Everton appear to have sent Liverpool a cryptic message in the final programme for a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
After playing at the ground since 1892, David Moyes’ side will move to a state-of-the-art new stadium for the start of the 2025/26 campaign – with the iconic venue playing host to one last derby on February 12. However the club’s matchday programme has got fans talking, as it features an image of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta celebrating a goal against the Reds on the front cover.
And Rangers legend Ally McCoist is convinced that it’s a cryptic message that the Toffees are determined to do their former player a favour by putting a dent in Liverpool’s title hopes. TNT Sports commentator Darren Fletcher pointed out the bizarre move and said: “The front cover of the programme is Mikel Arteta, the current Arsenal manager, celebrating a goal for Everton. Is that a message from Everton to Liverpool that they are trying to do Arsenal a favour?”
McCoist replied: “It has to be. It’s a strange decision, a very, very strange decision. Why would you have the Arsenal manager on the front of your programme with such a significant game, other than to let them know that you’re going to do them a favour. It has to be something like that.”
Arteta joined Everton from Real Sociedad in 2005 and played more than 200 games for the club before making the move to Arsenal, where he is now in charge. And fans on social media also had their say, one posted: “Who signed off on Arteta being the cover of the programme for the last Goodison Merseyside derby, strange decision.”
Another said: “Everton putting Arteta on the front of the program…..bitter bitter blues” whilst a third added: “A club putting a legend scoring a winner in a derby game against their biggest rivals in a historic game on the front of their programme. Big deal. Don’t see the issue here.”