Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye could not hold back the tears after limping out of the final ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Ndiaye appeared to kick the turf following a challenge with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai and needed medical attention on the pitch shortly afterwards. He was clearly desperate to continue, but quickly realised as he got back to his feet that he was going to be unable to.
![[He had been desperate to play on but was unable to after picking up an injury]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/20/95147277-0-image-a-2_1739390798461.jpg)
As he made his way to the touchline to be replaced by Jack Harrison in the 25th minute of the game, he broke down in tears and had to be comforted by some of his team-mates. Ndiaye going off was a big blow for Everton, given the Senegalese forward has been one of their standout players this season. After joining from Marseille last summer, Nidaye has scored six goals this season and had found the net in each of his last three top-flight appearances.
![[Ndiaye had been at the forefront of Everton's celebrations after Beto gave the hosts the lead]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/12/20/95147471-14390843-image-a-20_1739391219759.jpg)
Iliman Ndiaye broke down in tears and had to be comforted by his team-mates as he left the pitch. He had been desperate to play on but was unable to after picking up an injury. Ndiaye had been at the forefront of Everton's celebrations after Beto gave the hosts the lead. But he was unable to extend his goalscoring run as he was forced off in the early stages of Wednesday's game. Everton had made a bright start on an emotional night ahead of their summer move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Beto handed the hosts the lead inside 11 minutes after latching onto Jarrad Branthwaite's through ball before slotting past Alisson. Ndiaye was at the forefront of the celebrations alongside Beto as the Goodison Park crowd dared to dream that they could upset the league leaders. But Liverpool hit back just five minutes later when Alexis Mac Allister flicked a header into the bottom corner from Mohamed Salah's cross.
