Premier League
Everton’s Goodison Park after final Merseyside derby at stadium
Goodison Park, which will be vacated after this season, hosted its final Merseyside derby on Wednesday as Everton drew 2-2 with Liverpool in a Premier League clash.
Here are some key details about the stadium, Everton’s future plans and a look at the history of the hosts’ rivalry with Liverpool:
WHEN WAS GOODISON PARK BUILT?
Everton played at Anfield from 1884-1892, before relocating to Goodison Park, with the club’s move directly leading to the founding of rivals Liverpool.
Goodison Park opened its doors in 1892, with the first match played between Everton and Bolton Wanderers. The first match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park took place in October 1894, which the Toffees won 3-0.
The stadium grew sizeably in the next few decades with new stands being built in 1907 and 1909, while major renovations took place in 1948, 1971 and 1994.
HOW HAVE EVERTON FARED IN MERSEYSIDE DERBIES AT GOODISON PARK?
Everton and Liverpool have faced off 120 times at Goodison Park in all competitions, with both sides enjoying 41 victories apiece while 38 matches have ended in draws – including 10 of the last 13 Premier League meetings.
Among the most memorable derbies at the stadium was a 4-4 FA Cup replay draw in 1991 that led to the resignation of Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool manager, Everton’s 5-0 defeat in 1982 and a shock 2-0 win last season that helped Everton avoid relegation.
Of the 33 Merseyside derbies played at Goodison in the Premier League era, Everton have won eight and Liverpool have won 11, with 14 draws.
WHY ARE EVERTON LEAVING GOODISON PARK?
Goodison Park is the 13th largest soccer stadium in England and Wales by capacity, with its relatively small 40,000 seats meaning the team has struggled to compete with the match-day income of their rivals.
Everton’s previous attempts to build a new stadium – at King’s Dock in 2003 and Kirkby in 2009 – both ended in failure.
WHERE WILL EVERTON PLAY NEXT SEASON?
Everton formally agreed a 200-year land lease at a site at Bramley-Moore Dock in 2017 and announced plans to build a waterfront stadium that can help bridge the gap to the leading top-flight teams.
The club planned to relocate to the new stadium beginning from the 2024-25 season, but that was pushed to 2025-26 in 2023.
The new stadium is currently called Everton Stadium, but the club could explore the option to sell naming rights, as they have done in the past.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH GOODISON PARK?
In 2021, Everton said the Liverpool City Council had approved the outline application for a community-led legacy project at Goodison Park.
The stadium is set to be demolished after Everton play their final match there, with the land set to be redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme with housing and offices.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Maguire handed suspended prison sentence for 2020 brawl

England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Timber header earns Arsenal crucial win over Chelsea

Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.

Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
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Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace

Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
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