived early to see the team coach arrive, fantastic support as always. The singing started then and didn’t stop until well after the final whistle.
I’m doing a Lee Marvin impression today!
Last night was what we ask for. The team gave their all and fought to the end. Couldn’t be more proud.
13/02/2025 21:05:08
Another memory from last night was Tark’s goal instantly silencing the obnoxious rabble singing their Rodgers & Hammerstein dirge.
The overall atmosphere was on a par with Bayern Munich and the second half of Crystal Palace. The goal will certainly be remembered as one of Goodison’s finest.
13/02/2025 21:13:26
Forgot to mention, on way home listened to Tony Bellew on Talksport.
Absolutely hilarious. His description of Slot is perfect.
You can catch it on You Tube. Well worth a listen.
13/02/2025 21:16:17
A terrific report Lyndon, perfectly summing up the match and its dénouement.
There was so much to admire about our performance on a night of nights. Remembering a famous incident from the sidelines at the Bayern game in 1985, I can well imagine Arne Slot last night shouting ‘Moyes, this is not football’ and being told by our bench where to go.
The usual ‘Contain, Control, Capitalise’ approach adopted by the RS this season came unstuck last night. Our players harried theirs into mistakes, preventing them from gaining the upper hand until the closing stages. Had the RS taken the three points it would have felt as though they had stolen them given the way we dominated most of the play for the first 70 minutes.
After falling behind our players lost their cohesion but never gave up. Hearing the away section singing ‘we won the league at Goodison Park’ and then ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ added insult to injury. This was not how we wanted the history of Goodison derbies to end.
As the clock ticked to 90+7 it was ‘Hail Mary’ time. With the horrible Kopites about to celebrate their win it was fantastic to witness the equaliser. The aftermath and the accompanying celebrations will live long in the memory.
It was great to see Doucouré winding up the RS fans. I can remember Phil Thompson and Emlyn Hughes doing exactly the same to us fifty plus years ago. We don’t forget.
In a true team performance there could be no criticism of the effort made by our players. We know most of them are not of the highest calibre but every single one of them played his part in making sure we were competitive at every stage.
I was particularly pleased for Beto and Harrison. The Portuguese looks now as though he is establishing himself as a proper central striker, not only putting away his chances but also offering a physical presence to trouble even the best of defenders.
Harrison’s confidence was rock bottom a couple of weeks ago. Booed by some of the crowd he has shown great character to bounce back as he did last night. As many have commented he looked more confident on the left flank, linking well with the midfield runners and Mykolenko.
Finally a word in support of the manager. I thought David Moyes set the team up perfectly. We allowed Van Dijk time on the ball, resisting the temptation to go chasing forward and leaving gaps behind. But as soon as the RS broke into our half our midfielders, Stakhanovites all, closed them down before they could break through our lines. A superb effort by everyone.
13/02/2025 21:43:13
It's been hard to focus today. I have to keep dragging my thoughts back from that sublime Tarkowski moment to the task at hand.
Anyone who questions or tries to ridicule the pure riotous joy by the corner flag in front of the Street End simply does not get what being a football fan is.
Like many, I will struggle to come to terms with bidding farewell to Goodison. I just hope we can all recreate the magic in our new home. It may take a while to settle in, so I'd prefer the next home Derby not to come too early in the season. We want to give that lot the warm welcome they deserve, after all.
13/02/2025 22:29:01
Resisting the temptation to go chasing forward and leaving gaps behind was what impressed me the most about last night’s display John, along with the way we took the game to Liverpool, with such little craft in our team.
13/02/2025 22:56:34
Superb superb article as ever Lyndon. What a gift you have for prose!!
Frank #16: if you have to mention Dyche then be factual and fair - he won here last season in a similar barnstorming night that ended their league challenge and pretty much made us safe despite the points deductions. I dislike this rewriting of history.
Superb comeback and Moyes has done a brilliant job thus far. And Beto puts away his 1v1 again! C’mon you Blues!
14/02/2025 00:04:43
John Rafferty, brilliant, brilliant post.
14/02/2025 00:47:47
John... "Stakhanovites"???
Clearly you are already embracing the linguistic sophistication of Evertonia!
14/02/2025 01:38:11
Yes, this has a different feel to it. Thank you for this space. Echoing others' praise for your prose, Lyndon, mention of headlines being written with the expected outcome explains some reactions I've had with PL fans since the match.
They were all nearly as expressive and ecstatic as me. As if an old, unhealthy friend had turned the corner on a bad condition. There seems to be enough collective RS disgust to possibly fuel some inspired performances against them. We have another shot at them and there is time for a Red wobble.
If the lead shrinks by April 2, we could fuck them up for the second year in a row. This turnaround has been nice but that would be the stuff of legends.
UTOFM!
14/02/2025 06:52:22
Lyndon, as so many have already stated, fantastic write up, but then again, I’d expect nothing less than the standard of match report I’ve loved on TW over the last 20 years. Can’t help but think it won’t really be TW over there anymore, (as a pure “fan site” its impact is already diluted )so I’m very glad Evertonia is here!
14/02/2025 06:59:31
Well done blues kept going to the end
14/02/2025 07:49:46
Keep a close eye on that John Raftery fella, Lyndon. You have serious competition there. Seriously. This was a fantastic report capturing the mood at the old lady beautifully. Post's like JR's (and others) have made this thread a joy to read.
Good to see so many familiar names still haven't found the cure for Evertonitus - Stop looking guys.You wont find one.
For those who have cherished memories of that unbridled elation you can only experience at the old lady but couldn't be there on Wednesday. This was up there...And you were clearly there in spirit.
It's impossible not to smile at the thought of some crazed ex-Scottie girl terrifying neighbours on the other side of the world by running around her house screaming her head off.
14/02/2025 08:13:02
Darren, I am so glad no one was with me at the time, I would never live it down, the dogs next door went bananas, the postie asked me this morning if everything was OK as she heard shouting the previous morning..
But goodness me, I haven't enjoyed a goal more in a long, long time.
I cried tears again just remembering it!
Ps, good to see you online again!
14/02/2025 09:31:07
Moysie is getting a grip, famous night at Goodison and Darren Hind is back! Things are looking up…..
14/02/2025 11:22:44
Is right Darren, good to see you back mate, and Christine, your actions took me back to the middle of the night, when Barry Horne scored against Wimbledon, when I woke the house up in New Zealand, and nearly ended up fighting with a loudmouth Australian, who was only there because he was a guest!
14/02/2025 13:24:48
If you get a spare minute today people go on You Tube and watch FURIOUS LIVERPOOL FANS REACTION TO EVERTON 2-2. It is a good watch. Talk about them behaving like entitled twats !! They never cease to amaze me. This is a glorious 5 minutes of You Tube ha ha All Kopites are Gobshites
14/02/2025 14:41:47
Mark 70# sorry but I just cannot bring myself to watch anything to do with them even if it is to laugh at them. It would wind me up listening to their self pitying drivel. Imagine if Hamilton 1977 / Hansen 1984 / Nevin 1991 / Hutchinson 2000 / Lescott 2007 - I could go on but won't - had happened to them ? They would have spontaneously combusted by now!
14/02/2025 14:59:46
Amazing to hear Slot moaning that the ref played 98 mins when only 5 mins were shown. He obviously wasn't watching the game, or he would have seen the clash of heads between Branners and Charlie. The delay was over 2 mins, and as the ball is lobbed into the red penalty area, the clock says exactly 97: that is the 2 mins for the injuries to be treated. If he expects the referee to blow up exactly on 97, just as the attacking side are in the box, then he knows nothing about the game, and his bitterness over the late equaliser and Plymouth is obvious. 2 games without a win, oh dear 🤔 off topic, does anyone know what's happening to Goodison? Now we have wealthy owners, surely the old stadium could be kept for reserve, junior and women's games? Just a thought
14/02/2025 15:00:28
Eugene at 71 you are correct of course. I found it funny but equally annoying in parts. It's their lack of basic footballing knowledge that makes me laugh. It was clear to anyone with an ounce of common sense as to why Oliver had added that extra time. You would think they were watching themselves being beaten in a cup final by Kidderminster. Their incredulous disbelief just because Tarks scores is beyond words. Still funny tho
14/02/2025 15:32:32
Darren @ 66 -
I'm certifiably not a "Scottie Girl", but for what it's worth...
It was approximately 4:30 in the afternoon here when that Tarks piss-missile found the back of the net.
I screamed so freaking loud in my small little business that some dude in the parking lot turned his head in that alarmed, "What the fuck was that??" kinda way.
I swear he thought someone had been ax-murdered in my shop.
So there was one American over here in the States that had the average Joe freaked out. :0)
14/02/2025 15:42:00
Darren, Eugene, Moyes...
From the corner of my eye I swear I just spotted a flying Delorean - wtf?
14/02/2025 15:46:25
Mark #73 the moaning about the additional extra time really wound me up. There was an obvious clash of heads - there was a photo in the paper showing just how nasty a collision it was - and Alisson was clearly told at least TWICE by Oliver in injury time to stop messing about since the time was just being added on anyway. Driving home from match some RS fan on radio (from down south) was stating that the stoppage time for the heads collision was only 30 seconds ! I didn't have my stopwatch out but it was easily a lot longer than 30 seconds.
14/02/2025 16:41:10
At last I have got the keys to the new house Evertonia, I will miss the old place, I had a little glance back the other day but its not the same TW.I can't support or endorse a site where the new Editors/Owners can't really explain why they are doing it??,time to move on. It looks like Lyndons' quality will carry on bringing great debate amongst
us Evertonians and it is great to see new and familiar names contributing as always.
14/02/2025 16:56:56
I revel in their moaning. Feed it by saying they have a point. It was a push on Konate, where did the extra minutes come from?
Give them enough rope.
14/02/2025 16:57:36
Arse Slot
14/02/2025 17:03:28
Liam 78, I’m the same, I’ve agreed with every kopite gobshite who whinged at me that yes it was a foul,possibly was offside and I didn’t know where the ref got the extra minutes from, shuts them up pretty rapidly and don’t know where to go next, I have the last word with something like that”welcome to our world you moaning cnut!
14/02/2025 17:05:32
Deffo need an edit option on here though.
14/02/2025 17:17:46
I remember doing it for a whole weekend on a stag do in Benidorm when they lost the cup final to Chelsea and Andy Carroll had a header which possibly crossed the line to equalise.
Every time it went quiet I'd say 'it was defo in that. Youse were fucking robbed' They'd all start again. It was fucking great.
14/02/2025 17:31:07
I would love their premature “we won the league at Goodison Park “ to come back to haunt them.
We win at Analfield and Arsenal beat them in their return fixture and you never know.
Tarky’s late equaliser might end up being goal of our season for more reasons than one.
14/02/2025 17:50:02
I know Moyes is the bees knees at the moment, and I’m loving it, but I’m going to say it out loud, that Ashley Young sub at 1-2 down was bizarre.
14/02/2025 17:52:05
Many thanks Lyndon.
A right riveting read as usual.
May this new site of your and the new site of Everton Football Club's home, both get back to the top sooner rather than later.
Up The Toffees. 💙
14/02/2025 17:55:07
Garner was blowing out his arse Jeff? Not sure he had any other option.
Ashley did put in the 40 yard inch perfect ball onto Doucoures head which started the move for the goal (Anyone calling it a desperate punt into the final third is a liar!)
14/02/2025 18:07:24
Ok I’m being over critical, but if we’d have lost 1-2, I’m not the only one questioning that sub, he had a young striker on the bench (Sheriff) probably busting a gut to make a name for himself.
14/02/2025 18:08:39
There must be a few on here who can remember Eusebio’s volleyed goal v N Korea in 1966.
My season ticket standing in the Goodison Road Enclosure cost £3.3 shillings. A World Cup match cost an expensive 15 shillings (75p) so I saved money by standing on Gwladys St for 12 shillings & sixpence, the World Cup matches being the only occasions I’ve watched from there. The shot flashed into the back of net so hard I swear it bounced straight out again.
Tarks’s shot certainly matched it in power, what a wonderful way to remember our last season at Goodison.
14/02/2025 18:09:21
Mind you, Ashley was handy for the “ afters”.
14/02/2025 18:21:45
Mark@70
Thanks for that mate, that is absolutely hilarious, what a bunch of whoppers!
14/02/2025 18:44:12
Like all Evertonians I am still on a high after Wednesday. After yet another injury plus a suspension the trip to Palace tomorrow looks more challenging than it might have been. The players available need to dig in and prove they can be consistent game after game.
Andy (61), Mike (62) and Darren (66). Many thanks for the feedback. Among those who write about our great club, Lyndon has no peers. We are very fortunate he has set up Evertonia which I expect to be my first port of call in the future.
14/02/2025 20:15:25
We need to back it up now tomorrow with a result against Palace. A win would be amazing with our threadbare squad, I'd be happy with a point
14/02/2025 00:31:53
While eulogising 'Corner Flag Man'and the whole 97th minute thing, spare a thought in passing for the demise of The F A Cup.
This is what it used to be like, before the powers that be neutered it.
Wednesday was not quite Ronnie Radford / Hereford, the pitch was better for a start, but in principle it was the same thing, against the odds, glory but most of all - Drama & Emotion.
In fact spare a thought for Football it's self, despite TV ruining it, money poisoning it and VAR controlling it.
Despite all of the above this is why it's the greatest game in the world.
15/02/2025 15:07:55
Just popping in to say hello at a new place!
Long time fan of Toffeeweb and will now split my time between the two!
As a London-based blue I don't get up to Goodison more than once or twice a year, but been lucky enough to attend some cracking games in recent years (3-2 vs Palace with Frank Lampard was a highlight, although I'll also never forget the much earlier 3-2 vs Wimbledon and Barry Horne's worldie!) Despite being a fan for 40 years, I'd never managed to get to a derby though, so I had to pull out all stops to make sure I saw the last one at Goodison (even having to book two lots of train tickets) and suffice to say I have no regrets.
The home fan-base aren't ALWAYS the most supportive when things are going against their team, but on Wednesday the atmosphere was electric and overwhelmingly positive too (unless you were a red player or Oliver of course). Rightly so too, as the boys put in an incredible performance. For once, we were battling as equals, not plucky underdogs, and a draw is the least we deserved. With a bit more luck and some composure up front (and Ndiaye staying on!) and I think we could have won it.
Our heads (and standards) only really dropped after the second sucker-punch goal, but obviously the manner of the equaliser meant all that was forgotten and forgiven!! The few that did leave early will genuinely rue that decision as they missed an incredible conclusion, a ruck on the pitch, and an extended love-in post match.
The rest of the evening is a little hazy, suffice to say most bars on Howard street were full of blue shirts and Everton anthems, but one thing that did stick with me (long after the hangover passed) is the way Moyes seems to be going about his business in this second outing. The typically dour Scot has been (for now) replaced by a guy with a smile on his face who seems to be loving live. Maybe it's because the bar has been set so low or his own previous achievements decent enough, but it doesn't feel he's a guy has quite as much to prove and seems to be genuinely relishing the second chance to get to grips with the club and also to play in a manner that's not just setup to KITAP1, but to actually play some nice football.
Obviously it's very early days and all honeymoons come to an end at some point, but for now I'm going to try my best to just ignore the noisy neighbours, forget about all the crap that has come before and try to enjoy being an Everton fan as much as Moyes seems to enjoy being our manager!
P.S. Took a quick pilgrimage to the dock before heading back - couldn't get too close with the building still being finished, but my word it looks impressive! I'll always love the Old Lady of course, but can't wait to make acquaintance with the new girl on a match-day!
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13/02/2025 03:23:18
Cracking report as usual Lyndon
A win would have been fitting but a defeat intolerable.
Good luck with the new site