Goodbye, Goodison! How the last Merseyside-Derby became a Night to remember...

The last EVE in Goodison – On February 12, 2025, the FC Everton and the FC Liverpool faced each other in a rescheduled match of the English Premier League (2:2) for the last time in the historic Goodison Park stadium. Event-breaks.com followed the last Merseyside derby in Goodison Park, located just 900 meters from Liverpool’s Ground in Anfield. In the end, there was total demolition – 2:2 in the 8th minute of injury time. For every FC Everton fan, this goal will probably be remembered forever. But what football trips does FC Everton have left before the move to the new Everton Stadium in summer?

FC Everton vs FC Liverpool – The 33rd edition of this match in Goodison Park and in the Premier League, founded in 1992, and the 228th Merseyside Derby overall, could hardly have been more memorable.

As an author, you couldn’t make this up. Five minutes of added time were indicated in the game, which had been practically blown away by the storm "Darragh" over Great Britain in early December 2024. 

Referee Michael Oliver, however, let the game continue after a treatment break for the "Toffees" – and in the 8th minute of added time, James Tarkowski scored with a volley to make it 2:2. 

A goal that triggered total chaos in Goodison. Fans jumped from all stands onto the pitch, tearing out the corner flag. “We had a great evening, for me maybe the greatest,” said scorer James Tarkowski in the TV show Match of the Day on BBC, “I’ll never forget the image of my volley shot against Liverpool. We’re now leaving this special stadium with many beautiful memories for everyone – and looking to the future.”

"One of the great nights"

"You could see how much it meant to the fans," Everton coach David Moyes reflected after the last Merseyside Derby in Goodison, "the crowd rocked and it was one of the great nights."

Perhaps one of the nights that, in the end, will leave the red side of Liverpool still upset for a long time. Instead of a 9-point lead, “The Reds” only managed 7 points ahead of their pursuer Arsenal. Coach Arne Slot saw the red card in the overflowing atmosphere after the 2:2 just as much as the substituted Curtis Jones.

The “Reds” showed signs of insecurity after their shocking FA Cup defeat to second division side Plymouth Argyle (0:1 / See also Premier League Offside "Magical FA Cup") throughout the game, more than Slot would have liked.
Symbolically: The Dutch coach of LFC stood at the sidelines shaking his head when Andrew Robertson received a yellow card in the 28th minute.

Beto’s 1:0 (11') was the cold shower for the league leaders, who then immediately responded with a header goal from Alexis Mac Allister (18') and got better into the game. 

Mo Salah’s goal for 2:1 (73') seemed to be the turning point. It was the eighth derby goal for the Egyptian.

Only Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard (“Oh Captain, my Captain”) scored more frequently in the Merseyside Derby (9 goals). 

But Liverpool didn’t defend consistently enough in the end, and the VAR decision for the 2:2 brought a razor-thin “onside.”

Who does FC Everton still play against in Goodison Park?

Everton in Merseyside Derby ecstasy – but it surely won’t be the last magical night in Goodison. Football trips FC Everton were always a hit in Goodison, not least because of the intense atmosphere, especially against FC Liverpool, and the last opponents until the end of the season in the "Evertonians" home stadium are exciting. 

Next up in Goodison Park, which was inaugurated on August 24, 1892, is already on February 22, 2025, when they face the English record champions Manchester United. 

The Premier League planners are really being generous to FC Everton with the farewell tour of the “Grand Old Lady,” as the stadium is affectionately known: On March 15 (29th matchday), Everton will meet West Ham United. 

And also title contender FC Arsenal will be visiting Goodison for the last time on April 5, 2025. 

As will serial champions Manchester City, Pep Guardiola's star ensemble will come to Goodison Park on April 19, 2025. 

Ipswich Town, whose UEFA Cup victory in 1981, along with Everton's success in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1985 against Rapid Vienna with Johann "Hans" Krankl in Rotterdam (3:1), marked the golden era of English clubs in Europe, will be visiting on May 3, 2025. 

The definitely last home game, the final demolition party in Goodison, will take place on May 18, 2025 (all games on the 38th matchday simultaneously at 5 PM) – and against the relegated bottom club from the south coast, it should be a victory to say goodbye.