Pickford Clarifies Added Injury Time Before Tarkowski’s Late Equalizer Against Liverpool
Jordan Pickford has revealed that referee Michael Oliver extended stoppage time by two and a half minutes before James Tarkowski’s dramatic goal secured a draw for Everton against Liverpool at Goodison Park.
Everton had been trailing 2-1 after goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah overturned Beto’s opener, but Tarkowski found the net in the 98th minute, sparking celebrations among the home fans.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were both sent off following heated protests after the final whistle.
Pickford Dismisses “Overtime” Controversy
Speaking to TNT Sports, Pickford rejected claims that excessive time was added, explaining that he had spoken with Oliver about the stoppage caused by Jarrad Branthwaite’s collision with Carlos Alcaraz.
“I asked the referee how much time was left, and he said ’97 and a half minutes.’ We scored at 97:26, so no extra time was added,” Pickford stated.
A Crucial Result for Everton
Pickford emphasized the importance of the draw, saying:
“It was a massive point for us and the fans. Derby matches are always intense, but we kept pushing until the end. We deserved the result.”
Reflecting on the occasion, he added:
“A 2-1 defeat would have been tough to accept, but securing a draw in the final Goodison Park derby was crucial. Now, we have to stay focused for the return fixture at Anfield in a few weeks.”
