LIVERPOOL, England -- In the build-up to Goodison Park's Merseyside derby swan song, Everton manager David Moyes called on his players to create a "spectacle" when they played host to title hopefuls Liverpool.
As blue smoke billowed in the air following James Tarkowski's last-gasp equaliser on Wednesday night, the Scotsman could hardly argue he hadn't got his wish.
In a game that was largely low on quality but high on emotion -- on account of it being the final derby at Goodison ahead of Everton's move to a state-of-the-art new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock -- it was one of English football's oldest institutions that took centre stage.
The anticipation for this clash had been simmering for months, with the fixture having been postponed in December due to Storm Darragh. Hours before kick-off, Goodison Road was a swell of blue emotion as hordes of Evertonians gathered to greet the team coach, armed with flags and scarves and pyrotechnics.
By the time referee Michael Oliver blew the full-time whistle, a skirmish had broken out between several players, resulting in both Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucour being shown second yellow cards. Liverpool boss Arne Slot was also sent off.
The quality might have been lacking, but the drama certainly wasn't in a 2-2 draw that will feel like a defeat for the Premier League leaders, who were within seconds of moving nine points clear at the top of the table.
This is one of the game's most potent rivalries and, with both teams tied at 41 Goodison derby wins apiece ahead of Wednesday's match, it was always likely to be a pulsating encounter.
It was on this turf last season that Liverpool's faltering title hopes truly crashed and burned in a bruising 2-0 defeat, and it looked like history could be set to repeat itself when Everton opened the scoring with an early set-piece. Jarrad Branthwaite, who gave the hosts the lead in this fixture last term, turned provider, catching Liverpool out with a quick free kick which was coolly rolled past Alisson Becker by maverick striker Beto.
It didn't take long, though, for Liverpool to activate their powers of recovery; the visitors restoring parity through a deft Alexis Mac Allister header. The goal was the crowning moment in an all-action display from the Argentinian and also owed a lot to the ingenuity of Mohamed Salah, whose sublime assist marked his 22nd away goal contribution this in the top-flight this season, surpassing the record previously set by Andy Cole in 1993-94.
His peerless brilliance was emphasised further in the second half when, against the run of play, he deftly tucked the ball past Jordan Pickford to give Liverpool the lead. The image of Salah beating his palm against the Liver bird on his chest as he was serenaded by the travelling support reflects the importance of ensuring the Egypt international's love affair with the club continues beyond the expiration of his contract this summer.
Up until Salah's strike, it was Everton who had looked likelier to score, with Doucoure and Jack Harrison -- on to replace the injured Iliman Ndiaye in the first half -- both going close.
As the game edged toward stoppage time, the Liverpool fans in the Bullens Road End started their celebrations in earnest, though their euphoria was brought to a grinding halt when Tarkowski snuck in at the back post to thump in a 98th-minute leveller.
While it was a cruel blow for those of a Liverpool persuasion, there was a sense of poetry in the fact this great stadium was afforded another moment to treasure, with the scenes that greeted Tarkowski's goal sure to live long in the memory of all who were there.
A lengthy VAR check only served to heighten the emotion, as some fans spilled from the stands onto the pitch and those on the terraces struck up a chorus of Everton's resurgent anthem: "Spirit of the Blues."
For fans of Moyes' side, the opportunity to inflict some more misery Liverpool before Goodison closes its doors for good is one to be relished.
Indeed, anyone seeking an insight into the nature of the relationship between Everton and their city rivals need only have looked at the matchday programme for Wednesday night's clash. The hosts opted to adorn the front cover with a photograph of former player Mikel Arteta, now manager of Arsenal, celebrating his goal in a 2-0 win over Liverpool back in October 2010.
If Arsenal do usurp Liverpool at the Premier League summit, Everton fans will likely be celebrating as fervidly as any supporter in north London. For Liverpool, this result will rankle for some time, particularly for Slot, who will surely feel that neither he nor his players heeded his own pre-match warning to have "cool heads but not cool legs."
Slot will certainly have ample time to gather his thoughts, having been prevented from conducting any post-match media due to his dismissal, with the touchline behaviour charter -- brought in in 2023 -- specifying that managers cannot carry their usual duties after being shown a red card.
Still, while the Dutchman's frustration spilled over on Wednesday night, his team have still extended their lead at the top to seven points. If they can emerge relatively unscathed from the next two weeks -- in which they play four tough Premier League fixtures, two away from home -- Liverpool will surely have one hand on the title.
Chants of "We won the league at Goodison Park" could be heard ringing from the away end in the moments before Tarkowski's equaliser. Thanks to Everton and the power of Goodison, the champagne might just have to stay on ice for a little longer.
