Premier League Update: Merseyside Madness As League Play Resumes

Everton created a lasting memory for its supporters when James Tarkowski struck an equalizer in the 98th minute of a 2-2 draw on Wednesday in the final Merseyside derby played at Goodison Park. Befitting the intensity of the historic rivalry, a scrum erupted post-match as Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure taunted Liverpool fans, infuriating Liverpool’s Curtis Jones who cannoned into the rival player and ignited wider chaos as more players clamored to the fray. Doucoure and Jones were red carded, and the celebrations continued for Everton supporters who will watch their team play in its new Bramley-Moore Dock facility next season. Wednesday’s draw ensured that the Toffees and Reds conclude their run at Goodison with 41 victories each in Merseyside derbies played at the venerable old stadium.

THE DEFINITION OF SCENES. 🤯

JAMES TARKOWSKI BRINGS EVERTON LEVEL IN THE FINAL MOMENTS. pic.twitter.com/PpZl3GXud1

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 12, 2025

The electric moment by Tarkowski overshadowed another outstanding performance by Liverpool star Mohamed Salah who scored and assisted for the league leaders. The Reds suffered their second shock result inside a week after being upset by Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup last weekend. After two straight ambushes, Liverpool will now try to fend off Wolves at Anfield on Sunday and recover the form that has put them at the top of the Premier League table.

Everton travels to south London on Saturday where it will try to extend a five-match unbeaten run in matches versus Crystal Palace. The Toffees need beware, however, of an Eagles squad which has lost just two of its last 13 Premier League matches. JP Mateta has 10 Premier League goals for the homestanding Eagles who have now distanced themselves from the relegation pack after a disturbing beginning to their season.

Second place Arsenal travels to Leicester with a struggling Gunners attack further weakened by a hamstring injury suffered by Kai Havertz during the club’s training in Dubai earlier this week. The injury is rumored to be so severe that Havertz could miss the rest of this season. Such a development could be devastating to Arsenal’s title chances as the Gunners are already missing attackers Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, and Gabriel Martinelli to injury. Those injuries have compounded the absence of a true striker in Manager Mikel Arteta’s squad. Havertz, an uncomfortable fit in the Number Nine role,  leads Arsenal with 15 goals across all competitions. The cupboard is close to bare in terms of replacing those goals. Raheem Sterling is an option, but the former Manchester City star has appeared washed at his subsequent stops at Chelsea and now Arsenal. The Gunners failed in their attempt to sign Ollie Watkins during the January transfer window and now find themselves in even deeper trouble at the point of attack.

Nottingham Forest will be short of an attacker when the Tricky Trees host Ipswich Town this weekend after Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a broken nose during the Trees’ FA cup win over Exeter City on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Chelsea faces a long stretch without Nicolas Jackson whose hamstring injury appears far more serious than previously thought. The Senegalese forward was held out of the Blues’ FA Cup loss to Brighton in midweek after suffering what was initially thought to be a minor hamstring problem in last week’s win over West Ham. Further evaluation points to a lengthier absence and he will again be sidelined for Chelsea’s rematch with the Seagulls in league play on Friday. Jackson could be out for months, a devastating blow to an already sputtering Chelsea attack.

Should Chelsea fail to win at Brighton, Manchester City and Newcastle will face each other on Saturday with a chance to overtake Chelsea and land in the Premier League’s top four. The two clubs are level on points, two behind Chelsea in the table, as Newcastle visits the Etihad. The Magpies have lost two of three matches after a six-match winning run put them back into the top four conversation. They will face a Manchester City team which once again demonstrated its vulnerability by relinquishing a one goal lead with five minutes left in a loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United might well have entertained thoughts of the top four prior to this season but such hopes have since been dashed by their horrific league seasons. Manchester United is 13th in the table, two points above teetering Tottenham, as the Red Devils visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend. Spurs has lost half of its Premier League home matches during an injury ravaged season.

Elsewhere in London, West Ham will play host to Brentford as the Bees try to rebound from their disappointing home loss to Spurs last week. West Ham, meanwhile, is still searching for traction under new manager Graham Potter with the Hammers having posted two losses and a draw since Potter’s debut win at London Stadium.

Southampton won for just the second time this season in a 2-1 win over fellow relegation battler Ipswich Town last weekend. That winning streak is likely short lived as the Saints host Bournemouth on Saturday. The Cherries’ loss to league leading Liverpool last week was the first time Bournemouth had lost since November, ending an eleven-match unbeaten run which lifted Bournemouth into seventh position in the Premier League table.