A couple of hours before kick-off, a group of fans paused at the top of Goodison Road to gaze at the statue of Dixie Dean and cast their eyes over the loving messages written on the collection of wreaths that lay at its base in tribute to a young fan who had recently passed away.
A camera crew was in the Blue Dragon take-away, recording footage of a presenter buying a tray of chips. Every ritual was accorded a poignancy it might otherwise have lacked were this not the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, Everton’s home since 1892.
Giant pictures of Dean and Graeme Sharp and Bob Latchford stared down on the supporters as they began to stream into the Winslow Hotel, a place that calls itself ‘The People’s Pub’. A crowd gathered outside to sing ribald songs about Liverpool supporters.
Clouds of blue smoke from flares choked the air and at the far end of the road, some Evertonians filed into the church of St Luke the Evangelist and walked up the stairs into the Aladdin’s Cave of memorabilia hosted by the EFC Heritage Society.
On the first landing, there was an advertisement for an upcoming sale of photos of entry points to a ground that seeps history from every stone step and every wooden seat in the Main Stand. ‘That’s my gate,’ the advert read. ‘Order your turnstile now. Framed £20. Print only £12. Cash only.’
Upstairs, it felt as if there were shirts from every Everton era since they moved here and behind one of the counters, a flag with a slogan and a quote from club legend Brian Labone hung on the wall. ‘Never forget lads,’ Labone was saying, ‘one Evertonian is worth 20 Liverpudlians.’
James Tarkowski struck a stoppage-time equaliser to salvage a point in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park
Tarkowski fired home in the 98th minute of a pulsating contest to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw
There were chaotic scenes after the final whistle as Everton and Liverpool players clashed
On Wednesday night, perhaps as much as any night in their history, Everton, who had won their previous three league matches in succession under David Moyes, were desperate to prove that Labone was right before they move to their stunning new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock next season.
The atmosphere before kick-off of a game that Liverpool knew would send them nine points clear at the top of the table if they won, was as febrile, as spine-tingling and as emotional as the occasion demanded.
All the Goodison traditions were observed. ‘It’s a grand old team to play for,’ rang out over the loud-speaker system, ‘it’s a grand old team to support, and if you know your history, it’s enough to make your heart go woah-oh-oh.’
Then the theme to Z-Cars rang out as the teams emerged from the tunnel, something that has been a backdrop to the history of this club. The roar when Everton took to the pitch here for the last time against their city rivals was deafening.
It got even louder when Everton took the lead in the 11th minute. Beto peeled away from his marker to run on to a free kick from Jarrad Branthwaite that caught Liverpool by surprise. Beto controlled the ball, looked up and slotted his shot underneath the body of Alisson.
But their lead only lasted four minutes. Mo Salah collected the ball on the right and curled a cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Alexis Mac Allister rose unchallenged and flicked the ball past Jordan Pickford.
Everton suffered another blow midway through the half when Iliman Ndiaye was led from the pitch in tears with what appeared to be a knee injury. Everton’s intensity dropped and Liverpool began to take control. When Pickford spilled a shot from Dominik Szoboszlai on the stroke of half time, it took a saving challenge from James Tarkowski to stop Diaz tapping home the loose ball.
Everton missed a golden opportunity to move back into the lead eight minutes after the interval when Idrissa Gueye floated a cross into the box and Abdoulaye Doucoure met it unchallenged and in space six yards out. Goodison prepared to erupt but Doucoure headed tamely wide.
Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure (right) were both sent off after the final whistle
Mohamed Salah fired home 17 minutes from time and looked to have given the Reds the win
Beto put Everton ahead in the 11th minute as he coolly slotted past goalkeeper Alisson
But Everton’s lead lasted just five minutes as Alexis Mac Allister equalised with a fine header
The intensity was back now. The ground reverberated to bitter complaints about every Liverpool tackle and every decision made by referee Michael Oliver. Branthwaite thought he had scored but his close-range effort was ruled out for offside. Goodison groaned again when Doucoure lifted another fine chance high over the bar.
Then, 17 minutes from the end, came the blow Evertonians had feared. Substitute Curtis Jones collected the ball in the Everton area and curled a shot beyond Pickford. It hit Branthwaite but fell straight to Salah, who forced it back past the goalkeeper and over the line with his right foot.
Their spirit seemed to flee Everton. As the time ticked away, it felt as if all Everton’s nightmares had come together. The Liverpool supporters in the Bullens Road stand leapt and danced and cavorted and punched the air. ‘We won the league at Goodison Park,’ they sang delightedly.
They thought they had desecrated Goodison one last time but Everton refused to allow it to end like that. More than seven minutes into time added on, the ball looped up to Tarkowski, the Everton skipper, eight yards out.
There was a raucous atmosphere outside Goodison Park ahead of the historic derby
He struck the volley like he has never struck a volley before to make it 2-2. It was a finish Dixie Dean himself would have been proud of. And even if there was an agonising VAR check for offside, the goal stood and Everton celebrated anew.
The game ended in mayhem when Doucoure celebrated in front of the Liverpool fans, Jones upbraided him and a mass fracas ensued. In the chaos, Doucoure and Liverpool boss Arne Slot were sent off. It felt like the old ground, which has always been a bear-pit at its best, could scarcely have had a better send-off.
Liverpool’s lead at the top is seven points but this was Everton’s night. This was Goodison’s night. Its honour and its memory were preserved at the last.
