Ipswich Town fired back from last week’s relegation and a two-goal deficit to secure a surprise point from Everton on Saturday in the penultimate Premier League match at Goodison Park.
The 2-2 draw saw David Moyes’ Toffees go in front through Beto and Dwight McNeil, but Julio Enciso halved the deficit before halftime and substitute George Hirst headed home an equalizer with about 10 minutes to play.
WATCH — Everton v Ipswich Town full match replay
The Toffees are 1W-2D-3L across their last six matches but were hoping for a win at home to relegated Ipswich after a tough run of opponents — Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Man City, and Chelsea.
Their point pulls them up to 14th for the time being on 39 points, 17 more than 18th-place Ipswich Town.
What’s next?
Ipswich host Brentford at 10am ET Saturday, the same time Everton visit Fulham.
How to watch Everton vs Ipswich Town live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: Goodison Park — Walton
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Everton vs Ipswich Town live score: 2-2
Beto 27′, Dwight McNeil 35′, Julio Enciso 41′, George Hirst 79′
Everton vs Ipswich Town live updates
Full time — Everton 2-2 Ipswich Town
This was rightly a draw, though the football alone wasn’t the sort of stuff to produce four goals.
It’s why we watch the Premier League, with a pair of fantastic goals and two very decent ones delivering the entertainment.
George Hirst goal — Everton 2-2 Ipswich Town (79th minute)
Omari Hutchinson drives toward the right end line and his cross earns a higher trajectory off the boot of a sliding Idrissa Gana Gueye.
The substitute Hirst arrives at the back post and rises high to nod directly down over the line, a quality, precise header.
Hirst heads Ipswich level at 2-2 against Everton
Goodison Park falls silent as George Hirst is able to head in his effort past Jordan Pickford to bring Ipswich Town level against Everton.
All three cautioned Tractor Boys exit
Delap, Morsy, and Chaplin see their days end, replaced by Jack Clarke, George Hirst, and Kalvin Phillips.
About 20 minutes left at Goodison.
Another coming-together
This time it’s Conor Chaplin going head-to-head with Alcaraz, both men seeing yellow in the 65th minute.
Surely changes coming soon.
Halftime — Everton 2-1 Ipswich Town
Two incredible shots are among the three goals in this xG-defying first half.
It reads 2-1 to the Toffees but the shot attempts are 8-6 to Ipswich and the xG is a combined 0.83 (0.45 for Everton)
Good fun, this match. McNeil’s absence dinged the Toffees attack this year.
Julio Enciso goal — Everton 2-1 Ipswich Town (41st minute)
This one might’ve swerved even more than McNeil’s effort!
Ipswich are back in it as Enciso snaps into a wild ride of a shot from well outside the box.
Enciso’s screamer pulls one back for Ipswich
You might not see a better strike all season than this Julio Enciso missile for Ipswich Town against Everton.
Dwight McNeil goal! Everton 2-0 Ipswich Town (35th minute)
What a sweet strike.
The ex-Burnley man takes a square pass from Nathan Patterson and lets his right peg down the rest.
McNeil snaps into a vicious, knuckling ball from outside the 18 that leaves several players wobbling, not the least of whom is Palmer.
2-0.
McNeil drills Everton 2-0 in front of Ipswich Town
Dwight McNeil strikes the ball with some venom behind it as it swerves into the corner of the goal to give the Toffees a 2-0 lead over the Tractor Boys at Goodison Park.
Getting spicy
Jake O’Brien picks up a yellow card in his own end and there’s a bit of a tete-a-tete with Delap, who also sees yellow.
Now a falling Liam Delap throws a sneaky elbow into an airborne Jarrad Branthwaite but does not see a second yellow.
Beto goal! Everton 1-0 Ipswich Town (27th minute)
Vitaliy Mykolenko’s cross is blocked near the end line and Carlos Alcaraz is first to the loose ball.
He measures up his chances for sweeping a cross into traffic, where Beto’s timed his run well and turned a cushioned header inside the far post.
It’s Beto’s seventh of the Premier League season.
Beto’s header gives Everton 1-0 lead over Ipswich
Goodison Park erupts as Carlos Alcaraz’s cross finds Beto inside the box to give Everton the 1-0 advantage over Ipswich Town.
Nice move by the Toffees
Iliman Ndiaye leads a rush down the left and a few neat passes later it’s Nathan Patterson inside the right of the 18.
His ripped shot is caught by Alex Palmer.
0-0, 25′
Promising start
Would this game be as open if both sides’ 2025-26 fates weren’t settled weeks ago?
Maybe not, but Everton and Ipswich are both going for it.
The Toffees have three of the game’s first four shot attempts but the Tractor Boys have had some moments and Liam Delap looks up to the challenge of a relative upset at Goodison Park.
0-0, 16′.
Everton lineup
Pickford, Patterson, O’Brien, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gana Gueye, Garner, Ndiaye, McNeil, Alcaraz, Beto
Ipswich Town lineup
Palmer, O’Shea, Woolfenden, Burgess, Greaves, Morsy, J. Taylor, Hutchinson, Chaplin, Enciso, Delap
Everton vs Ipswich Town preview
The Toffees have gone 1W-1D-3L across their last five matches, as Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Man City, and Chelsea presented a not-so-fond fixture list.
That’s left them 15th with 38 points, but there’s hope to finish higher as they’ve now reached a mostly-kind Run-in with Fulham and a pair of relegated sides before a Week 38 scrap at mighty Newcastle (hence ‘mostly’).
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Ipswich Town, however, have to open life after relegation at Goodison Park as they finish out their one-and-done season in the Premier League.
Everton team news, focus
OUT: James Tarkowski (thigh), Armando Broja (loan – unable to face parent club), Jesper Lindstrom (groin), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh), Orel Mangala (knee)
Ipswich Town team news, focus
OUT: Ben Johnson (suspension), Conor Townsend (thigh), Leif Davis (suspension), Omari Hutchinson (hamstring), Jaden Philogene-Bidace (knee), Kalvin Phillips (achilles), Arijanet Muric (shoulder), Sammi Szmodics (ankle), Wes Burns (knee), Chiedozie Ogbene (achilles – out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Nathan Broadhead (thigh), Axel Tuanzebe (thigh)
Everton vs Ipswich Town prediction
The Toffees are heavy favorites and Goodison’s penultimate men’s home affair will surely be on the minds of everyone, including the players. That said, these late-season games can get a bit open and both Everton and the Tractor Boys deserve that entertainment. Let’s optimistically point to fun, with Dwight McNeil, Liam Delap, and Iliman Ndiaye all enjoying their days. Everton 3-2 Ipswich Town.
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