Everton Stuns Liverpool in Last-Minute Derby Draw

Goodison Park, England — In a thrilling encounter on February 15, 2025, Everton‘s James Tarkowski scored a late equalizer against Liverpool, forcing the Reds to settle for a 1-1 draw in the latest Merseyside derby. Liverpool, aiming to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League, found themselves thwarted just as they seemed poised for victory.

As the match drew to a close, Tarkowski’s goal sent Everton fans into a frenzy and sparked celebrations among Arsenal supporters, who now harbor renewed hope of closing the gap on the leaders. With all teams having completed 24 matches, Arsenal sits seven points behind Liverpool with 14 games remaining.

Liverpool remains in a strong position despite the setback, with captain Virgil van Dijk addressing the media post-match. “The main thing for us is to completely focus on ourselves, don’t look at what others are doing and writing, just focus on us. Every game will be tough until the end of the season; then we will see at the end if it is enough. But we have put ourselves in a good position, and we have to keep fighting,” van Dijk said.

According to Opta’s supercomputer, Liverpool has an 88.3% chance of winning the title, compared to just 11.6% for Arsenal. Notably, Nottingham Forest, in third place, trails Liverpool by 10 points and has a minimal 0.1% chance of claiming the trophy. Chelsea and reigning champions Manchester City find themselves even further back, both with a 0% chance of winning the Premier League this season.

Liverpool’s recent form has been consistent, registering three wins and two draws in their last five matches. The Reds face a demanding schedule with league fixtures almost every three days leading up to the end of February. The intense month culminates in an EFL Cup final against Newcastle on March 16, followed closely by a Champions League last-16 tie against either Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco, or Brest.

As Liverpool wraps up its final 14 Premier League matches, the schedule includes high-stakes games against several top-six opponents, including Arsenal on May 10 and Manchester City on February 23. Arsenal, currently unbeaten in their last 14 league matches under manager Mikel Arteta, holds a shadow of optimism with their own set of challenging fixtures, including matches against Leicester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United.

However, injuries have cast a pall on Arsenal’s attack. Key players, including striker Kai Havertz, who sustained a muscle injury, are likely to miss crucial matches. Havertz, Arsenal’s leading scorer with 15 goals this season, joins fellow forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on the injury list, while Gabriel Jesus is sidelined for the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

This injury crisis places increased responsibility on younger talents like Ethan Nwaneri, who may see more game time in the coming weeks. Arsenal fans are hopeful their side remains in contention for the title as they prepare for a critical clash against Liverpool in May.

As the season progresses, both Liverpool and Arsenal will look to navigate their challenging schedules while striving for the ultimate goal of Premier League glory.